Kansas City in July Means Progress for the Blind

Kansas City in July Means Progress for the Blind

Braille MonitorMay-June 1986
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Kansas City in July Means Progress for the Blind
by Richard Edlund and Gary Wunder

It is fast approaching that time of
year when Federationists gather to take
stock of our progress, take collective
action, and draw strength and inspiration
by being a part of the most fantastic
people's organization in the country,
the National Federation of the
Blind. For many of us the convention is
the highpoint of our year, a time when
we work hard, play hard, and go home
exhausted, exhilarated, ready for next
year's convention, but hoping we will
have just a moment to catch our breath.
One distinctive characteristic of Federation conventions is that they
never let us down. All the months of
waiting are rewarded when, spellbound in
anxious anticipation, we hear the striking
of the gavel and the announcement
that "The convention of the National
Federation of the Blind is now in order."
Registering
is another highpoint when
we get our agendas and see that the
impossible has been done: Our topics and
guest speakers are even more exciting
than last year and our expert panelists
are second to none, probably because so
many of them come from our own ranks.
This year the convention is being
hosted by the Kansas and Missouri affiliates.
As usual, the hosts have done
a remarkable job of bringing to Federationists
the ultimate in hospitality,
tours, door prizes, and some little
extras. The affiliates will staff a
joint suite where Federationists are
encouraged to come and participate in
the excitement that comes from sharing
our experience, strength, and hope. We
will have a desk in the lobby for your
convenience, which will provide help or
information. We will also assign an
ambassador to meet with each state delegation
to deal with any questions or
problems you may have.
Before we discuss all that awaits you,
let's talk about how we can help you get
there. Kansas City International Airport
is quite a distance from downtown
Kansas City, and travelers should be
aware that under deregulation, taxi cabs
may charge as much as they wish to
transport you to our hotels. The City
Council is currently discussing concerns
raised by persons who have been charged
as much as $40 to reach downtown. Remember:
If you plan to travel by taxi,
negotiate your rate before you begin
your trip.
To make your trip a bit easier we have
organized transportation from the airport
to any of the Federation hotels at
a cost to you of $6. To take advantage
of this service, you must contact us in
advance. Roy Zuvers is coordinating
transportation, and he will accept requests
either by letter or telephone.
Requests should include: 1) your full
name and address; 2) the date and time
you will be arriving; 3) the airline you
will be using; 4) your flight number;
and 5) the number of persons in your
party. Roy may be reached by writing
him at 232 West 82nd Terrace, Kansas
City, Missouri 64114 or by calling 816333-2173.
If calling, please be prepared
to leave your information on an
electronic answering machine. Please do
not send money to us to cover the cost
of transportation or any tours mentioned
in this article. The $6 fee for transportation
will be collected by your
driver, and you may pay for any tours
when purchasing tickets at the convention.
Should
you wish to avoid the necessity
of making transportation reservations
but still wish a reduced fair, you may
ride the bus, which runs from the airport
to the Hyatt at a price of $8.50.
Remember that this bus will not take you
to a hotel other than the Hyatt.
Our tours will begin on Saturday with
a pub crawl. For those who like to
party, buses will be available to take
you to some of the finest jazz spots in
Kansas City. Buses will run from 8:00
p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and participants in
the crawl may visit as many attractions
as they wish. If you like the first
stop, stay there. If you are an adventurer, try them all. Although jazz is a
major attraction in most of the clubs
visited, there are other spots available
featuring a different beat. The cost of
the pub crawl is $12.50, and convention
goers can take advantage of this opportunity
on the Saturday before or the
Saturday after convention. The heartier
ones among us might even wish to take
advantage of both.
On Wednesday there will be a tour of
Independence, Missouri, the town that
brought us former president Harry
Truman. The price will be $13.50, and
the tour will include stops at Truman's
home, the Truman Library, and the courthouse
where Truman first served as a
public official. This tour will begin
at 1:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.
On Wednesday evening you may wish to
participate in a boat cruise on the
Missouri River Boat Queen. The price of
the cruise will be something over $20.
The boat will not be reserved by the NFB
and reservations must be made after your
arrival in Kansas City.
One of the things Kansas City is noted
for is its food. To help Federationists
get to restaurants located some distance
from downtown, we will provide vans on
request. We expect costs to be no more
than $5 a head for transportation to
establishments such as the Golden Ox,
Jess and Jim's Steak House, Gates Barbeque,
Stephenson's Apple Farm,
Haywards, and Arthur Bryant's, the restaurant
where President Carter ate when
last in Kansas City.
Each night during the convention we
will host a hospitality room where Federationists
can meet new friends and
share memories with old acquaintances.
We will have an eight piece band on
Tuesday evening for the dance, as well
as other entertainment during the week.
No convention would be complete without
door prizes, and Mike Roberts intends
to see that we have a ton of them
to give away. Persons wishing to send
prizes for the convention should ship
them to Mike Roberts, 5410 Crest Drive,
Kansas City, Kansas 66116, 913-236-5944.
Please do not send prizes to the
National Center for the Blind. Prizes
should be worth $25 or more and should
be labeled in print and Braille, giving
a description of the item, who gets
credit for donating it, and its approximate
value.
The 1986 convention promises to be a
whizaroo. We will review our progress,
take stock of matters affecting the
blind, and make decisions that will
determine the opportunities for the
blind for many years to come. We will
elect a President and members of our
Board, adopt policy statements to guide
them, and share and strengthen our resolve
to make the lives of all blind
persons a little better tomorrow than
they are today. Come and be a part of
it all. Make your mark on progress,
share your enthusiasm with others, and
rejoice in the knowledge that we are the
blind of America in action.
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