The 2021 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind on Track to be Bigger and Better than Ever

by John Berggren

From the Editor: John Berggren is the chairperson of Convention Organization and Activities, and it is in this capacity that he provides this article. He fills so many important roles that listing them would exceed the length of his article. Let it suffice to say that he is as kind, generous, and competent as all of his titles imply. Here’s what he has to say:

Here we are in the June edition of the Braille Monitor and heading into the homestretch for national convention registration. Monday, May 31, is the last day you can register and still receive many of the benefits of registration. First and foremost, registration is free to all. Those completing the form will ensure they receive the latest convention information as it is made available. Registering by the deadline also allows current members to enroll for voting during the convention. And, of course, there are the door prizes. What would general sessions be without door prizes? As they say, you have got to be in it to win it. Head to www.nfb.org/registration and register today. Those without internet access should reach out to their local chapter or affiliate for assistance.

While there is no registration fee to attend the National Federation of the Blind 2021 National Convention, please consider a donation if you are able to do so. Operating the national convention virtually still costs money. There is a donation option available during the registration process. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Throughout the pandemic, the Federation has depended heavily on the video conferencing platform Zoom to keep our members connected. As with our virtual convention last year, we will again use Zoom to host our roughly two hundred sessions throughout convention week. This means that whether you are using your desktop computer, a mobile device, or a landline telephone, you will be able to participate in the 2021 National Convention from the comfort of your own home. We will again have a webpage dedicated to Zoom usage that will include dial-in numbers, shortcuts for various platforms, and other helpful guidance. Look for a link on our convention information page at www.nfb.org/convention.

While Zoom will be our primary platform for broadcast and participation, you will also be able to listen to the board meeting, general sessions, and the banquet using several different alternatives. The options include Shoutcast, YouTube, NFB-NEWSLINE®, and Amazon Alexa. These same events—and possibly others—will be interpreted in Spanish, available on a dedicated Zoom channel.

One of the greatest components of our national convention is the opportunity for each of us to voice our opinions through the power of our vote. Eligible members will again be able to cast votes in national elections and for resolutions using either a phone or an SMS text message. To be eligible for this Federation right, you must do two things: register for convention no later than May 31 and be current on your NFB dues by May 31. When you register for convention, you will be asked for the phone number from which you intend to vote. This is important, as only votes cast from qualified phone numbers will be tabulated. Keep in mind that if participating in convention using the phone, you will ideally specify a different number for voting. There will be multiple opportunities to test the vote-casting process in advance of convention. Stay tuned for details.

For those attendees for whom a mobile device is simply another bodily appendage, there is good news on the mobile app front. Our convention agenda and exhibit hall will be available via the CrowdCompass platform, as it was last year. Available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices as well as desktop browsers, CrowdCompass provides convenient access to the agenda, allows users to join sessions with the click of a button, customize a personal agenda, explore the online exhibit hall, and chat with other CrowdCompass convention goers. Further details about the mobile app will be posted to the NFB website when it is available for download this June.

If this is your first convention and you would like to get a sense of what to expect, I would strongly encourage you to mark your calendar for the Rookie Roundup meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. As for what will be happening throughout convention week, visit www.nfb.org/convention in early June for the convention agenda. You will find several agenda formats, one of which will be sure to fit your needs.

As we have noted many times, there truly is no substitute for getting together in person, greeting one another with a hug or a handshake, and grabbing lunch in the hotel restaurant with an old friend. But that said, there will be no shortage of excitement this summer when we convene for our virtual convention. The content will be as relevant, the connections as meaningful, and the experiences as memorable as you would expect from the largest gathering of the organized blind. I look forward to meeting you virtually and sharing another spectacular event this July.