Hello, Members and Friends of KABVI!

      Our convention and annual business meeting is October 17-19, 2014.  A craft sale and a class on using your iPad or iPhone are on Friday’s agenda.  Saturday includes updates on the Business Enterprise Program, Audio-Reader, Talking Books, and the Kansas School for the Blind outreach program.  Also scheduled are presentations from FEMA, the piano-tuning school, and the Employment First Act, and our annual business meeting with election of board members and officers.  Activities wrap up with the board of directors meeting Sunday.

      We try to keep costs down.  Activities are at Whiskey Creek Restaurant’s banquet room, 3203 Vine Street in Hays.  Rooms are available at Days Inn, 3205 Vine Street in Hays.  The phone number is (785) 628-8261.  The room rate is $57 plus tax of 14%.  The motel is two floors and there is no elevator.  If you need a first-floor room or to be near the dog-relief area, be sure to MAKE YOUR RESERVATION EARLY so you are more likely to get what you need!  Reservation deadline is October 1. 

      Days Inn provides complimentary breakfast.  Other restaurants – K’s across the street and Pheasant Run for example – are reasonably near.  We experienced a glitch when the motel changed ownership.  The room we planned to use for hospitality is no longer available.  The cost of keeping the banquet room Friday evening is prohibitive.  We can stay until 10:30 after the Saturday evening banquet to socialize. 

      A good deal of time this year was spent putting the office back together after our move.  We participated in resource fairs in Pratt, Dodge City, and Hays.  A fun event was the fund raiser during the presentation of Butterflies are Free at Auburn Community Theater.  I provided a workshop attended by 20 folks in Hays.  Although we have only 103 paid members this year, our mailing list includes over 500 individuals.  My goal is to talk with each of you to gather your thoughts about KABVI and how we can make the organization more effective.  It concerns me that so few people attend our convention and annual meeting because, not only is its purpose for you to guide the activities of your organization, it’s a chance for us to share ideas, get to know one another better and perhaps have a little fun. 

      We again ask each person to complete the enclosed form whether or not you will attend the convention/annual meeting.  It’s difficult to keep our records up-to-date, and your completing this information is a GREAT help!  If you can’t join us in Hays, please complete the form before it gets buried among all the other paper, and send it back to us (with $10 for 2015 dues if possible.)  Thanks in advance.       

Sincerely,

Nancy Johnson, KABVI President

KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

94^th CONVENTION and ANNUAL MEETING

October 17-19, 2014

ACTIVITIES

Friday, October 17

All Friday and Saturday activities at Whiskey Creek Restaurant, Banquet Room

10:00              Registration begins

10:30-4:30     Exhibits and craft sale

1:00-3:30       iPad/iPhone training (bring your device)

Evening meal on your own

Saturday, October 18

8:45    Welcome and stuff you may need to know – Nancy

            Johnson

9:00    Business Enterprise Program – Steve Leary,

Program Administrator

9:30    Audio-Reader – Peggy Sampson, Outreach

Coordinator, Audio-Reader

10:00  Talking Books – Toni Harrell, Director, Kansas

Talking Books Services

10:30  Break

10:45  Kansas School for the Blind Outreach Program –

            Anne S. Nielsen, Ph.D., Outreach Coordinator,

Kansas School for the Blind

11:15  Piano Tuning School – Loren Buntemeyer, School

Representative

11:45  Who’s here? – Nancy Chaffin

12:00  Lunch on your own

1:15    Employment First – Rocky Nichols, Director,

Disability Rights Center of Kansas

1:45    FEMA – Lisa Bothwell, Regional Disability

Integration Specialist, U.S. Department of

Homeland Security

2:15    President’s Report – Nancy Johnson, President

2:30    Treasurer’s Report – Bob Chaffin, Treasurer

2:45    Break

3:00    Annual Business Meeting – Election of board

members and officers

5:00    Adjourn

6:00    Banquet

Stay after the banquet until 10:30 to socialize.

Sunday, October 19

9:00    Board meeting – open to all – K’s Restaurant

11:00  Adjourn

Have a safe trip home and please join us again next year!

Please complete the attached information BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2014, and send in the enclosed envelope to:

Robert Chaffin, Treasurer

KABVI

1105 Centennial Blvd.

Hays, KS  67601

REMEMBER: Registration deadline is October 1, 2015. 

KABVI Membership Application

Date Submitted:  ____________________________

____ Enclosed is $10.00 for KABVI dues.

____ Enclosed is $250 for my Life Membership.

NAME: ____________________________________

ADDRESS: _________________________________

CITY _____________________ STATE: __________

ZIP: _________ TELEPHONE: (_____) ___________

E-MAIL ADDRESS:  _________________________

Are you: 

_____ Legally blind _____ Visually impaired 

_____ Deaf-blind _____ Sighted

I would like the KABVI NEWS and THE BRAILLE FORUM in: 

_____ Braille _____ Large print _____ Cartridge

_____ Regular print ______ E-mail

_____ I do not want these publications.

_____ Tax-deductible donation to KABVI

2014 CONVENTION REGISTRATION

_____ $10.00 2015 dues           

_____ $15.00       Registration for   ____    number

Participants

Meal Choices –

_____ Macadamia nut chicken – Chicken encrusted in macadamia nuts, dipped in honey di jon dressing, served over mashed potatoes with honey garlic vegetables and house salad.

_____   Chicken-fried dinner – Tenderized sirloin steak flash-fried to golden brown, topped with country gravy, served with mashed potatoes and green beans. 

_____   Spaghetti Prima Vera:  Spaghetti topped with prima vera sauce, served with warm garlic bread and house salad. 

_____ $17.00 Saturday banquet      _____ Number

Attending

_____             Total Enclosed

Have questions?  Please contact the KABVI office. 

(785) 235-8990 or toll free 1-800-799-1499.

      We will return your call. 

Please return this information, with your payment, in the enclosed envelope to:

            Robert Chaffin, Treasurer

            1105 Centennial Blvd.

            Hays, KS  67601