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