55th Annual State Convention

National Federation 

Of The Blind Tennessee

April 19-21, 2024

 

DoubleTree by Hilton Murfreesboro

1850 Old Fort Parkway

Murfreesboro, TN 

615-895-5555

 

Theme: Low Vision and Blindness: All in the Federation Family

 

National Federation of the Blind Pledge

“I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.”

NaviLens QR Code

Important notes:  

• When coming off the elevators on the sleeping floors, you can potentially run straight into a stair well going down, so please make sure to use your cane correctly.

• For Guide dog users, when walking down the hallway towards the exhibit hall and meeting rooms, you will run into carpet.  Immediately before hitting the carpet is a door on the right that leads outside to a courtyard. If you turn right out the door, you will soon run into the building and directly to the left will be some grass and a trashcan for your doggy doo.  

• Registration will be held at the first table in the exhibit hall on Friday from 2:00-6:00 P.M and Saturday from 8:00-9:00 A.M.  

• Come join us on Friday night at 8:00 P.M. for a fun-filled family movie night. Bring the kiddos! We will be showing Wonka with audio description. There will be no cover charge, but a $5 donation would be appreciated to help cover the cost of Wonka themed snacks. Watch for the golden ticket. You could leave with a fun prize!

• A respite room will be open on Saturday Morning and Afternoon during General Sessions for you or the kiddos to take a break from the convention hall. There will be caregivers there to watch the kids while you enjoy the offerings of the convention.  

• Take advantage of all the free fun, food, and fellowship offered at the hospitality suite in Room 501 on the 5th floor. Take a right off the elevators, and it is the first door on the right.

• Affiliate president James Brown asks that you excuse him weaving his obsession with 80’s sitcoms into the theme of convention and to have fun and enjoy the weekend. 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

 

Friday, April 19, 2024

 

12:00-6:00 PM: 

Exhibit Hall in hallway outside of meeting rooms 

 

2:00-6:00 PM: 

Registration near Exhibit Hall entrance 

 

2:30-3:45 PM:

NFBTN Board of Directors Meeting

Taking Care of Family Business

Boardroom

Affiliate President: James Brown, NFBTN

Antioch, TN

 

3:00-4:00 PM: 

Hospitality Room  

Join us for food and fellowship!

Room 501

4:00-5:00 PM: 

Financial Audit Committee

A Look at the Family’s Finances

Boardroom

Committee Chair: Melissa Smith, Member, Scenic City Chapter

Chattanooga, TN

4:00-5:00 PM:

Resolutions Committee

Making Important Decisions at the Federation Family Table\

Veterans Room

Committee Chair: Amanda Juetten

Cookeville, TN

5:00-6:15 PM:

TN Seniors’ Division

Come to find out how the seniors’ Silver Bells can call you home to independence!

Veterans Room

Division President: Yvonne Neubert

Knoxville, TN

 

5:00-6:15 PM:

TN Organization of Parents of Blind Children 

Make plans to come to our Parents of Blind Children family Meeting and enjoy a time of networking with other Parents.  We will have a conversation about the future of our Division and the role that Parents can have in helping to build our Affiliate.  

Boardroom

Division President: Cassie McKinney

Jackson, TN

 

6:30-9:00 PM:

Hospitality Room is Open

Join us for more food and fellowship!

Room 501

 

 

 

 

 

6:00-8:00 PM: 

TN Association of Guide Dog Users

Come Join the yearly family gathering of guide dogs and their humans where you’ll find a number of guide dog schools and handlers talking about the benefits and challenges of having a furry partner.

Heartland Ballroom

Division President: DeAnna Moore

Bristol, TN

 

6:15-7:30 PM:

At Large Chapter Meeting

Our At-Large Chapter is looking forward to being together at Convention where we can take full advantage of being in one place by sharing a meal together. People interested in taking part in our gathering should meet in the hotel Lobby at 6:15pm where we will organize going out Dutch for dinner. For questions please reach-out to Josh Harper, 629-236-2428.

Chapter President: Josh Harper

Nashville, TN

 

8:00-10:00 PM: 

Here’s your chance to experience Wonka Audio Description Movie Night. Bring the whole family, and don’t forget to watch out for the golden ticket!

Heartland Ballroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 20, 2024

 

7:30-8:30 AM: 

Hospitality Room is Open

Join us for more food and fellowship!

Room 501

 

8:00-9:00 AM: 

Registration in Exhibit Hall entrance.

 

10:00 AM-3:00 PM: 

Exhibit Hall in hallway outside of meeting rooms. 

 

9:00 A.M. -12:00 PM: 

General Session 

Heartland Ballroom

Theme: Low Vision and Blindness: All in the Federation Family

 

9:00 AM: 

Call to Order! 

James Brown, President, NFB of TN

Antioch, TN

Invocation, National Anthem and Federation Pledge:

Grace Day and Dr. Deborah Carter

Cookeville and Memphis, TN

Welcome to the Family: Greetings from Middle TN

Tracey Fields, President, Nashville Chapter

Smyrna, TN

 

 

 

 

9:20 AM: 

Report from Our National Rep: 

Who’s the Federation Boss?!!

Jessica Beecham, Board Member, 

National Federation of the Blind

Colorado Springs, CO

 

9:50 AM: 

2023 Tennessee Scholarship Class

Family Ties for a TN Scholarship

Terry Smith, Chair, Scholarship Committee

Chattanooga, TN

 

10:10 AM:

National Association of Blind Students Report

Saved by the Bell!

Manahil Jafri, NABS Board Member 

New York City, NY

 

10:30 AM:

Learning to Drive with Vocational Rehabilitation

Growing Pains in TN

Quin Howard, VR Field Supervisor Middle TN, VR Sensory Unit

Murfreesboro, TN

 

11:00 AM: 

Standing Up to Bullies without Looking!

STRIVE4You’s Greatest American Hero 

Ricky Jones, Executive Director, STRIVE4You

Madison, TN 

 

 

 

11:30 AM: 

A Blind Mental Health Professional Talkingto a Panel About Growing up with Low Vision and Blindness!

Urkel Said Family Really Does Matter

Dr. Bobbie Davis LCSW

Adult and Child Adolescent Psychoanalytic Candidate

Board Member, Fort Campbell Chapter

Clarksville TN

 

12:00 P.M.

Adjourn for Morning Session

12:00 P.M. -1:45 PM:

Tennessee Association of Blind Merchants

Bringing the TBE Family Together for a Lunch Meeting

Heartland Ballroom

Division President: Troy Rogers

Ashland City, TN

 

12:00 P.M. -1:30 PM:

Hospitality Room is Open

Join us for more food and fellowship!

Room 501

 

2:00-5:00 PM: 

General Session

Heartland Ballroom

Theme: Low Vision and Blindness: All in the Federation Family

 

 

 

2:00 PM: 

The Intersection of Low Vision and Blindness!

It Takes Different Strokes to Rule the World

Jessica Beecham, Board Member, 

National Federation of the Blind

Colorado Springs, CO

 

2:20 PM: 

Raising a Blind/Low vision child as a Blind Parent

It’s a Federation Full House!

Cassie McKinney, President, 

National Association of Blind Parents 

Jackson, TN

 

2:40 PM: 

Dating Blind in the Modern World

The 2024 Facts of Life 

Manahil Jafri, NABS Board Member 

New York City, NY

 

3:00 PM:

Healthy Dynamics in Marriage

Married with Children in Cookeville

Amanda Juetten, President, Upper Cumberland Chapter 

Cookeville, TN

 

3:20 PM: 

Teaching Sighted Family and Friends to do Audio Description

Home Improvement with the Meredith Clan

April, David, and Asher Meredith

Members, Nashville Chapter

Christiana, TN

 

 

3:35 PM: 

Story of a Professional Live Audio Describer

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Beth Crabb, Tennessee Performing Arts Audio Describer

Nashville, TN

 

3:55 PM: 

Why I’m a Federationist

How to be Like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Dr. Deborah Carter, 1st. VP, National Federation of the Blind TN

Memphis, TN

 

4:10 PM: 

More Accessible Elections in a City Near You

You’ve Got a Friend in the Federation!

Mark Goins, State Coordinator of Elections

Nashville, TN

 

4:40 PM: 

Nominating Committee Report

Chair, Cassie McKinney 

NFBTN Board Member

Jackson, TN

 

4:45 PM: 

Elections

James Brown, President, NFB of TN

Antioch, TN

 

5:00 PM: 

Adjourn

 

 

7:00-10:00 PM:

Banquet: Heartland Ballroom

Master of Ceremony: Amanda Juetten

Scholarship Presentation: Terry Smith

Keynote Address: Jessica Beecham, Board Member, 

National Federation of the Blind

 

Sunday April 21, 2024

 

7:30-8:30 AM:

 

Nondenominational Service

Message by Nashville Chapter Member David Robertson

Veterans Room

9:00 AM: 

General Session: 

Veterans Room

Call to Order 

James Brown, President, NFB of TN

Antioch, TN

 

9:05 AM: 

Invocation

Faheem Bengazi, Member, Cleveland Chapter

Cleveland, TN

 

9:10 AM: 

Chapter and Division Rollcall

 

9:40 AM: 

Legislative Committee Report

Yvonne Neubert, Chair, Legislative Committee

Knoxville, TN

 

9:55 AM: 

Audit Committee Report

Melissa Smith, Chair

Chattanooga, TN

 

10:10 AM: 

Treasurer’s Report

Josh Harper, Treasurer, NFB of TN

Nashville, TN

 

10:25 AM:

Civic TN and NFBTN Accessible Elections Partnership

Steven Adelson, Civic TN Project Director 

Middle TN

 

10:55 AM:

NFBTN Accessible Prescription Rules Go Live in TN

Yvonne Neubert, Chair, Legislative Committee 

Knoxville, TN

 

11:05 AM: 

4th Year of Educate and Equip to Empower Seminars 

Tracey Fields, President, Nashville Chapter

Smyrna, TN 

 

11:15 AM: 

BELL Braille Camps are Back for the Kiddos

Michelle Quinn, BELL Coordinator

Clarksville, TN

 

11:25 AM: 

Blindness Training Center Update

Amanda Juetten, President, Upper Cumberland Chapter

Cookeville, TN 

 

11:35 AM: 

Resolutions Report

Amanda Juetten, Chair, Resolutions Committee

Cookeville, TN 

 

11:50 AM:

Customary Motions

Nominating an Alternate Delegate to National Convention 

State Convention 2025

 

12:00 PM: 

Adjourn

 

Thank you to all of our members! 

We couldn’t do this without you.

 

President: James Aaron Brown

3073 Bluffhollow Gap

Antioch, TN 37013

(615) 681-8484