State Convention

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 2025 State Convention

Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16, 2025
Theme: Learn, Live, Lead

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

The 2025 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts will be held at:
Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel
One Monarch Place
Springfield, MA 01144

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 February. 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 2025 and much more!

We are proud to announce that Tom Page, president of the Kansas affiliate and national board member, will serve as the national rep for this year's state convention. Click here to read Tom Page's bio.

Click here to jump to the Sheraton Springfield Hotel orientation section of this page.

Mark your calendars and make every effort to attend the 2025 State Convention of the NFB of Massachusetts. Get involved. Make a difference! Please share with others, everyone is welcome!

Room Reservations

The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel is now accepting room reservations for the State Convention. To make your reservation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, dial 413-781-1010 and state that you are attending the NFB of Massachusetts convention. The best time to call is during regular business hours, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The 2025 room rate is $139 a night for up to four occupants in a room per night before taxes and fees. This is for rooms with two queen beds or rooms with 1 King. All taxes and fees are subject to change without prior notice, and will be in effect at the time of check-out.

The Hotel will be releasing our block of rooms on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 so make your reservation quickly. You will need a credit card to secure your reservation, There will be no charge to your card until you arrive at the hotel. In addition, there are a limited number of wheelchair accessible rooms and if needed, make it known when you are making your room reservation.

Note: if you can not attend and you have made hotel reservations, don’t call the hotel to cancel. Please call Shara Winton at 617-304-0347. Shara usually has a waiting list to review as many learn about the state convention after Wednesday, February 12. If you are a student attending the convention, please contact Shara to make your room reservation.

Getting to the Hotel

Our convention is on March 14-16 at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel located at One Monarch Place. You can get to the hotel easily by Lyft, Uber, train, bus, or plane.

If you will be flying to Massachusetts the closest airport is Bradley International Airport (BDL) Schoephoester Road, Windsor Locks, CT. This is 14 miles from Springfield. Once you arrive at the airport you could then take a Taxi or ride share service to bring you to the hotel. You might choose to fly in to Boston Logan International Airport (BoS) 1 Harborside Drive, Boston, MA This is 94 miles away. However, you could then take a train or Greyhound Bus or use a rideshare to get to Springfield.

From the Train or bus station. You would then call a Taxi or ride share service to get to the hotel. If you are traveling from within the commonwealth there are many trains and buses which depart from various locations around Massachusetts. If you need any help figuring out the best way to get there, please contact Mika Pyyhkala at 617-308-1114.

Registration

Registration for the 2025 NFB of Massachusetts State Convention is now open!

The entire registration will cover all meals on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday including the Banquet.

The full convention registration package is $100.00 per person until March 5th, after which the fee will increase to $120.00 per person. Registration for Saturday only day pass including lunch is $30.00 per person until March 5th, after which the fee will increase to $35.00 per person. Registration for Saturday only day pass with lunch and banquet included is $80.00 per person until March 5th, after which the fee will increase to $85.00 per person.

Click here to register for the convention.

Agenda

Please note that the agenda is subject to change during the convention.

NFB Donation Drive

Want to win either $400 or have your 2026 State Convention hotel and meals covered? Here's your chance!

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is hosting the 2025 NFBMA Convention donation drive. For each $20 donation, you will get one chance in the Convention drawing. For example, if you donate $100, you will get five chances.

The winner will have their choice of either $400 or their 2026 state convention hotel (two nights) and State Convention registration covered by the affiliate. The drawing will take place at the NFBMA banquet on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The winner does not have to be present.

The fundraiser is open through 3PM on Saturday, March 15, 2025.

The rules for the drawing are as follows:

  1. For each $20 donated, the donor will receive one chance. For example, if the donor contributes $100, that equates to 5 chances.
  2. The donor must expressly state that they wish to have their name placed in the convention drawing.
  3. Donations must be made separately from any door prize contributions, convention registration donations, walk donations, or end-of-year sharing contributions.
  4. Donations must be received on or before 3PM on March 15, 2025. During the convention, you will need to make any Cash donations to Jeff Wilson .

Whichever way you choose to make your donation, be sure to note that is for the “Convention Donation drive.” Individuals may make donations using PayPal, using Zelle with the email address of treasurer@nfbma.org, making cash donation during Friday and Saturday of this years convention, or by mailing checks to:
National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts
Shara Winton
29 Ellsworth Terrace
Lynn, MA 01904

If you are sending a check, it must be received by Saturday, March 15 to be entered in the drawing. If making donations via PayPal or Zelle, please send the receipt or proof of the payment to Jeff Wilson at jeff@wilsonsolutions.biz. Good Luck!!!

Sheraton Springfield Hotel Orientation

Entrance:

The main entrance of the hotel consists of two sets of automatic sliding doors. As you are entering the hotel the entryway is to the right and the exit doors to the left. There are also manual doors inside the vestibule on the right side.

Lobby Level:

When entering the main automatic doors, you enter an open lobby area. On your left is a security desk which may not be occupied. If you proceed straight across the lobby, you will encounter the front desk directly in front of you. To the right of the front desk counter is a lower counter which serves as the hotel market shop.

With the front desk counter in front of you, turn left, keeping the front desk on your right. At the end of the counter there will be an open doorway. Turn left. At the end of the wall, turn right. At the end of that shorter wall, turn right again. You are now in the elevator lobby. There are 4 elevators in the elevator bank, two on each side.

If you do not take the last right, but cross the elevator hallway, there will be an ATM machine, followed by restrooms.

Directly across from the hallway to the elevator bank is a staircase that leads up to the 2nd and 3rd floors. There are several stairs, then a landing where you can turn either right or left to a second set of stairs to the next floor.

2nd Floor:

The 2nd floor contains the breakfast restaurant, hotel bar, and all of the meeting and exhibit hall space. One side of the elevator hallway leads to the main parts of the 2nd floor, while the other side leads to a much smaller hallway to hotel staff offices.

When exiting the elevator bank on the main 2nd floor side, you will also find the staircase directly across from the elevator hallway. There are both carpeted stairs going up and down across from the elevator bank. The first and 2nd floor have a similar setup with staircases directly across from the elevator bank hallway.

The basic shape of the open area, where the stairs are located is a triangle. When you exit the elevator bank you will be in the middle of the bottom side of the triangle.

2nd floor restrooms:

Upon exiting the elevator bank hallway, take a right. If you take an immediate right again, you will be in the restroom hallway. The restrooms are at the end, women’s on the right, men’s on the left.

2nd Floor Restaurants:

The hotel offers both a breakfast restaurant, as well as a pub that is open for lunch, dinner, and late-night. These are both located on the 2nd floor in different locations.

The breakfast restaurant (Picks Restaurant) is on the right directly past the restroom hallway from the elevator bank.

The lunch and dinner restaurant and bar (MVP Pub) is at the end of a hallway directly across from the back side of the stairs. Locate the stairs directly across from the elevator hallway. Travel along either side of the staircase. Go straight across the open area. There will be a round table in the middle of this open area, which you may or may not encounter. Just past this table is a hallway. The beginning of this hallway is the top of the triangle. The restaurant is on the left side of the hallway and can be located by 2 curved stairs at the entrance. It might be easiest to follow around the triangle to locate the hallway where the restaurant is located.

2nd Floor Meeting Rooms

All NFBMA registration, exhibits, and meetings will take place on the 2nd floor.

Most of the events such as meals, general sessions, and the banquet will be held in the Mahogany Room. To locate this room, go past the entrance to the Picks restaurant. Travel along the wall to the end. You will be at the right tip of the triangle. Turn left then go until you must take a slight left. The doors to the Mahogany Room will be a little further down on your right.

If you pass the Mahogany Room, you will be at the hallway at the top of the triangle where the MVP Pub is located. If you cross this hallway, you be at the Worthy Room. The entrance to this room is at an angle.

Starting back at the exit of the elevator hallway. Turn left; after traveling along a short wall, you will encounter an open business center area. If you continue to go straight, there is a pole at the end of the business area, then a short open hallway. Cross this hallway, then on your left will be the Charles Room. Continue past the entrance to the Charles Room, the entrance to the Highland Room will be in front of you. You are now at the left tip of the triangle. Turn right and then right again and the entrance to the Stonehaven Room will be on your left. The Stonehaven Room is directly across from the Charles Room. After the Stonehaven Room, turn left and travel a short distance along the side of the Stonehaven Room and you be at the second entrance to the Worthy Room, which is also at an angle. The other side of the Worthy Room, where the first entrance is located, brings you back to the tip of the triangle, where the hallway to the MVP Pub is located.

Success! You have traveled around the Triangle! Have fun!

Guide dog Relief area:

The hotel does not have any grassy area on the property but there are places close by. When exiting the lobby through the sliding doors, you will be in a covered area that connects the hotel with parking. Cross to the other side. The sidewalk is slightly to the left. Walk along the sidewalk. At the end of the building the sidewalk becomes wider. There are raised beds with dirt and plants on either side. If you miss them and get to the street, you can turn around or take a right. Just before the next street corner there is a decent sized section of grass on the right.

If you would like assistance, you can call Debbie Malone at 774-786-0177.

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. Check back often. For more information, please contact us at 617-600-8130 or sharawinton@gmail.com.