[Massachusetts-NFB] Reflections on our national convention

[ladyshirl519 at gmail.com]

Hello, my fellow Federationists,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and finding time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the season.

I also hope that everyone who attended our National Convention traveled home safely. What an incredible week it was! I truly enjoyed attending the various breakout sessions and our inspiring general sessions. One of my favorite presentations was by the creator of Glam Canes, who is also a talented musician and recording artist. I apologize for not being able to pronounce her name correctly, but her presentation was both inspiring and enjoyable.

Another highlight for me was spending time in the exhibit hall. I enjoyed getting a hands-on demonstration of Glidance, learning more about Lumen, and speaking with representatives from the Aira team and about the Meta glasses. It was exciting to learn about the many advances in technology that continue to expand opportunities for blind and low vision people.

I also had the opportunity to experience a ride in a Waymo vehicle for the first time, which was quite an experience, and I certainly enjoyed some delicious barbecue while I was there!

One of the biggest highlights of the week, however, was getting to spend time with some of my family and introducing them to a few of my Federation friends. It meant so much to be able to share a small part of my Federation family with my own family, and it made the convention even more special.

To my Cambridge Chapter family, I want you to know that I missed seeing all of you this month since we did not hold our July meeting because of National Convention. I look forward to catching up with everyone and seeing you at our August meeting.

There is one other matter I would like to briefly mention. One of the things that has always made me proud to be a Federationist is the way we encourage, support, and welcome one another, especially those who are attending a National Convention for the very first time. It is a big step to travel to a new city, often far from home, and experience an event of this size.

It was disappointing to learn that one of our newest members, who attended National Convention for the first time, did not have the welcoming and supportive experience she had hoped for from a few individuals who had agreed to mentor and spend time with her during the week. I will not go into details, as that is not my intention. Rather, I simply hope this serves as a gentle reminder that each of us has an opportunity to make a lasting impression on someone who is new to our organization.

When we agree to mentor or welcome a new member, we should strive to make them feel included, valued, and excited about being part of the National Federation of the Blind. A kind word, a few moments of our time, or simply helping someone feel like they belong can make all the difference. I hope we will continue to strengthen our commitment to supporting those who are just beginning their Federation journey.
 Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s convention another memorable experience. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming chapter, division, and affiliate events.

Warmly,

Shirley Dorris
President, Cambridge Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

Cell;
615-598-5020
Email;
Ladyshirl519 at gmail.com

“Walk by faith not by sight”COR 5;7