Convention Bulletin 2003

Convention Bulletin 2003

The Braille Monitor

December 2002

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Convention Bulletin 2003

The Galt House at night

It is time to plan for the 2003 convention of the National

Federation of the Blind. Again this year we will gather in Louisville, Kentucky,

home of the Kentucky Derby and site of the memorable 2002 NFB convention.

We will return to the hospitality of the Galt House Hotel

and the Galt House East Tower. Once again our hotel rates are the envy of all.

For the 2003 convention they are singles, doubles, and twins $57 and triples

and quads $63. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present

is 13.95 percent. No charge will be made for children fifteen and under in the

room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested.

For 2003 convention room reservations you should write directly

to the Galt House Hotel, 140 N. Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, or

call (502) 589-5200. You can make reservations for either the Galt House Hotel

(known familiarly as the Galt House West) or the Galt House East Tower (called

the Galt House East) by calling this number. The restaurants and outdoor pool

are located on the west side of the facility, and the East Tower contains a

number of suites consisting of a bedroom, bath, and living room with a refrigerator

and wet bar. The hotel will want a deposit of $60 or a credit card number. If

you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately,

just as would be the case with a $60 check. If a reservation is cancelled prior

to June 1, 2003, $30 of the $60 deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds

will not be made.

The West Tower has twenty-five floors, and the East Tower

has eighteen. Guest-room amenities include cable television, coffee pot, iron

and ironing board, hair dryer, and dataport.

The Galt House has two restaurants—the River Grill, which

is moderately priced, and the Flagship, a revolving restaurant on the roof,

which provides one of Louisville's finest dining experiences, with prices to

match. See later issues of the Monitor for information about tours and

other attractions in the Greater Louisville area.

The 2003 convention of the National Federation of the Blind

will be a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program and

rededication to the goals and work of our movement. Make plans now to be a part

of it. The schedule this year is back to our usual one. Preconvention seminars

for parents of blind children and other groups and set-up of the exhibit hall

will take place on Saturday, June 28, and adjournment will be Friday, July 4,

at 5:00 p.m. Convention registration will begin on Sunday, June 29, and both

Sunday and Monday will be filled with meetings of divisions and committees,

including the Monday morning annual meeting of the board of directors of the

National Federation of the Blind, which is open to all.

General convention sessions begin on Tuesday, July 1, and

continue through the afternoon of Friday, July 4. The annual banquet will take

place on Thursday evening, July 3. To assure yourself a room in the headquarters

hotel at convention rates, you must make reservations early. An ambitious renovation

program will remove some rooms from our block this year, and the suites in the

East Tower are always snapped up quickly, as many learned to their regret last

year. The hotel will be ready to take your call or deal with your written request

by January 1.

Remember that as usual we need door prizes from state affiliates,

local chapters, and individuals. Once again prizes should be small in size but

large in value. Cash, of course, is always appropriate and welcome. As a general

rule we ask that prizes of all kinds have a value of at least $25. Drawings

will occur steadily throughout the convention sessions, and you can anticipate

a grand prize of truly impressive proportions to be drawn at the banquet. You

may bring door prizes with you or send them ahead of time (identifying the item

and donor and listing the value in print and Braille) to Kevin Pearl, 2716 Hillside

Terrace, Louisville, Kentucky 40206‑2513.

The best collection of exhibits, featuring new technology;

meetings of our special interest groups, committees, and divisions; memorable

tours arranged by the host Kentucky affiliate; the most stimulating and provocative

program items of any meeting of the blind in the world; the chance to renew

friendships in our Federation family; and the unparalleled opportunity to be

where the real action is and where decisions are being made—all of these

mean you will not want to miss being a part of the 2003 national convention.

We'll see you in Louisville in 2003!

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