2025 State Convention Agenda
2025 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
OF WEST VIRGINIA CONVENTION
Holiday Inn--University Area, 1188 Pineview Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 241-6649
AGENDA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
3:00 PM Hotel Check-in; Drop off door prizes and auction items to the Presidential Suite (Suite # to be announced)
5:00 PM Dinner on your own
7:30 PM NFBWV Board of Directors Meeting; open to all (Board Room)
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025
BLIND COMMUNITY UNITY DAY
Morning Session—Presentations & Exhibits
8:30 AM Vendor Booths Setup
9:00 AM 2025 Convention Called to Order; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President (Semper Section)
Welcome and announcements; Sheri Koch
Brief Audience Self-Introductions
Vendor Mini Presentations: 5 to 10 minutes each (Montani Section)
West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS); Doug Cumpston
Jehovah’s Witness; Kevin & Lisa Willis, Ron & Dianne Barnett
West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB); Melanie Hesse
Disability Rights of West Virginia; (representative to be announced)
West Virginia EyeCan Lions Club; Ahmad Shafi, Pete & Rhonda Smith
This & That Gadgets Table; NFBWV Members
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Low Vision Devices; Sheri Koch for Lee Huffman
10:30 AM Break
10:45 AM Visit the Vendor Booths
12:00 PM Box Lunch for all: Provided by NFBWV (Semper Section)
Afternoon Session—Reports & Presentations
1:00 PM On the National Level: Who we are; Jim Marks, NFB National Representative
1:15 PM On the State Level: Who We Are; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
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1:30 PM West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS): A Close Look at Employment of Blind West Virginians; Candice Ward, Assistant Director and Kevin Maynus, Program Specialist, Blind Services
2:15 PM West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB); Melanie Hesse, Dean of Students & Student Pannel
3:00 PM Wendy Bailey, Blind/Low Vision Education Coordinator WVSDB Outreach
3:15 PM Break
3:30 PM American Foundation for the Blind (AFB); Haley Linville, Business Services Manager
4:00 PM Disability Rights of West Virginia; (presenter to be announced)
4:20 PM LiveAbility Center for Independent Living, Morgantown; Annetta Johnson, Administrative Director
4:40 PM Adjourn
Evening Session—Dinner & Auction
6:00 PM Dinner: Plated meal (Montani, Semper Sections)
8:00 PM Pot Pouri Auction: Fundraiser; Marcus Soulsby, Auctioneer (Montani, Semper Sections)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025
Morning General Session—Taking a Closer Look
(Montani, Semper Section)
8:30 AM Call to Order and Brief Remarks; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
Invocation; Harold “Tommy” Rogers
Pledge of Allegiance; Led by Jack Yahnke
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NFB Pledge; Led by Karen McDonald
“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.”
8:40 AM Report from the National Office: A Closer Look; Jim Marks, National Representative
9:40 AM Affiliate Report: A Closer Look at What’s Going On in West Virginia; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
10:00 AM Break
10:15 AM Training for Life at an NFB Center: My Experience at the Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ahmad Shafi, NFBWV Member at Large
11:00 AM Challenging Inaccessibility at the University Level; Harold Rogers, WVU MSW Student and NFBWV Member at Large
11:30 AM NFBWV Chapter Reports
Members at Large: Ed McDonald, Chapter President
Sightless Workers Guild of Wheeling: Jack Yahnke, Chapter President
12:00 PM Box lunch (Sempre Section)
Afternoon General Session (Montani, Semper Sections)
1:30 PM RESOLUTIONS Committee Report; Ed McDonald, Chair
1:45 PM Scholarship Committee Report; Karen McDonald, Chair
2:00 PM Brochure Development Committee Report; Carol McGhee, Chair
2:15 PM University Outreach Committee Report; Michelle McKeller, Chair
2:30 PM Fundraising Committee Report; Harold Rogers, Chair
3:00 PM Break
Other Special Projects and Ongoing Activities
3:15 PM Outreach & Membership; Dane Campbell
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3:30 PM NFBWV ADA Accommodations Manual; Harold Rogers
4:00 PM West Virginia EyeCan Lions Club; Ahmad Shafi, President
4:20 PM Reflections from “A Well-Respected and Loved Old Timer”; Ed McDonald
4:40 PM Where Do We Go from Here? Group Discussion
5:00 PM Adjourn
6:30 PM BANQUET
Master of Ceremonies; Ed McDonald
Keynote Address; Jim Marks, National Representative
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025
9:00 AM In Memoriam: Remembering Those We’ve Loved and Lost; Marcus Soulsby, (Montani Semper Section)
10:00 AM Adjourn - THANKS AND SAFE TRAVELS