[Massachusetts-NFB] FYI sponsorship from the National Guide dog Division

[sharawinton at gmail.com]

Greetings from the National Association of Guide Dog Users,

 

It's hard to believe that this year's National Convention is just under 3
months away. We are working hard to ensure that this year's convention
experience will be one to remember. NAGDU is looking forward to seeing
everyone in Orlando. 

Once again, NAGDU is excited to announce that we will be offering Convention
sponsorships to 2 guide dog user teams. You do not have to be a NAGDU member
to apply. Please read over the sponsorship details, including the
application requirements   carefully. The link to the sponsorship
information page and online application is
https://www.nagdu.org/sponsorship.

 

 The National Association of Guide Dog Users Convention Sponsorship provides
funding support to assist guide dog users who want to attend the NFB
national convention in person. This year, NAGDU is sponsoring two guide dog
users with $500 each to assist with the costs of attending the NFB national
convention.

 

Eligibility:

The sponsorships are open to new or existing NAGDU members who are guide dog
users that would benefit from monetary assistance to attend an in-person NFB
National Convention. This year, the committee will consider applications
from all member applicants, whether they have attended an in-person national
convention or not. The committee will then award two sponsorships to two
guide-dog users.

 

Requirements of Applying:

.    Applicants must be a guide dog user.

.    Applicants must register for National Convention by May 31, 2024. The
online registration is required even if the applicant doesn't yet know if a
sponsorship will be awarded. Visit the NFB Convention Page at
https://www.nfb.org/convention for more information.

.    Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the time of the convention.

.    Applicants must provide the name of an affiliate President, chapter
President, or guide dog user division President for a reference.

.    Applicants must attend both the NAGDU seminar and business meeting at
convention.

.    Applicants must submit an article by August 1 to be considered for the
Braille Monitor which tells about their convention experience.

.    Applicants must not already be chosen to receive a Kenneth Jernigan
scholarship fund. *Note: Qualified applicants should apply for both. The
committees will coordinate to ensure NAGDU sponsorship recipients do not
also receive Kenneth Jernigan scholarship funds.

 

How to Apply:

Beginning April 1,  2024, apply online using the NAGDU Convention
Sponsorship online application form. The deadline to submit your application
is May 31, 2024.

 

The application will ask for the following information:

.    Contact Information - Include your full name, your primary phone number
(preferably the mobile number you might use at convention), and your email
address. If you don't have an email address, please consider asking a friend
or chapter member to assist you with email correspondence.

.    State Affiliate/Chapter/Guide Dog User Division Information - Include
your state affiliate, and the name of an affiliate, chapter, or guide dog
user division president (if you are a member).

.    Essay Questions - How do you currently participate in the Federation?
How long have you been a guide dog user and how many guide dogs have you
had? How long have you and your current guide dog been a team? Why do you
want to attend a national convention? What do you hope to gain from
attending? Provide any special circumstances you hope the committee will
take into consideration.

 

Notification of Award:

If you are chosen to receive a NAGDU Convention Sponsorship, you will
receive an email with details that should answer most of your questions. The
committee will make every effort to notify winners by June 7. Meanwhile, you
must do several things to be prepared to attend if you are chosen.

.    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 by May 31. While attending
the banquet is not required, it is encouraged. Visit the NFB Convention Page
at https://www.nfb.org/convention for more information.

.    Find a NAGDU member, or someone in your local chapter or affiliate who
has attended conventions in the past and can answer your questions as a
friend and mentor.

 

If you do not hear from the committee by June 7, it means you were not
chosen for sponsorship this year.

 

 Receiving the Award:

If you are chosen for the NAGDU Convention Sponsorship, you will be given a
pre-paid debit or credit card loaded with $500. This card can only be given
in person. This year, recipients will receive their funds and the conclusion
of the NAGDU Annual Business Meeting. Please note, NAGDU will not be able to
provide funds before the convention, so it will be your responsibility to
pay your way there.

 

 General Convention Costs:

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB
National Convention are the round-trip transportation, the hotel room for a
week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home).

We recommend that you find a NAGDU or 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.

 

 More Information:

For additional information, please contact the NAGDU Sponsorship Committee
Chair, Jessica Snyder, jsnyder at nagdu.org <mailto:jsnyder at nagdu.org> .

 

Remember, the deadline to submit the application is May 31, 2024. We are
looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.

 


-
Stacie Gallegos / Secretary
National Association of Guide Dog Users
Https://www.nagdu.org
(346) 439-7444  |  SGallegos at nagdu.org <mailto:SGallegos at nagdu.org> 
"You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back."

 

 


-
Stacie Gallegos / President
National Federation of the Blind Houston Chapter
Https://www.nfbtx.org
(346) 704-0190  |  SGallegos at nfbtx.org <mailto:SGallegos at nfbtx.org> 
"You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.

 

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

 <http://www.nfbma.org/> www.nfbma.org

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

 

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