Washington Seminar
2024 Washington Seminar Application
Deadline:
A completed application form in accessible electronic format including electronic signature Must be submitted to NFBI President at president@nfbofillinois.org no later than December 5. This form can be completed and submitted by typing your answers and your signature and attaching it to your email.
Who should apply:
This form applies to members of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois who wish to represent the affiliate at Washington Seminar appointments for 2024. The 2024 Washington Seminar will be in person.
Duties of representatives:
All representatives must:
- Attend a local two-hour teleconference training session which will occur in mid January. This training will cover protocols such as the need for representatives to attend assigned appointments and fulfill specific roles as scheduled.
- Attend the Great Gathering-In on January 29 as well as training sessions and final meetings earlier in the day January 29.
- All representatives must be available to attend appointments January 30 and 31, and February 1.
- Attend a mandatory wrap up conference call after Washington Seminar.
- Representatives are expected to contact at least one federal legislator following the Washington Seminar in order to follow-up on the discussions and garner or confirm support for our initiatives.
Failure to comply with any requirements of the program, may lead to ineligibility in the future.
Selection process and criteria:
All applications will be considered by the Chappell/Dennis Award Committee. The Committee will consult with Federal Legislative Committee Chairs. NFBI wishes to choose no more than 9 representatives to represent the affiliate at appointments during Washington Seminar. The Committee shall attempt to approve:
- no more than 5 veteran representatives,
- at least 3 first-time representatives,
- up to 3 students,
- Up to 3 parents,
- Up to 3 blind merchants
First, priority shall be granted to those from underrepresented geographic areas in the state. That is, the Committee shall attempt to ensure representation from as many different areas of the state as possible. Second, the committee shall consider year-round participation in state and federal legislative initiatives. Those who have actively contacted and/or visited their legislators shall be given priority over those who have not done so. The committee shall consider whether an applicant listed the correct congressman below in weighing the applicant’s ability to follow up and participate in Washington Seminar activities and legislative initiatives. The same person may be counted in more than one category, e.g. a student may also be a new representative.
Application form:
2024 Washington Seminar Application(Word Format)