State Convention

The National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas State Convention is the largest gathering of blind people in the state. It is the premier event for training, support, and information for the blind community. It also serves as a governing body, democratically electing our leadership and establishing each year's organizational priorities.

National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas 2024 State Convention

Friday, April 12 through Saturday, April 13, 2024

Register and make a difference in the lives of blind Arkansasans!

The 2024 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas will be held at:
Hilton Garden Inn Jonesboro
2840 South Caraway Road
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401

We will be live streaming portions of the convention that will be recorded for archival purposes on the website.

Note: The agenda will be finalized, distributed, and posted on the state website in mid to late March. Yes, the agenda will be available on NEWSLINE® too!

Here is your chance to participate and learn more about the NFB’s programs and goals on the state and national level. Hear from the NFB national representative. Also, hear from speakers on topics of national and state importance, membership, seniors, technology, Braille, students, guide dog users, and parents’ concerns, meet the scholarship class of 2024 and much more!

We are proud to announce that Tracy Soforenko, president of the Virginia affiliate, board member on the NFB Board of Directors, and chair of the Jernigan Fund Committee, will serve as the national rep for this year's state convention. Click here to read his bio.

Mark your calendars and make every effort to attend the 2024 State Convention of the NFB of Arkansas. Get involved. Make a difference! Please share with others, everyone is welcome!

Room Reservations

The Hilton Garden Inn Jonesboro is now accepting room reservations for the state convention. To make your reservation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please dial 1 870-931-7727 and use the group code of FEDBLI, or visit our room reservation booking link. The best time to call is during regular business hours, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. The 2024 room rate is $109/night for both king and queen rooms. Hotel room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes, which will be in effect at the time of check-out.

Our room block is available until Wednesday, March 20. Please make your reservations early. You need a credit card to secure your reservation, but your card will not be charged until arrival.

Note: if you can not attend and you have made hotel reservations, don’t call the hotel to cancel. Please call Nena Chadwick at 479-435-8348. Nena usually has a waiting list to review as many learn about the state convention after Wednesday, March 20.

Registration

Registration for the 2024 NFB of Arkansas State Convention is now open!

The registration fee will include the cost of a banquet meal. The banquet is a pasta buffet. You also have the option to pay a $17 fee for a boxed lunch.

The convention registration including the banquet is $65.00 per person. This rate is good till Friday, March 15, 2024. All registrations completed after March 15 (not including the boxed lunches) will incur an additional charge of $10.00 per person. It is to your advantage to register before March 15, 2024 via the online registration form. If you are registering multiple people for the convention, you MUST fill out a separate form for each attendee.

Click here to register for the convention.

Agenda

Code of Conduct

As an attendee at our convention, you not only represent yourself but also represent our greater organization. We want you to enjoy our time together and to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. Although we encourage members to socialize and have fun, the convention also provides a valuable opportunity to come together to continue the work of our organization, to learn about the important initiatives that we are involved with on local and national levels, and to plan our work for the future.

The National Federation of the Blind seeks to provide a convention environment in which diverse participants, including members, speakers, exhibitors, staff, and volunteers, may learn, network, and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues in an environment of mutual respect and professionalism. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold that atmosphere for the benefit of all. Some behaviors are therefore specifically prohibited:

  • harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, physical appearance, or other group identity
  • harassment or intimidation, including unwelcome sexual attention, stalking (physical or virtual), or unsolicited physical contact
  • public drunkenness and associated behaviors (e.g., belligerence, yelling, hostility, destruction of property)

Participants are expected to abide by these rules and behaviors in all convention venues, including online arenas, social media, and social events. Participants who are asked to stop a behavior that the recipient considers hostile or harassing are expected to comply immediately. We are committed to diversity, equity, and the free expression of ideas. Please visit https://nfb.org/code-conduct for more information.

Additional Information

Additional information will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Please check back often. For more information, please contact us at 479-435-8348 or nchadwick@nfbar.org.