[Gabs] Information for Jernigan Scholarship

Mon Mar 12 00:46:59 UTC 2018

Hello all,

I have received a lot of questions recently on how to apply for the Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship. Please see the article below for more
details. I'm pasting the link and the text of the article.

Best,

Greg

https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm18/bm1803/bm180315.htm

The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund

by Allen Harris

Allen Harris

>From the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan Fund
Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of honoring
our

former President and longtime leader by establishing a program to promote
attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration and
learning

occur. Here is Allen's announcement about the 2018 Kenneth Jernigan
Convention Scholarship Fund Program:

Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have not done
so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship

Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship grant. Perhaps
this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando,
Florida,

enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at the largest and
most important yearly convention of blind people in the world.

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB
national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room for a
week,

and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We attempt to
award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an individual
is

granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won't pay all the costs.
Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400 to $500 per
individual.

We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention mentor,
someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to share
money-saving

tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive agenda in the big hotel.
Your mentor will help you get the most out of the amazing experience that is

convention week.

Who is eligible?

Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB
national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for funding assistance?

list of 3 items

. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB
information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a
good

investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below.

. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or
her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect

your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.

. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He or
she must add a president's recommendation and then email both letters
directly

to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your
president must forward the two letters no later than April 15, 2018. 

list end

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

list of 6 items

. Your full name and all your telephone numbers--label them-cell phone,
home, office, other person (if any).

. Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.

. Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter
president, if you attend a chapter.

. Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person's phone number.

. Your specific request: 

. Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible
for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget
for

yourself. 

list end

The body of your letter should answer these questions:

How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want to
attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share or
give?

You can include in your letter to the committee any special circumstances
you hope they will take into consideration.

When will I be notified that I am a winner?

If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter
with convention details that should answer most of your questions. The
committee

makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15, but you must do
several things before that to be prepared to attend if you are chosen:

list of 4 items

. Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from attending,
you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for roommates of your

own to reduce the cost.)

. Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by May
31. 

. Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many conventions
and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.

. If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a
grant this year.

list end

How will I receive my convention scholarship?

At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with the
amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will be

listed in the letter we send you. The committee is not able to provide funds
before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate to
assist

you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a scholarship and
to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or credit card.

What if I have more questions? For additional information email the
chairman, Allen Harris, at 

kjscholarships at nfb.org

or call his Baltimore, Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, extension 2415.

Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on
the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the
most

important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in Orlando. 

Greg Aikens, President

 <http://www.nfbga.org/> National Federation of the Blind of Georgia

Email:  <mailto:gaikens at nfbga.org> gaikens at nfbga.org

Cell: (404) 444-8661

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

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