The National Federation of Democratic Women 53rd Annual Convention
Hosted by: The Ohio Federation of Democratic Women
June 5 – 8, 2024 Host Hotel: Ariel Hotel Broadway • Lorain, Ohio
Wednesday • June 05, 2024
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. . . Registration • 1st Floor (Coffee Room)
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm . . . NFDW Executive Board Meeting • Room 200
Dinner • On Your Own
Thursday • June 06, 2024
9:00 am - 6:00 pm . . . Registration • 1st Floor (Coffee Room)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm. . . Tours
10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Silent Auction/Vendor Setup • Event Room 400
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm . . . Hospitality Room Open • Room 200
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm . . . NFDW PAC Reception • Ariel Hotel Rooftop
(In the event of Inclement Weather • Event Room 400)
Dinner • On Your Own
Friday • June 7, 2024
8:00 am - 4:00 pm - Registration • 1st Floor (Coffee Room)
8:00 am - 9:00 am - Breakfast • 1st Time Attendees/ Others • Event Room (400)
9:00 am – 9:15 am - Silent Auction Open
9:15 am – 12:00 pm - General Session Begins • Event Room (400)
Call to Order - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
Presentation of the Colors - Lorain Fire & Police Units
Invocation - Lovie West, NFDW 4th VP (MS)
Pledge - Debi Thompson, NFDW 2nd VP (OK)
National Anthem - Roma Palmer, Junior Mayor • Lorain, OH
Welcome - Edna Borders • FDWO State President
Welcome - Honorable Jack Bradley • Mayor – Lorain, Ohio
Welcome - Honorable Kevin Brabuker • Mayor - Elyria, Ohio
Welcome - Senator Vernon Sykes • Ohio
Introduction of Special Guests - Barbara Faison • NFDW President (NC)
Introduction of the Head Table - Joanne Sullivan • DNC Representative (CT)
Roll Call NFDW Officers/State Presidents - Gina Sims-Johnson • Communications Team (TN)
Credentials Report - Gina Sims-Johnson • Communications Team (TN)
Appointment of Timekeepers - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
Pages - Jesika Berger, Sgt-at-Arms (NV)
Minutes from the 2023 Convention - Gini Ballou, NFDW 1st VP (ID)
Treasurer’s Report - Margaret Weinberger, NFDW Treasurer (NJ)
DNC Report(s) - Virgie Rollins, DNC Representative (MI) and Joanne Sullivan, DNC Representative (CT)
BREAK
12:00pm – 1:30pm - President’s Luncheon
Greeting - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
Inspirational Message - Diane Lechner, NFDW 5th VP (NY)
Introduction of State Presidents - Kathy Adams, NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Recognition of Past National Presidents - Virgie Rollins, DNC Representative (MI)
Introduction of the Head Table - Joanne Sullivan, DNC Representative (CT)
Introduction of Legislative Guests - Joanne Sullivan, DNC Representative (CT)
Introduction of Speaker - Lovie West, NFDW 4th VP (MS)
Speaker: Honorable Judge Terri Jameson • Columbus, OH
BREAK
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm - Standing Committee Reports
Legislative - Patricia Farley, NFDW Southern Regional Director (GA)
Bylaws - Kim Savage, Chair • State President (IL)
Growth & Development - Barbara Faison, Chair • NFDW President (NC)
Resolutions - Kellie Green, Chair (MI)
Women in Blue - Christine Pelosi, Chair • NFDW 3rd VP (CA)
History
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Regional Meetings
Election of Nominating Member & one (1) Alternate
Eastern Regional Director - Irmgard Pagan (PR)
Midwestern Regional Director - Susan Althouse (IN)
Southern Regional Director - Patricia Farley (FL)
Western Regional Director - Audrey Dempsey (NV)
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Silent Auction Open
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - Ohio State Democratic Party Reception - “The Mission in Ohio”
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Hospitality Room Open (Room 200)
Saturday• June 8, 2024
8:00am - 9:00am - Young Women’s Leadership Breakfast • Event Room 400
All Are Welcome!
Greetings - Kathy Adams, Chair • NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Introduction of Committee Members - Kathy Adams, Chair • NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Purpose & Mission - Virgie Rollins, Advisor • DNC Representative (MI)
Inspirational Message - Susan Rutt, NFDW Member (PA)
BREAKFAST SERVED
Introduction of the Speaker - Kathy Adams, Chair • NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Speaker: Councilwoman Meredith Turner • Cleveland, OH
Encouragement - Jesika Berger, Nevada Representative
Closing Remarks/Call to Action - Kathy Adams, Chair • NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
9:15am – 12:00pm - General Session Begins • Event Room 400
Call to Order - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
Pledge - Patricia Farley, Southern Regional Director (GA)
Roll Call NFDW Officers/State Presidents - Gina Sims-Johnson, NFDW Communications Team (TN)
Credentials Report - Gina Sims-Johnson, NFDW Communications Team (TN)
Nominations for DNC Representative(s) - Kathy Adams, NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Election of DNC Representative(s) - Kathy Adams, NFDW Parliamentarian (GA)
Standing Committee Reports
Audit Committee - Joanne Sullivan, Chair • DNC Representative (CT))
Regional Directors Reports
Eastern Regional Director - Irmgard Pagan (PR)
Midwestern Regional Director - Susan Althouse (IN)
Southern Regional Director - Patricia Farley (FL)
Western Regional Director - Audrey Dempsey (NV)
BREAK
12:15pm – 1:45pm - NFDW Awards Luncheon • Event Room 400
Inspirational Message - Margaret Weinberger; NFDW Treasurer (NJ)
Memorial & Remembrance of Past Members
Introduction of the Head Table - Irmgard Pagan, Eastern Regional Director (PR)
Introduction of Speaker - Inez James, Convection Chair • LCDW President
Speaker: Honorable Nina Turner, Former Ohio Senator • Cleveland, OH
NFDW Awards Presentation - Diane Lechner, Chair • NFDW 5th VP (NY)
NFDW Member of the Year Award
NFDW Humanitarian Award
Outstanding Elected Official Award
Rilla Moran Woods Internship
Angus Bird Internship
Certificates of Thanks & Appreciation
2:00pm - 3:00pm - NFDW PAC Meeting • Event Room 400
3:00pm - 4:00pm - Political Education & Training
Lovie West, Chair • NFDW 4th VP (MS) “Building the Bench"
4:00pm – 5:00pm - Silent Auction Open
7:00pm – 10:00pm - NFDW Banquet • Event Room 400
Greeting - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
Inspirational Message - Audrey Dempsey, Western Regional Director (NV)
Introduction of the Head Table - Christine Pelosi, NFDW 3rd VP (CA)
Introduction of Speaker - Inez James, Convention Chair • LCDW President
Speaker: Alicia Cole, Patient Safety Movement Foundation Board • Fmr Voting Member Presidential Advisory Council for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) • Sherman Oaks, CA
Silent Auction Results - Debi Thompson, Chair • NFDW 2nd VP (OK) and Brenda Davis, FDWO Treasurer
Invitation to the 2025 Annual Convention - Barbara Faison, NFDW President (NC)
10:30pm - NFDW Executive Board Meeting