NFB of Oregon 2026 State Convention
October 30 through November 1
Travel - oh, the places You’ll go
Convention Agenda
Information | Agenda | Registration | Payment
Please Note: We will follow the NFB Jernigan Center Scent Free Policy. Please no perfumes or lotions with scent.
Friday, October 30
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Registration
Mingle and snacks
3:30 - 8:30 pm
Portland Spirit Dinner Cruise
Dinner options during the cruse.
A crew member will ask for your choice at boarding.
Fresh baked bread (V DF), seasonal house salad (V DF)
All protein entrées served with chef’s choice starch* and seasonal vegetables.
*Starch could contain gluten, please request GF if needed.
Protein Entrées:
Beef bourguignon served over mashed potatoes (GF) or
Baked Columbia River steelhead filet topped with fresh Oregon berry salsa (GF DF)
Vegetarian Entrée:
Yellow Thai coconut curry with vegetables and tofu over steamed rice (V GF DF)
3:30 Bus loading
3:45 Bus departs for Spirit River Cruise. Address 110 SE Caruthers St., Portland
8:00 Bus returns to the hotel
8:30 Dessert
8:30 - 10 pm
8:30 Joey, The Comic
8:45 Heads or Tails
Saturday, October 31
8:30 am Registration
9:00 am - 12:30 pm General Session
9:00 Call to order, Stephanie McGary, President, National Federation of the Blind of Oregon
Invocation, Marvin McGary
Pledge of Allegiance, Urijah Gonzalez
"America The Beautiful", Garry Relton
Belief Message, Tracy Boyd
9:30 National Report, Shawn Callaway, President, National Federation of the Blind, District of Columbia
10:00 Talking Book and Braille Library, Tiff Rhodes
10:20 Bookshare, Mary Anne Mendez
10:30 Oregon Commission for the Blind, Paul Coons
10:45 Legislative update, Ryan McBee
11:00 2026 Scholarship Class, Kristen Jocums
11:15 NFB BELL® Academy, Carla McQuillan, Justin Hartford, Kris Colcock, and Stephanie McGary
11:40 Break
12:00 Waymo, Rachel Kamen
12:30 Lunch, experience the Waymo model and explore auction items2:00 pm to 4:50 pm General Interest and
General Interest Sessions and Division Meetings
2:00 Session One
Oregon Association of Blind Students - Rose Room
Relaxation, Tracy Boyd - Mt. Hood Room
From Idea to Article: Writing for The Braille Monitor with AI, Abdelrahman Osman - Multnomah Room
The Braille Monitor publishes eleven issues a year and invites contributions from members. This session shows how to turn an idea, or a draft sitting in a drawer, into a finished article using AI, we will explore where it helps, and where it will mislead. Bring a topic.
3:00 Session Two
Parents' Division - Rose Room
Balance Class - Mt.Hood Room
NFB-NEWSLINE® and Meta Glasses, Jack Mendez - Multnomah Room
4:00 Session Three
At Large Chapter meeting - Rose Room
Escape Room - Mt. Hood Room
Blindness, Social Security, and ABLE Accounts, Kris Colcock - Multnomah Room
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Banquet
Joy Relton, Emcee
Dinner
7:30 Banquet speech, Shawn Callaway
Scholarship Awards, Kristen Jocums
Special presentation, Stephanie McGary
Auction, Rachel Kamen, Waymo Representative
Sunday, November 1
9:00 am - 11:am Affiliate Business Meeting
Announcements, Stephanie McGary
Minutes of 2025 State Convention Affiliate Business Meeting, Carina Comer
Treasurer Report, Kirk Wagner
Report from those attending other state conventions, Carla McQuillen, Justin Hartford
Affiliate Welcom and acknowledgement new membership, Stephanie McGary
Report from chapters and divisions
Washington County, Southern Oregon, Rose City, Linn Benton, At Large
Oregon Association of Blind Students and Parents'Division
Annual Report, Stephanie McGary
Nominations and elections for Officers and Board Members
President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two board positions
Nominate and elect delegate and alternate for National Convention
11:30 Adjourn