Professional Development Conference History
In 1957 the National Braille Association produced our very first conference. Since then, we've hosted conferences with many different formats and been in cities all over North America. Here's a brief archive of each conference.
This page is a work in progress attempt to create a historical archive of National Braille Association's conferences throughout the years. Noteworthy events, dates and other info are added as they are discovered and made available.
If you were at any of these events and have information to share, please feel free to be in touch!
DATES
November 2, 3 and 4, 2022
HOTEL
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk Downtown
GENERAL INFO
The format for this conference was three full days of half-day sessions. Each session had five workshop options for a total of thirty workshops, though some were repeats due to popularity.
The usual meal format was changed and this year we had only a banquet on Thursday evening.
On Tuesday, November 1, we hosted a pre-conference event with 37 people in attendance on two river boats with a meal by Little Rhein Prost Haus.
BOARD INFO
Executive Committee
President: Jana Hertz
Vice President: Diane Spence
President Elect: Patrick Janson
Immediate Past President: Cindi Laurent
Treasurer: Heidi Lehmann
Secretary: Cindi Olmstead
Elected Member from the Board: Kathleen Cantrell
Directors
Kyle DeJute
William Freeman
Nancy Raspiller
John Romeo
Angela Van Appelen and Anna Werner were installed during the Thursday even banquet.
Attendance: 121
Our conference in 2020 was originally planned for San Antonio was postponed to 2021 after COVID-19 rearranged plans. While plans for 2021 were all set, the summer of that year saw new uncertainties regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were forced to make a decision to cancel this year's conference altogether. Our plan for San Antonio was postponed to 2022.
DATES
November 16-20, 2020
MORE INFO
With the threat of COVID-19 causing havoc around the globe, like many other organizations the National Braille Association pivoted to creating an online conference for 2020. In celebration of our 75th anniversary that year, we chose to make registration for the conference entirely free to anyone wishing to attend.
A total of 18 workshops were presented during the course of an entire week. The workshops were recorded and later made available for sale.
DATES
October 30, 31, and November 1, 2019
HOTEL
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort
GENERAL INFO
For this conference we produced 25 workshops over the course of two-and-a-half days. Instead of a sixth workshop session on Friday afternoon, those who were interested boarded a number of school buses and we all gathered together for a guided tour of Foundation For Blind Children.
BOARD INFO
Executive Committee
President: Heidi Lehmann
Vice President: Kyle DeJute
President Elect: Cindi Laurent
Treasurer: Jan Carroll
Secretary: Diane Spence
Elected Member from the Board: Betty Marshall
Directors
Robert Beaton
Randy Davis
Saul Garza
Jana Hertz
Patrick Janson
Cindy Olmstead
Julie Sumwalt
Guy Toles
Attendance: 137
DATES
October 24, 25, and 26, 2018
HOTEL
The Westin Book Cadillac
MORE INFO
A noteworthy change to this conference was that all attendees received all of the workshop materials from the entire conference. Materials were distributed in advance via email.
A President's Reception was held on Wednesday evening open to all attendees.
Six sessions were held during the course of the 3-day conference with five sessions available in each session.
Board Info
Executive Committee
President: Heidi Lehmann
Vice President: Betty Marshall
President Elect: Cindi Laurent
Treasurer: Jan Caroll
Secretary: Diane Spence
Elected Member from the Board: Jana Hertz
Directors
Robert Beaton
Kyle DeJute
Saul Garza
Cindy Olmstead
Rebecca Sherwood
Julie Sumwalt
Attendance: 116
Dates
October 25, 26, and 27, 2017
Hotel
Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South
General Info
Board Info
Executive Director
President: Heidi Lehmann
Vice President: Betty Marshall
President Elect: VACANT
Immediate Past President: Jan Carroll
Treasurer: Diane Spence
Secretary: Cindi Laurent
Elected Member from the Board: Kyle DeJute
Directors
Robert Beaton
Carol Greer
Jana Hertz
Cindy Olmstead
Rebecca Sherwood
Julie Sumwalt
Attendance: 112
Dates
October 27, 28, and 29, 2016
Hotel
The St. Louis Union Station Hotel
Dates
April 26, 27, and 28, 2012
Hotel
Hilton St. Louis Frontenac
DATES
April 14, 15, and 16, 2011
HOTEL
President: Diane Spence