Florida Federation Focus
The magazine of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Spring 2007
Marion Gwizdala, Editor
A TRIBUTE TO DR. TOM HARTIG
by Peggy Elliott
Editor’s Note: Peggy Elliott is the Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind and Chairs the Federation’s Scholarship Committee. As a volunteer for NFB-Nesline®, Peggy
worked closely with Dr. Tom hartig.
I worked closely with Tom Hartig through Newsline®, and I'm feeling the loss of him. So, I decided to write a little something about him, which I wanted to share with you.
Tom Hartig was a triangle with equal parts gentleman, advocate, and friend. Like the percussion instrument, Tom could appear solo, as well as function as the part of a larger whole. Like the instrument, his distinctive voice was always audible within the broader soundscape.
Tom, the gentleman, was unfailingly courteous to all and treated each fellow human with respect. He lived by the Golden Rule; he treated others in the way he expected to be treated and it worked! Tom showed, by how he interacted with others, the genuine respect he had for humankind; and he did so seamlessly, routinely, thoroughly as would be expected from a gentleman.
Tom, the advocate, proved that a gentleman doesn't have to be a wimp. Tom had strong beliefs, not only on how humans should interact but on what was right, valuable, and worth doing. These beliefs showed most strongly in his work for Newsline for the Blind and for the National Federation of the Blind, of which he was an active member. Tom served as treasurer for the Florida affiliate and chaired the national Planned Giving Committee. However, Tom's advocacy shone most brightly for Newsline, a program of the Federation he loved, fostered, fussed over, and flacked incessantly.
If there is someone in Florida who has not heard of Newsline or an eligible Floridian who has not been offered the service, it's not because of Tom's lack of trying! Florida, as the result of its large senior population has a large population of individuals losing vision. Tom viewed these facts as an opportunity, his own personal vineyard to cultivate, nurture, and harvest. Tom loved the rewards of bringing the newspaper back to people who thought they had lost access to that wealth of information through declining vision. Tom's Newsline advocacy was like a contagion, and Tom worked hard to infect fellow Florida Federationists with the same urge to spread Newsline. With its large population and its devoted corps of workers, Florida consistently tops the list on all Newsline measurements, a matter of pride for Tom and, more importantly, the result of his devoted work and advocacy in giving to others of the richness of the Federation in which he so believed.
Tom, the friend, was warm, interested, curious, supportive, and encouraging, sometimes to the point of the quick metaphorical kick in the shin, if needed. When encountering Tom, one encountered all three: the gentleman, the advocate, and the friend. It was always an experience that left one ready for the next encounter.
Tom, our gentleman, advocate, and friend, has gone on to other vineyards. We know he is finding things to do, bolstering the hesitant and regaling friends. No, triangle isn't right for Tom. Instead, Tom was a prism, breaking apart our daily existence into brilliant colors and allowing us to enjoy the individual constituents of life's rich and varied experiences. I will always be glad I knew such a prism for the joy it brought into my life and the lessons he taught. Tom, the prism, will live on through all those onto whom he shed those brilliant colors of life.
EDITOR’S FOREWORD
Family reunions are always exciting events. We have the opportunity to re-connect with those with whom we share common bonds, catch up on the lives of those we care about, see how individuals have changed, witness how we have grown, and remember those who are no longer with us. The conventions of the National Federation of the Blind are the reunions of the Federation family. Until you have attended this reunion, you cannot appreciate how much of a family we are.
This issue of the Florida Federation Focus will provide valuable information about our family reunion to be held in Tampa, Florida. It is my hope that this issue will motivate you to attend the largest reunion of the Blind family in the state of Florida. This year’s reunion promises to be bigger and better than any other, and your presence will make it so!
As the reunion approaches, family members begin to communicate through the exchange of letters and emails. Likewise, when the reunions are over, many family members continue these exchanges and stay connected. This is true with the Federation family, as well. Through the Florida Federation Focus, we learn about the advances being made in Florida and around the country as we move closer to achieving our goal of full participation in society on terms of equality.
There are many other ways to stay connected on a global level, especially in this world of the Internet and email. Subscribing to the Braille Monitor will provide you with news of interest to the blind from around the country. A subscription to the Braille Monitor is a privilege of membership. If you are not receiving your subscription, let your Chapter President know you want to receive it. The Braille Monitor is available in ink print, Braille, cassette, via email, and on the world-wide Web. For more information about subscribing to the Braille Monitor and other special interest publications of the NFB, visit our Web site at http://www.nfb.org and click on the “Publications” link. There you will be able to subscribe to the leading journal in the affairs of the blind and read past issues of the magazine.
Another excellent way to stay connected on a regular basis is through our many email lists. The National Federation of the Blind of Florida, as well as many other affiliates and special interest groups within the Federation, are available by going to http://www.nfbnet.org.
Find the link to the National Federation of the Blind of Florida and follow the subscription directions. You will receive an email confirming your subscription. Once you reply to this message, you will begin receiving messages from Federationists around the state and will be able to post your own messages. These messages are motivating, inspirational, and informative. As we approach Convention, especially, this list will provide specific details about our gathering. I look forward to seeing you on the list.
The Florida Parents of Blind Children also has a list serve to help parents be connected and gain support from others. If you are a parent of a blind child or have an interest in issues affecting blind children, this list is a must for you! You can subscribe to the Parental Concerns list by sending an email to
nfbf-parents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
I hope you choose to be more connected to our family. Each individual is a vital part of our Movement. You are important and necessary for our continued growth and strength. I look forward to connecting with you in these special ways and forging new connections with my Federation family. I’ll see you in Tampa!
Marion Gwizdala, Editor
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Dear Florida Federation Focus Readers,
We are in high gear for a phenomenal state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida (NFBF) to take place on Friday, May 25, until noon on Monday, May 28, 2007. As is our usual custom, there will be a meeting of all chapter presidents and vice-presidents following the adjournment of the convention.
I hope you have made your hotel reservations at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel (813-286-4400) in Tampa, Florida; however, if you have not, you should contact the hotel to inquire about room availability for NFBF convention attendees at the special rate of $69, plus tax, per night. For further information, please go to www.nfbflorida.org to read the agenda for this exciting event.
Registration and banquet checks for the convention should be mailed to:
Ms. Gloria Mills-Hicks, Interim Treasurer
E-mail: gloria@irescue-tax.com
Home: 813-254-8249
Work: 813-281-2123
Fax: 813-281-9024
4123 Henderson Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33629
In addition, questions relating to the state convention can be directed to:
Ms. Sherri Brun, NFBF Secretary
Home: 407-898-6024
Fax: 407-898-6041
E-mail: sbrun@cfl.rr.com
1719 Baldwin Drive
Orlando, FL 32806
Don’t miss out on the Friday evening reception for parents and educators of blind children and be sure to visit the exhibitors to see a variety of adaptive equipment items and to obtain valuable information relating to blindness. A meeting of the NFBF board of directors will also take place on Friday evening.
An array of informative seminars will occur all day on Saturday, a reception and auction that evening and then the general convention sessions will kick off on Sunday morning with a “Welcome to Tampa” ceremony put on by the East Hillsborough Chapter, the host for this year’s convention. You will have the opportunity to meet our National President, Dr. Marc Maurer; Representative Dennis Baxley, Speaker pro tem of the Florida House of Representatives; Mitzi Friedlander, our guest talking book reader; Mr. Craig Kiser, Director of Blind Services for the State of Florida; and much, much more.
On Sunday evening, we will hold our convention banquet, at which time Dr. Maurer will provide a special address, the 2007 Scholarship Recipients will be presented, and all of this will be capped off by a fun-filled dance with live music.
On Monday morning we will hold our business session, at which time elections will be held, resolutions will be read and voted upon, and other special reports will be provided.
Please join me for a fantastic NFBF State Convention, which we will dedicate to Dr. Thomas Hartig, whom we lost on February 15 of this year. Tom was greatly loved. He was our State Treasurer, the Director of NEWSLINE and a beloved friend. I know he will be with us in spirit.
With warmest regards,
Kathy Davis, NFBF President
DISCOVERING TAMPA’S CONVENTION TREASURES
by Sherrill O’Brien
As a longtime Tampa resident, I can tell you the area is filled with obvious treasures, including Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), Performing Arts Center, and even our award-winning airport! People are eager to take advantage of what these places have to offer. They come in search of fun, education or inspiration; they take away with them precious memories. Afterward, they enjoy sharing these treasures with others through souvenirs, pictures and personal stories.
I have attended many state and national NFB conventions beginning in the early nineties, and I certainly didn’t start out thinking there were hidden treasures to be found at these events. I thought of them as interesting but somewhat stressful. It didn’t take long, though, before sharing this brief time, jam-packed with activities and brimming with people with so many varying talents and backgrounds, that Convention began to give me a feeling which was difficult to describe. Yes, I had fun, but it wasn’t the same as simply getting on and riding the Busch Gardens roller coasters. The entertainment was provided through the dedication and hard work of NFB members and their friends and families.
A great example would be last year’s reception and auction at our State Convention in Orlando. Many people came dressed in Hawaiian or Caribbean costumes, and we had a Best Costume contest that added to the festive mood of the evening. That creativity will carry over into this year’s event, where NFB chapter members will suddenly transform themselves into fearless pirates and wenches! I helped out behind the scenes, in a small way, prior to the auction, so I felt like I was really part of it. We had so much fun bidding against one another, partly because folks put in long hours procuring a wide variety of appealing items. The whole room caught the spirit! That auction brought in nearly two thousand dollars! Everyone, from workers to participants, left with a feeling of pride. We learned that we could hold a great auction through our own efforts. The fun we had was special because we were the ones who made it possible. That reception and auction were definitely treasures.
Even something as simple as figuring out the layout of a convention hotel, after getting lost numerous times, is so very rewarding. And then what joy in being able to help another convention attendee who is experiencing the same challenge you had only a few hours before! You almost feel like celebrating!
Listening to the Florida Orchestra at the Performing Arts Center can be a very moving experience. But when you sit at a State Convention banquet, surrounded by your chapter friends, and really let the inspiring words of our national representative speaker apply to you, the moment has the possibility of being life changing! When the scholarship winners are called to the stage, you realize all those scholarships were given in loving memory of Federationists who dedicated their lives to changing what it means to be blind! We can be proud of the fact that the money those students are receiving came, not from an outside source, but from your commitment to your chapter and what we are all trying to accomplish together as an organization. This is something that we cannot do on our own but which requires collective action.
So I hope that you’ll look for--and find--lots of hidden treasures at our Tampa convention. They are definitely yours to keep…and, ultimately, to give away!
NFBF INVADES TAMPA
I cannot tell you how proud I am and how privileged I feel to be the host of the 2007 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. The entire membership of the East Hillsborough Chapter shares my pride and sense of honor. We have been working very hard for the past several months to ensure that you have one of your best Convention experiences ever.
I want to extend to the Board of Directors a word of “Thanks!” for their trust in our abilities and their patience through our discussions. All conventions are unique in many ways, and this year will be no exception. You can be sure to go away inspired and rejuvenated, as you should be after such a weekend.
Before I tell you more about our Tampa Convention, let me share with you one of the legends of its rich history.
TAMPA’S GASPARILLA FESTIVAL
by Rosemarie Colombraro
It was the spring of 1822, and the waters of the bay lay eerily still. Jose Gaspar stood at the helm of his latest ship, taken from merchants and now flying the Skull and Crossbones flag. Suddenly, he spotted the ship, USS Enterprise, and knew a battle would soon erupt. So he quickly ordered his men to guide their ship between several small islands in Charlotte Harbor.
Gaspar's most trusted friend, Juan Gomez, organized a team of ten men, and they carried ashore in a longboat 20 chests of precious jewels and metals to hide away until they could return for them. But before the men could return to the ship for another load, the USS Enterprise began to move in on the pirate ship. Gaspar looked at the far-off figure of Juan, and whispered, "Go with God, my friend." He straightened his shoulders and shouted, "Away men, afore they take us!"
Juan saw the Enterprise as well, but he had
little time to think about the crew still on board with Gaspar. He motioned to the men with him, who had just unloaded the last of the chests. "Move them back in, mates, and quickly now."
Juan grabbed the leather strap of a raven-black chest studded with silver. "We've no time to waste. The ship is lost!"
Cannon fire sounded across the bay, and the acrid smell of powder and burning wood wafted in with the tide. The men moved quickly, reloading the longboat, and slipped away.
The group rowed speedily, following the Peace River to Spanish Homestead, the property of Lady Boggess. She was easily bribed by a small chest of coins, and promised to tell any who might ask that Juan Gomez and his men had not travelled her way.
Juan ordered the men to burn the longboat. They were forced to leave part of their treasure with it, not being able to carry the entire load on foot. Legend has it that the rest of the treasure is buried somewhere in the vast network of streams and swamps in the Peace River area.
Jose Gaspar's bold renegade spirit lives on in present-day Florida. Almost a century has passed since the first members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla put on their most colorful pirate costumes, boarded their ship and sailed into Tampa's harbor. Since 1904, this celebration renews the spirit of adventure by reenacting a takeover of the downtown area by pirates.
The three-day festival, held in January, is one of the country's largest and most unique outdoor celebrations. The celebration begins when the massive black-hulled pirate ship "Jose Gasparilla,” named after the pirate who sailed around the Florida coast in the early part of the century, invades Tampa. The ship measures 165 feet in length with three 100-foot masts, and is the only fully rigged pirate ship in the world.
With pirate flags flying and cannons thundering, the ship and its crew of 700 is towed by tugs along Hillsborough Bay, followed by hundreds of participating boats and krewes. The Captain and his Krewe debark and capture the city--with very little resistance--and then share their wealth in unpirately fashion by throwing doubloons and beads to the crowds.
http://www.rencentral.com/oct_nov_vol1/gasparilla.shtml
The festival of Gasparilla is to Tampa what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans. This year the attendance was estimated at 750,000, probably the biggest gathering in Florida. Just as this is so, the Convention of the NFB of Florida will be the largest gathering of the blind in the state. The pirate theme will pervade the Convention, as attendees will be offered treasure chests and pirate hats, and will learn to talk like a pirate! I know one Federationist who will have her live trained parrot! “Polly want a cracker!”
The symbolic commencement of the Convention is the meeting of the Board of Directors on Friday evening, May 25. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to meet our National Representative and a Talking Book Reader, and to learn more about the activities planned for the weekend. The Board will meet in the Presidential Suite, Room 917, at 8:00 p.m. Seating is first come, first served and is usually standing room only. A great way to get close to your fellow Federationists!
The President’s Parlor will also be the site of the Affiliate’s Hospitality Room. With Charlie & D.J. Hackney heading up the hosting of this room, I am certain you will find more than pretzels! The Hospitality Room will be open at various times during the Convention when official business is not taking place. For a complete list of hours, please refer to your Convention agenda.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Even if you have pre-registered, it is important that you check in to receive your name badge, agenda, and other materials. You must check in and be wearing your name badge to be eligible to receive door prizes during the Convention.
Also beginning at 8:00 a.m., you will have the opportunity to check out our exhibit foyer. We are planning on having one of the largest assortments of services and products for the blind in the state. The exhibit foyer will be your chance to see what’s new and maybe find that special blindness item you have been searching for. The Exhibit Foyer will be open until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday hours will be 8:00 until 8:45 a.m., 12:00 noon until 1:45 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m.
Saturday is also Seminar Day. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing until 5:50 p.m., a variety of seminars and workshops will be conducted in Ballrooms East, Central, and West. These small workshops will focus upon such issues as employment, issues of concern to the elder blind, and technology workshops. Check out the agenda for meetings of the Florida Association of Guide Dog Users, the Florida Association of Blind Students, and the Florida Association of Blind Merchants.
Saturday will also find the Parents Seminar being held on the second floor of the Conference Center. The Board of the Florida Parents of Blind Children have been hard at work putting together programs of interest to both parents and kids. Debby Brackett, President of the Parents Division, will tell you more about the Second Annual Parents Seminar and the first ever Kids Convention!
SPEAKERS ENCOURAGE BLIND YOUTH
TO REACH FOR THE STARS
Parents’ Seminar Takes
“Learning With No Boundaries” as Central Theme
by Debby Brackett
Editor’s note: Debby Brackett is the parent of a blind daughter, Winona, and the President of the Florida Parents of Blind Children.
State convention is just around the corner! This is such a great time to get with other families of children who are blind and visually impaired and to meet mentors and others who have walked this path before us. The Florida Parents of Blind Children’s parents’ seminar not only promises to be educational and inspiring, but fun as well. Again this year we have terrific speakers, a Braille book and materials swap, and we will take a white cane walk to a local restaurant.
Great activities are planned for the kids, including a visit with some animals from the Lowry Park Zoo and activities from the Museum of Science & Industry and the Children's Museum. Scholarships are available, so make your plans now to join us May 25-28 in Tampa. This year’s esteemed keynote speaker will be Loretta White, Youth Coordinator for Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM). In addition, through presentations by Noreen Grice, founder of You Can Do Astronomy, LLC, we will learn more about how science exhibits and educational materials, especially astronomy materials, can be made accessible for the blind.
Loretta White has worked with the Rehabilitation Department of BISM for 11 years, developing and implementing training programs for blind children. She has served as Youth Coordinator for the past three years. In addition to the youth programs, her duties include parent training, educational advocacy for families with blind children, and training for other agencies.
White wears many hats and titles – educator, rehabilitation specialist, Federationist, to name a few. However, it is her role as a mother that she holds most dear. “Being a mom is my most favorite job in the whole world and my inspiration for everything I do,” White explains. She and her husband have five children at home, all with special needs. Her oldest daughter living at home deals with blindness, a hearing impairment, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and high-functioning autism. Her other children deal with a myriad of other conditions, including developmental disabilities and learning disabilities, as well as muscular and neurological disorders.
It is these special children who inspire not only her actions but her philosophies. “I believe that every child can learn and that there is a place in the Federation for every blind child,” White said. “Every blind child needs blind role modeling and mentoring in addition to all the skills of blindness they can learn. Additional disabilities are not a mitigating factor.”Noreen Grice has a similar “can-do” philosophy associated with the NFB. “I named my company You Can Do Astronomy because I think astronomy is an interesting field and subject for anyone. I never see barriers - I see opportunities,” explains Grice.
Her company designs and produces tactile illustrations to make astronomy and space science topics accessible. They work with planetariums and educational facilities to provide these tactile illustrations and exhibits, also equipping them with captioning, assistive listening devices, and designing spaces to accommodate wheelchairs.
With more than 20 years of experience designing and creating accessible astronomy materials, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astronomy, it is obvious she has a passion for the subject. However, it was an unpleasant experience that inspired her desire to make astronomy accessible.
During her undergraduate studies, a group of blind students came to the planetarium where she worked part-time. She asked them how they enjoyed the show after it was finished. It gave her a sinking feeling when the students replied, “It stunk.”
Grice decided to do some research at the library of the local school for the blind. There were very few astronomy books available, and she noticed none of them contained tactile pictures. The students had no real sense of the formations and concepts they were reading about.
Grice decided her mission was to make astronomy and the concepts associated with it accessible. “I think it's important for blind students (and all students) to have access to museum exhibits and astronomy educational materials because students are the next generation of scientists,” she says. “I don't personally see a reason why blind students should not have a career in astronomy or other fields of science, math, or engineering. We need all the scientists and science enthusiasts we can get.”
More information about the Parents’ Seminar, Kids Convention, and all the activities associated with the largest gathering of the blind in the state of Florida can be found on the Web site of the East Hillsborough Chapter, host of this year’s Convention in Tampa. Go to
You can also read more about Convention in this issue of the Focus. I’ll see you inTampa!
Get ready to celebrate our invasion of Tampa on Saturday night. Don your best pirate garb or at least come out and help us drink that barrel of rum at our reception/auction. Sponsored by Florida Reading & Vision Technologies and the Greater Daytona Chapter, not only will you meet them bilge rats from other conventions; you will most likely meet a few new scallywags, as well! There will also be a unique opportunity for Chapters to contribute to the Imagination Fund and Ye Krewe of Federation will auction off its spoils to the highest bidder. Last year’s auction raised nearly $2,000 for our Affiliate, and we are planning to top that mark in Tampa! For a list of auction items, you can visit our web site at
and click on the Treasure chest! We are continuing to plunder and the list of our booty is growing day by day, so check back often to find out more!
Resolutions are the way in which we write the policies and initiatives of the NFB of Florida. The Resolutions Committee will meet after the auction to hear resolutions and recommend them to the Convention. If you intend to write a resolution, please contact Second Vice President Dan Hicks at
The General Session of the Convention begins promptly at
9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 27. Opening ceremonies this year will be very special, and you won’t want to miss one exciting minute of the session. We will hear from our national Representative, President Marc Maurer and our guest Talking Book Reader, Mitzi Friedlander, and will hear an interesting address from Henry Oliu entitled “A Career in Baseball: Blind People Aren’t Just Umpires Anymore!”
Our afternoon session will feature an address by Representative Dennis Baxley, who sponsored our Braille Bill, and from Bob Conigliaro, Vice President of Community Relations for Caspars Company, our local McDonald’s franchisee. The complete agenda of the Convention is available on our web site
The Convention Banquet is the highlight of our gathering. In addition to recognizing special people in our affiliate, we award scholarships to deserving students. We will also hear an address from President Maurer that is sure to inspire and motivate us. Following the banquet, we will have a dance, featuring the live music of Harley Gay. (Dog sitting will be available during the banquet for a fee of $10.)
Our Monday session is probably the most important meeting of the Convention. This is the time during which we discuss and vote on our resolutions and form the policies and agree upon the initiatives of the Florida Affiliate. This is also the time we elect our leaders. It is the privilege of every member to be able to speak on the floor, vote, and hold office. If you would like to serve the Affiliate in an elected capacity, make your wishes known to a member of the nominating Committee or arrange to have your name placed in nomination from the floor. We have a large number of talented leaders and a limited number of elected positions. Everyone is a worker in our movement, whether an elected member of the Board or a grass roots member. We are united by our Federation philosophy and in our work of changing what it means to be blind!
This year’s Convention may very well be the largest Convention ever, and you need to be a part of this historical event. More information is contained in the following pages that will help familiarize you with the Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center and with the Tampa Bay area. I hope to see you at Convention and trust you will find us a friendly group of old salts!
If you need more information about the 2007 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, please contact Secretary Sherri Brun at 866-808-2800.
SS WYNDAM SETS SAIL FOR THE FUTURE!
Over the Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-28) The Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center will be invaded by hundreds of Federationists from around the country. The beautiful hotel, located on Tampa’s west shore of Tampa Bay, will be transformed into the SS Wyndham and set sail for the future. The Florida Affiliate, perhaps spurred by its losses, is the most cohesive, dynamic group of advocates it has ever been. We are poised to make a dramatic, permanent difference in the lives of the blind of Florida. This Convention will be the moment that will be pointed to in the future when we remember our evolution into the strongest, most influential force in the affairs of blind Floridians. You owe it to yourself and the future to be a part of this event.
The SS Wyndham is spacious yet compact. The area surrounding its harbor is filled with easily accessible restaurants and shopping. Ferries (HARTline buses) will pass by frequently, allowing the adventurous to visit our many attractions prior to and following our Convention. To facilitate this, the Wyndham has extended our incredible room rates to three days prior and three days following our Convention.
The SS Wyndham is docked at the southwest corner of Westshore Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard. Westshore Avenue runs along the west shore of Tampa, where it follows the waters of Tampa Bay. Kennedy Boulevard is so named because John F. Kennedy, when he visited Tampa on November 18, 1963 – just four days before he was assassinated -- traveled along this route on his way to the Tampa Airport to fly to Miami. In fact, Kennedy’s motorcade passed by the very site where the Wyndham Westshore now stands.
The Wyndham faces north toward Kennedy Boulevard and is flanked by Occident to the west and Westshore to the east. As you enter the lobby, the bell stand will be to your left, as well as the business center and the front desk. To the left of the lobby entrance are a sitting area and a bank of three elevators.
As you leave the lobby area, you enter the Atrium. Turning left takes you to Atrium 1, where there is an exit to Westshore Avenue. To the right is Atrium 2. As you enter Atrium 2, you will find Starbucks and a bank of telephones, including a house phone. Atrium 2 exits to Occident. The dog relief area will be located just south (left) of the Atrium 2 entrance.
As you enter the Conference Center, Convention happenings will take place to the right. Here you will find the registration center. Adjacent to the registration center will be the Exhibit Foyer, which leads into the Ballrooms. From left to right are Ballroom East, Ballroom Center, and Ballroom West. All Convention activities, with the exception of the Parents’ Seminar, will occur in this area.
If you walk past the Conference Center, the restrooms will be on the right, followed by the Grand Slam restaurant, the Wyndham’s casual eatery. Grand Slam will offer a breakfast buffet on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings, as well as lunch specials each day. At the end of this hall you will find elevators to the second-floor meeting rooms where the Parents’ Seminar will be held. This elevator also takes you to the various levels of the parking garage. Please note that the elevators to the guest rooms, though they go to the second floor, will not have access to the second floor meeting rooms!
Opposite the Convention area is the No Name Lounge and Shula’s Restaurant, a fine dining experience. Passing through the restaurant you will find Coach’s Corner, where the Students’ Luncheon will be held.
The Wyndham also has a fitness center and pool for the enjoyment of its guests. Both are located on the ninth floor to the left. Also on the ninth floor, immediately to your right (917) will be the Presidential Parlor, where the Board of Directors will meet and which is the site of the Hospitality Room.
All guest rooms have a coffee maker with complimentary coffee and tea. They also have an iron and ironing board, hair dryer, high- speed Internet service, alarm clock radio, and two telephones, one of which is cordless.
The Westshore District is a bustling mixture of industrial sites, professional offices, retail establishments, eateries, and residences. Directly across from the Wyndham is Westshore Plaza. In addition to the usual – and a few unusual – retail stores, Westshore Plaza features a 14-theater AMC with descriptive video capabilities, a diverse food court, and several adjoining restaurants. These restaurants include Maggiano’s (Italian Family Style), P.F. Chang’s (Asian American), Mitchell’s Fish Market (seafood), and the Palms (fine dining). Though not part of Westshore Plaza, Steak & Ale is convenient to the hotel and will be the site of the Parents’ Luncheon. Directly across the street from the Plaza is the Chipotle Mexican Grill. Also within easy walking distance, you will find Panera’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and McDonald’s. Other nearby conveniences include a Walgreen’s, a liquor store, Petco, and several banks, including Washington Mutual and Bank of America. More information can be found at the East Hillsborough Chapter’s informational table located in the Convention area.
The East Hillsborough Chapter is looking forward to hosting the largest, most dynamic Convention the Affiliate has ever held. Your participation will make this happen. We look forward to seeing everyone aboard the SS Wyndham as we set sail for the future!
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR THE DISABLED
The Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center (site of the 2007 State Convention) is undergoing renovation. The rooms that were previously assigned to us as designated wheelchair accessible sleeping rooms will not be available. The regular rooms have grab bars in the shower, and the doorways are wide enough for wheelchair access. Please note there are no roll-in showers. Below you will find a list of items that the hotel has available and can add to any guest room. Please let the reservationist know if you will need any of these items in your room when you make your reservation.
Accommodating equipment available:
TDY Kits, including
All of our fire/smoke alarms are both audible and have a strobe light.
Transfer Bench
Portable raised toilet seat with rails
Lowered closet bar
Again, please make sure you request any item(s) that you will need when making your hotel reservation!
We are looking forward to seeing each one of you in May! Should anyone have further questions or need specific information, please contact Mary E. McCarthy, the Director of Engineering for the Wyndham Westshore Hotel, at (813) 286-4400 or via email to
MMcCarthy@wyndham.com.
FOR ATTENDEES OF THE 2007 NFBF CONVENTION
The East Hillsborough Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida is proud to be the host of the 2007 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. We know that your visit to Tampa will be filled with excitement. Though the Affiliate has lots of plans for you while you are in Tampa, keep in mind that the area has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment and culture. Remember that the wonderful hotel rates we will enjoy during the Convention can be extended to three days prior to and following Convention, so you may want to plan to stay awhile longer and enjoy the Tampa Bay area.
If you arrive in Tampa via Tampa International Airport (Airport Code TPA), the Wyndham Westshore offers you complimentary shuttle service between the airport and the hotel. For your convenience, there are courtesy telephones located near baggage claim. By dialing “80” on one of these courtesy phones, you can call the Wyndham to arrange for a complimentary shuttle.
One thing Tampa is proud of is our expanding public transportation system. The fare for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HARTline) is $1.50 per ride; therefore, if you need to take more than two buses, it makes sense to purchase an unlimited ride pass for $3.25. HART does offer discounted fares but only with official HART identification. The Wyndham is easily accessible by Greyhound and reasonably accessible from the Amtrak station.
The Wyndham is accessible to the Tampa Greyhound Station by means of a one-bus trip. As you exit the main entrance of the station, you will exit onto Polk Avenue. Turn right (west) and cross two streets, Morgan and Marion Streets. Marion Street is a designated Transitway with no traffic other than buses – ideal! The Route 30 will stop at the northwest corner of Polk Avenue and Marion Street by the following schedule:
Weekdays: Every ½ hour at :05 and :35 past the hour from 4:35 a.m. until 11:35 p.m.
Weekends (includes Memorial Day): Hourly at :35 past each hour from 6:35 a.m. until 9:35 p.m.
The approximate bus ride is less than ½ hour. The Route 30 will drop you off on the northeast corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Westshore Avenue. The Wyndham Westshore is located on the southwest corner.
You may obtain Bus Route 30 schedules by going on HARTline’s website, which is http://www.hartline.org.
You may use HARTline from Amtrak’s Union Station to the hotel, but the bus stop is not as conveniently located, and it will take two buses. If you are not familiar with downtown Tampa and our bus service, I would not suggest using this mode of transportation from the Amtrak station; however, if you are adventurous and would like to use the local bus route, please contact Merry Schoch via e-mail at
mschoch2@tampabay.rr.com for specific travel instructions. You may also call the Chapter office at (813) 626-2789 or toll-free (800) 558-8261. During the convention, these numbers can be used to locate a Convention host, as well.
HARTplus Paratransit Service for Disabled Visitors
For those of you who are registered with your paratransit service, you may transfer your eligibility to any other such service for 21 days. Generally, a Paratransit consumer may take one additional companion who is not a registered user; however, we have made arrangements with HARTplus that an unlimited number of non-registered users may travel with one registered rider under normal restrictions of capacity and safety listed below. The parameters for using this service are as follows:
Service Requirements:
HARTplus Fare(s):
From Tampa Greyhound Station to Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center:
Fare: $2.60 per person
Service hours available for Greyhound travelers:
Weekdays (except Memorial Day):
From Tampa Greyhound Station: 4:35 a.m. to 11:35 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day:
From Tampa Greyhound Station: 6:35 a.m. until 9:35 p.m.
From Tampa Amtrak Station to Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center
Fare: $3.90 per person
Service Hours:
Weekdays (except Memorial Day): 5:17 a.m. to 12:47 a.m.
Saturday and Memorial Day: 6:26 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Sunday: 7:29 a.m. to 10:29 p.m.
Service hours from Wyndham Westshore
Weekdays: 5:56 a.m. to 12:56 a.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day: 6:45 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
More HARTline Information can be found at
http://www.hartline.org
Or call HART Info Line: (813) 254-4278, TDD: (813) 626-9158
As you exit the Tampa Greyhound or Amtrak’s Union Stations, there will be several cabs waiting for fares. For your convenience, we have given you some telephone numbers for our two major cab companies should there not be any available cabs on the taxi stand:
Yellow Cab of Tampa: (813) 253-0121
United Cab: (813) 253-2424
Hillsborough County Taxi fares are $2.00 to be picked up plus $2.25 per mile.
Searching the Internet, I found that both the Greyhound and the Amtrak stations are approximately 5 miles from the hotel. The cab fare would be approximately $13.25, plus tip, estimated as of January 2007.
To better plan your trip, here are the important addresses and telephone numbers:
Tampa Greyhound Station
610 E. Polk Street
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 229-2174
Amtrak Union Station, Tampa
601 N. Nebraska Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 221-7600
Wyndham Westshore Hotel & Conference Center
4860 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 286-4400
Have a safe trip, my mateys, and watch out for them gale winds that blow around these parts!
TELEPHONE INSTRUCTIONS
Every hotel has slightly different ways to access various parts of the hotel and its services. We thought the FFF was the perfect place to provide some instructions on using the telephone system at the Wyndham Westshore during this year’s State Convention. You may want to take this information with you when you attend the 2007 State Convention of the NFB of Florida. If you believe you would benefit from this information in Braille when you arrive at the hotel, please get in touch with Merry Schoch, East Hillsborough Chapter Vice President, at Mschoch2@tampabay.rr.com.
If it is practical, we will look into getting this information available in a variety of formats for convention attendees.
In order to access the Wyndham’s Voicemail service, dial extension 1900. You will be prompted by the system to set up voicemail and check for messages.
To place a room-to-room call to a three-digit room, dial “7” followed by the room number. In order to place a call to a four-digit room, simply dial the room number.
To place an outside local telephone call, dial “9” plus the number. Telephone calls cost $.95 per call. Directory assistance information calls are placed in the same manner. Tampa’s Directory Assistance number is the usual “411.” Directory assistance calls are charged as local telephone calls. Tampa’s local calling area includes all of area code 813 and most of area code 727.
To make a long distance call, dial “8” plus “1” plus the area codes and number. Telephone calls dialed directly from the room will be billed to the room by Sprint. Please check with the Front Desk for current rates and tariffs. You may also use a calling card by following the instructions on the card. Calls to toll-free numbers will be charged as local telephone calls by the hotel. If you intend to use a calling card, you may wish to use one of the hotels pay phones, as there is usually no charge for such calls from a pay phone.
To place a credit card, collect, or third party call, dial “8” plus “0” plus the area code followed by the number. These are billed to the room at $.95 per call plus the cost of the call on the calling card or telephone bill. The access numbers for the following companies were provided to us by the hotel:
AT&T: (800) 225-5288 or star 638
MCI: (800) 950-5555 or star 632
SPRINT: (800) 877-8000 or star 633
Long Distance Operator Services are provided by Sprint. Calls can be completed to in-state, interstate, and international locations. You may charge your calls to your telephone company calling cards or major credit cards. Sprint will also complete domestic calls, third-party and person-to-person calls. To obtain a local operator, refer to these telephone dialing instructions.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
GREATER ORLANDO CHAPTER PARTICIPATES IN
by Martha James
It was a beautiful morning on March 31 when we gathered at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida, to participate in the annual Sight and Soul walk to benefit Lighthouse of Central Florida. The money raised helps blind individuals learn computer and independent living skills. The walk was about one mile around the picturesque Cranes Roost Lake.
Kirk and Vicki Harmon and Norm Cosby did a great job setting up the tables for the Greater Orlando Chapter and Newsline®, as well as for the Blinded Veterans Association. Katie Hicks brought an impressive array of educational literature so the public could learn about the Federation and what we do. While Sheila Young, Pam Sogge, Sherri Brun, Vicki Harmon, Katie Hicks, Steve James, Martha James, and Jerry and Ruth Heichelbeck took part in the walk around the lake, Kirk Harmon, Gary Sinclair, and Chuck and arline Graham helped staff the booths to educate the public. Chuck was heard several times asking who wanted their names in Braille.
The day was made even more special when the Greater Orlando Chapter was awarded a certificate for second place for the most funds raised by a civic organization.
Thanks go out to Sheila Young and to those at Princeton Elementary School, where she works, who helped make this possible. It was great to feel the energy of all the participants that were there that day, and to know that we are helping to change what it means to be blind!
The copyrighted information in this magazine is used in accordance with, and subject to, Sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act (Title 17, U.S. Code).
You may use the printed registration form included in this newsletter. Registration forms may also be downloaded by visiting the East Hillsborough Chapter’s Web site at http://blind411.org/convention.
Forms may also be submitted electronically and payments for registration and the banquet may be made through Pay Pal by going to
and sending your payment to