NFB Of PA Convention and My Sweet 60th Celebration

In this episode of iCantCU, I share highlights from the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania's state convention in Erie and reflect on the experience of turning 60. The journey to Erie was an adventure in itself, with a nine-hour bus ride filled with trivia games, camaraderie, and the occasional logistical hiccup.  Once there, I was happy helping others find their way around the venue and assisted with setup for various events. Despite challenges, the convention was a resounding success, featuring engaging presentations, a tech seminar I moderated, and valuable networking opportunities. I also discuss memorable moments from my milestone birthday celebration, which coincided with a meetup at Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia. From a custom cake to great company, it was a special way to ring in a new decade. As I gear up to serve as convention chair next year, I reflect on lessons learned, including better organization and leveraging volunteers effectively. While Erie offered a stellar venue with outstanding service, its distance makes it a rare host for our conventions. Listen in for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into organizing a convention and a bit about my plans for the future.  Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/275 Links Mentioned (product links are affiliate links so that I may earn a commission.) GoPro Hero 11 Black: https://amzn.to/4hg2xSF  GoPro Hero 13 Black: https://amzn.to/48rmvpC  SophistiCakes is our favorite bakery for cakes: https://www.sophisticakespa.com/  Brauhaus Schmitz Restaurant: https://brauhausschmitz.com/  Be My Eyes app (free): https://www.bemyeyes.com/  Seeing AI app (free): https://www.seeingai.com/  Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iCantCU Support iCantCU When shopping at Amazon, I would appreciate it if you clicked on this link to make your purchases: https://www.iCantCU.com/amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associate Program and earn commissions on qualifying purchases. The best part is, you don't pay extra for doing this! White Canes Connect Podcast Episode 115 In episode 115 co-host Lisa Bryant and I speak with Chiadika Eleh and Joey Wei about See-Rynge, a groundbreaking liquid measuring device designed specifically for the blind and low-vision community.    Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI YouTube Https://www.youtube.com/@pablindpodcast White Canes Connect On Twitter Https://www.twitter.com/PABlindPodcast My Podcast Gear Here is all my gear and links to it on Amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associates Program and earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Zoom Podtrak P4: https://amzn.to/33Ymjkt Zoom ZDM Mic & Headphone Pack: https://amzn.to/33vLn2s Zoom H1n Recorder: https://amzn.to/3zBxJ9O  Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK Shure SM58 S Mic: https://amzn.to/3JOzofg  Sony ZV-E10 camera : https://amzn.to/4fFBSxM  Sennheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0  Follow iCantCU on your favorite podcast directory! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/icantcu-podcast/id1445801370/  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nck2D5HgD9ckSaUQaWwW2  Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/iCantCU-Podcast-Podcast/B08JJM26BT  IHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-icantcu-podcast-31157111/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/davidbenj  Reach out on social media Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davidbenj Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbenj Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidbenj LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbenj Are You or Do You Know A Blind Boss? If you or someone you know is crushing it in their field and is also blind, I want to hear from you! Call me at (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Please include your name and town, and tell me who the Blind Boss is and why I need to have them on an upcoming episode. You can also email the show at [email protected].