American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention Issue 2023 A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Celebrating Our Movement, Building Our Community
by Deborah Kent Stein
"How many people in this room attended their first national convention in the 1960s?" asked NFB President Mark Riccobono from the convention podium.
"I!" came a smattering of replies, the voices of people who attended their first national convention more than fifty years ago.
"How many of you attended your first convention in the 1970s?" President Riccobono asked.
This time the chorus of "I's" was stronger. Even more voices responded when President Riccobono asked to hear from those who attended their first convention in the 1980s.
Decade by decade, the chorus swelled through the meeting hall. Finally, when President Riccobono asked to hear from those who were attending their very first convention this year, the room rocked with enthusiastic shouts and applause.
For thousands of Federationists our annual convention is an event not to be missed. It is a milestone in the year's calendar, as indisputable as major birthdays and holidays. Many of us plan throughout the year, saving up money and vacation time to ensure that we will be able to attend. This dedication is a testament to the power of our movement and the role that our community plays in our lives.
Held at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston, Texas, the 2023 NFB National Convention brought together nearly three thousand blind people and their friends, families, and allies. Another fifteen hundred people attended convention sessions and workshops virtually from across the United States and around the globe. Convention-goers attended gatherings of people with special personal or professional interests: blind lawyers, blind parents, blind people in the performing arts, blind educators, blind people in the human services, and many more. In the vast Exhibit Hall, they had the chance to get hands-on experience with the latest access technology. During convention General Sessions attendees sat with their state delegations to hear inspiring presentations by movers and shakers who are changing what it means to be blind.
On July 1, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children hosted its annual conference. This year the conference theme was "Reach for the Stars." The theme certainly resonated with blind students who aspire to enter scientific fields, but its implications extended even further. To reach for the stars is to stretch beyond expectations, to follow one's dreams into uncharted territory.
Convention concluded on July 6 with the Annual Banquet. The centerpiece of the evening was a stirring address by President Riccobono, "Belief, Courage, and Wisdom: Centering on the Blind People's Movement." You can read the speech at https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/banquet-speeches/belief-courage-and-wisdom-centering-blind-peoples.
This issue of Future Reflections contains highlights of Convention 2023. The speeches and presentations that appear in these pages carry the positive message of the organized blind movement, but they can only hint at the vibrancy of convention itself. If you were with us in Houston, they will remind you of your own convention adventures and discoveries. If you haven't yet attended an NFB convention, perhaps they will inspire you to join us in Orlando in 2024. When President Riccobono asks, "How many of you are here at convention for the first time?" you can add your voice to the shouts and cheers.