The annual convention of the North Dakota Association of the Blind is held every June. Not only is this a time for members to gather and conduct business together, but it is also a time to share news, learn what local vendors and agencies have to offer, renew old friendships and make new ones. The convention is held at a different major city each year.
2024 Convention
The Enchanted Journey
June 7-9, 2024
You are cordially invited to attend the North Dakota Association of the Blind State Convention to be held Friday, June 7th through Sunday, June 9th,2024. The theme for the weekend is “the Enchanted Journey.” It will be held at the Enchanted Castle in Regent, ND, Which is at the end of the Enchanted Highway. This highway is located at Exit 72 right off of I-94 about 90 miles west of Bismarck and 10 miles east of Dickinson. The Enchanted Highway goes south 32 miles with seven metal sculptures on either side of the road. The “Geese In Flight” mark the start of the highway and “The World’s Largest Tin Family” will lead you into Regent. Keep driving south through the town until you see the Enchanted Castle on the right side. The address is 607 Main. A dragon and knight will welcome you. To enter the hotel, you will walk across the bridge over the mote.
The hotel has 19 rooms, so we will totally take over the castle for the weekend. The sooner you make your reservations, the better chance you will have of getting a room. All rooms are huge with two queen-size beds, two TVs, table and chairs, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, wet bar and a large bathroom with two sinks, so sharing a room with a friend is encouraged. Hair dryers are available upon request. A continental breakfast will be available in the breakfast room in the morning, and the Excalibur Steakhouse and Medieval Tavern will meet our needs for the rest of the day. There is a bar and grill and grocery store in town, but plan on eating your meals in the hotel. The medieval theme is found throughout the hotel so at some point you will more than likely find a tin knight standing guard. All of the sleeping rooms are on the main level, but the steakhouse and tavern are located off a hallway six steps up. There is an accessible lift next to the stairs. The room rate is $108.99 including tax. Hotel reservations can be made from now until June 1st. Call (701) 563-4858 and be sure to say that you are coming for the NDAB State Convention. Registration forms along with payment need to be returned in the enclosed envelope by May 18th.
Should there be a need for more rooms, the Prairie Vista is a bed and breakfast located at 101 Rural Avenue Southwest, a few blocks away from the hotel. However, it is not handicapped accessible. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms downstairs and three bedrooms and one bathroom on the main floor. Each room has two twin beds. A hot breakfast is served in the morning. The room rate is $110. To make reservations call Audrey at (610) 509-1861 and tell her that you are with NDAB. She will take reservations until June 1st.
NDAB and hotel staff cannot be held responsible to administer medications or provide assistance with personal cares. If you need assistance, please plan to attend the convention with a family member or attendant. A limited number of volunteers will be available to initially help locate both meeting and motel rooms and assist during scheduled coffee breaks.
A note of interest: You’ll pass by the Enchanted Highway Gift Shop on your way to the Enchanted Castle where you can buy delicious ice cream and memorable souvenirs of the sculptures. It’s a fun place to shop, so you might want to go there if you have some down time. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Since Regent is not really on the beaten path, we did not invite any vendors to our convention this year. The Enchanted Castle lends itself to a more relaxed atmosphere. We hope that Everyone will leave the world behind and have time to visit with all of our NDAB friends.
Regent is on Mountain Daylight Savings Time so all of the times listed are MDST which is one hour later than Central Daylight Savings Time. Registration will be held from 3:00 until 5:30 on Friday. The New England Lions will provide a picnic at 6:00 to be held in the park in Regent. It
is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Following the picnic, the gym will be open. This space lends itself to accommodate a game of goal ball or electronic darts. Kick ball might also be a possibility. At the back of the gym is the exercise and fitness center, as well as two hot tubs for our use. The breakfast room will serve as a hospitality room, and the tavern is open from 5:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.
Saturday morning begins at 8:00 for registration with the opening ceremonies; the convention is scheduled to convene at 8:30, continuing throughout the day. A social hour will be held in the tavern, followed by a medieval themed banquet at 6:00 in the Excalibur Steakhouse. We had to cancel the jousting match because horses are not allowed in the castle, but the meal will be unique and memorable. We encourage you to dress in medieval costume.
On Sunday, the memorial service will begin at 8:00, with the business meeting reconvening at 9:00 after a coffee break. The business meeting usually wraps up around noon.
As you are driving down the Enchanted Highway, If time allows, we encourage you to stop at a few of the sculptures and explore. Some of them are low enough to touch and crawl around on.
Enclosed is the registration form and nominating committee slate of candidates for election. If you plan to attend, fill out the registration form and send it along with payment in the self addressed envelope. Seal it and put a stamp on it by May 18th. We will gladly accept any door prizes that you want to donate. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Janelle Olson & Loris Van Berkom, Co-Convention Chairpersons