[Mn-at-large] NFB of Minnesota Update

[David Andrews]

>
>Dear Minnesota Federationists:
>
>A few updates:
>
>
>
>Semiannual Convention Preregistration Reminder:
>
>
>
>This is a reminder to all semiannual convention 
>attendees to please send in your convention 
>preregistration so that you can pay $5 instead 
>of $10 for the registration. You can do it 
>online at 
><www.nfbmn.org/PreregInstructions.htm>www.nfbmn.org/PreregInstructions.htm, 
>or you can send in the form you received in the 
>mail. For those who prefer to wait to register 
>until you get to the convention, so that we can 
>get a count for how many lunches will be needed, 
>please send your lunch reservation now to 
>info.nfbmn at gmail.com. I look forward to seeing everyone on May 20th!
>
>
>
>Good Work, Federationists:
>
>
>
>Thanks to everyone who contacted the conference 
>committee members about the legislature's 
>proposed budget which would reduce the funding 
>for seniors after the year 2019. The conference 
>committee has now released its report, and the 
>reduction is not there anymore. There will still 
>be a lot of backing and forthing between the 
>legislature and governor before the final budget 
>is finalized in the coming week, but this is 
>very good news indeed. Another good example of 
>why it is important to be vigilant, organized, 
>and ready to work, and also a very important 
>reminder of why we must continue to be active in 
>the legislature to keep educating them about 
>what is important for blind Minnesotans.
>
>
>
>Transportation of Various Kinds:
>
>
>
>The news about public transportation, however, 
>is not as good in this budget process. For more 
>info including about a May 16 rally, visit 
><http://www.transportationforwardmn.org/may-16-rally-no-cuts-no-hikes-fund-transit-now/>http://www.transportationforwardmn.org/may-16-rally-no-cuts-no-hikes-fund-transit-now/
>
>However, one ray of good transportation news 
>comes from Duluth, where both Lyft and Uber 
>became available in the last couple of weeks. 
>These are great transportation opportunities for 
>us, and we want to make sure that all of us can 
>enjoy them whether or not we use a guide dog or 
>other service animal. We are working with Uber 
>and Lyft to be sure that their policies around 
>service dogs are what they should be. Please 
>help spread the word that we would like everyone 
>using service dogs (NFB members or not) to 
>participate in providing ongoing feedback on 
>your experiences with these ride sharing 
>services wherever you may use them. More 
>information is at <https://nfb.org/rideshare>https://nfb.org/rideshare
>
>As always, if you have items for these updates, please send them!
>
>
>
>To-Do List (AKA Things You Can Do To Help)
>
>
>
>☐ Preregister for the semiannual convention; 
>more details at <www.nfbmn.org/convention.htm>www.nfbmn.org/convention.html
>☐ Make your hotel reservations and preregister 
>for the national convention in Orlando—the 
>deadline to get the lower registration price is 
>May 31): <https://nfb.org/convention>https://nfb.org/convention.
>☐ Check out the May issue of the Braille 
>Monitor, with articles by one of our very own 
>chapter presidents, info about the Uber testing, 
>and more: 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1705/bm1705tc.htm>https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1705/bm1705tc.htm
>☐ Call your Congressman or Congresswoman and 
>ask him or her to cosponsor these three bills: 
>the AIM HIGH Act (H.R. 1772), the Access 
>Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1734), and 
>the TIME Act (H.R. 1377). If you aren't sure who 
>your representative is, find the name and 
>contact information by entering your zip code at 
><http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/>http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. 
>If you'd prefer, the number to the Capitol 
>Switchboard is 202-224-3121; from there, the operator can transfer you.
>
>
>
>Important Dates Coming Up Soon:
>
>
>
>• Saturday, May 20: Semiannual Convention
>• Wednesday, May 31: Deadline to pre-register 
>for National Convention: 
><http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php>http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php.
>• Saturday, June 3: Next board meeting of NFB of Minnesota in Rochester
>
>
>
>Other dates to remember:
>
>
>
>• Thursday, June 8: Meeting of State 
>Rehabilitation Council for the Blind 
><http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/council/>http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/council/
>• Monday July 10-Saturday July 15: 2017 National Convention in Orlando
>
>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
>
><http://www.nfbmn.org>http://www.nfbmn.org
>
>Twitter: <http://www.twitter.com/nfbmn>http://www.twitter.com/nfbmn
>
>YouTube channel: 
><http://www.youtube.com/nationsblind>http://www.youtube.com/nationsblind
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