[MN-at-Large] Notice of Annual Convention

[David Andrews]

>
>
>
>TO:                  National Federation of the 
>Blind of Minnesota members and friends
>
>FROM:           Steve Jacobson, President
>
>SUBJECT:     2022 Annual Convention
>
>DATE:            September 28, 2022
>
>We of the National Federation of the Blind of 
>Minnesota are pleased to announce plans for our 
>upcoming annual state convention. We also 
>encourage members to take this opportunity to 
>renew annual membership in the NFB of Minnesota 
>in plenty of time for the coming membership 
>year, which begins on January 1, 2023.
>
>
>When and Where:
>
>
>
>The two-and-1/2 day convention will be held from 
>November 4-6, 2022, at the Hilton 
>Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport at 3800 American 
>Blvd. East, Bloomington, Minnesota, 55425. This 
>year we are pleased to have as our national 
>representative Everette Bacon, Secretary of the 
>National Federation of the Blind and President 
>of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah.
>
>
>Hotel arrangements:
>
>
>
>Room rates are $89.00 per night, plus tax, for 
>singles, doubles, triples, and quads. Hotel 
>reservations must be made by October 14. To 
>reserve your hotel room, you can either
>    * 
> <https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=MSPAHHF&groupCode=FEDCI&arrivaldate=2022-11-04&departuredate=2022-11-06&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT>make 
> your room reservation through our special convention link
>
>Or
>
>2) Call Hilton Reservations at 1-800-774-1500 
>and give them our group code "FEDCI" when making your reservation
>
>
>Registration and Meals:
>
>
>
>Everyone who registers for the convention will 
>be eligible for door prizes. You can 
><https://forms.gle/7fnbj5sViqMuNPRw8>register 
>online, or, if you prefer, you can also register 
>by mail using the form and return envelope that 
>will be in your mailbox shortly. Please register 
>as soon as possible but no later than October 28.
>
>Convention registration is $10 in advance, and 
>$15 on site. The senior breakfast is $20, the 
>BLIND Inc. lunch costs $25, and the banquet is $45.
>
>This year, there will again be an affordable, 
>casual dinner on Friday night, which will take 
>place between our afternoon business sessions 
>and our evening division meetings and will cost 
>$20. This dinner will give you the opportunity 
>to socialize with friends and catch up with 
>those you may not have seen in a while. The 
>dinner will be structured so that you will be 
>able to get to all meetings without getting caught in the restaurant rush.
>
>If you would like vegetarian meals, please mark that option on the form.
>
>If you do not register in advance for the 
>convention but plan to attend, please still 
>contact Judy Sanders at (612) 872-9363 or 
><mailto:jsanders.nfb at comcast.net>jsanders.nfb at comcast.net 
>to make breakfast, lunch, casual dinner, and 
>banquet reservations so that we can give the hotel an accurate count.
>
>
>Dues:
>
>
>
>This is also the time to pay membership dues. 
>You won’t want to miss the chance to vote on our 
>policies and in our elections. You can pay 
>membership dues along with your convention 
>registration. You can also 
><http://www.nfbmn.org/join-now>renew membership 
>here if you are unable to attend the convention. 
>Only members may vote on our policies or in our 
>elections, so don't miss your chance to be part of shaping our movement.
>
>
>COVID Testing and Protocols:
>
>
>
>Attached to this email is our policy to maintain 
>a COVID-safe convention. We will be testing 
>everybody upon arrival and providing a wrist 
>band to all who test negative.  Even so, it 
>would be a very good idea to test yourself in 
>advance so you don’t travel to the convention 
>only to have a surprise positive test.  We also 
>strongly urge that masks be worn when together 
>in public places except when eating. Please see 
>the COVID policy for full details.
>
>
>Resolutions:
>
>
>
>Jennifer Dunnam, chair of the Resolutions 
>Committee, asks that you submit proposed 
>resolutions in advance of the convention and 
>then come participate in the discussion. You may 
>email your draft resolutions to Jennifer at 
><mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com 
>before October 28. To see the resolutions we 
>have passed during the past twenty years, visit 
><http://www.nfbmn.org/about/resolutions>www.nfbmn.org/about/resolutions.
>
>
>Requests for Accommodations Based on Disability:
>
>
>
>The convention is designed and implemented to be 
>accessible especially to blind people in that 
>materials are offered in accessible formats and 
>other nonvisual aids are provided (therefore 
>special requests for these items are not 
>required). If you need specific accommodations 
>based on your disability other than the 
>blindness-related accommodations mentioned above 
>in order to participate fully and equally in the 
>convention, we urge you to let us know as soon 
>as possible by emailing 
><mailto:president at nfbmn.org>president at nfbmn.org. 
>Due to the size and complexity of this 
>convention, as well as the need to appropriately 
>plan for additional human and other resources, 
>requests for specific accommodations must be 
>submitted no later than Sunday, October 30, 2022.
>
>
>Childcare:
>
>
>
>Childcare will be provided during scheduled 
>meetings and during the banquet. A donation of 
>$25 per child per day is requested to help cover 
>childcare costs; if this will create a barrier 
>to your attending the convention, please let us 
>know and we will work with you. To sign up, 
>please complete the childcare section on the 
><https://forms.gle/7fnbj5sViqMuNPRw8>convention 
>registration form; and you may also reach 
>childcare coordinator Briley O'Connor by phone 
>at (703) 380-8876 if you have questions.
>
>
>Cash Prizes for Essays:
>
>
>
>The Metro Chapter invites all Minnesota 
>Federationists to participate in its annual 
>essay contest. Although there is not a specific 
>essay question, the essay should be focused on 
>experiences as a blind person and highlight a 
>positive message or outcome. The length of the 
>essay should be about 2-3 pages. The winning 
>essay will be published in the Minnesota 
>Bulletin, and the writer will receive $75. 
>Another $50 will be awarded in a random drawing 
>from the rest of the essays, which will also be 
>considered for publication. Both winners will be 
>announced at the banquet on Saturday evening. 
>All entries must be received by October 22, 
>2022. Email them to Kayde Rieken at 
><mailto:kayde.dawn at gmail.com>kayde.dawn at gmail.com.
>
>
>Convention SCHEDULE
>
>
>
>We will hold an auction on Friday evening, with 
>a few items reserved for auctioning off at the 
>banquet on Saturday. Door prizes will be given 
>during the Saturday and Sunday general sessions 
>and the Saturday evening banquet. You must 
>register and be present in the room to win.
>
>Some events will be added to this schedule, and 
>more details about the schedule will be made available as they are finalized.
>
>
>Friday, November 4:
>
>
>
>1:00PM COVID Testing
>
>2:00-5:00 p.m.: Registration will be open. 
>Registration will also be open at other times 
>during the convention. All who registered online 
>should be sure to stop by registration to pick 
>up your meal tickets and the convention agenda.
>
>2:00-5:00 P.M.: Exhibits and Meetings
>
>•           Exhibits and demonstrations (open throughout the evening);
>
>•           Resolutions committee meeting
>
>5:00-7:00 P.M.: Casual dinner with friends­beat 
>the dinner rush and enjoy an affordable meal in a relaxed environment
>
>7:00-9:00 P.M.: Annual meeting of the Minnesota Association of Blind Students
>
>7:00-11:00 P.M.: Hospitality and Auction
>
>
>Saturday, November 5:
>
>
>
>7:00 A.M.: Breakfast and Annual Meeting of the 
>NFB of Minnesota Seniors Division.
>
>8:15 a.m.: Registration opens, and coffee and pastries will be available.
>
>9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: General session packed with 
>a variety of information and discussion on 
>current issues related to blindness. Among other 
>items, we will talk to Minnesota agencies for 
>the blind and elected officials, learn from the 
>stories of our members and friends of all ages, 
>and discuss our current activities and plans for the future.
>
>12:00 p.m.: BLIND, Inc. Lunch: Enjoy a delicious 
>lunch with opportunity to hear from the 
>executive director and celebrate the progress 
>and accomplishments of our consumer-directed training center!
>
>6:00 p.m.: Social hour with cash bar prior to 
>our banquet. Come and join us for more hospitality.
>
>7:00 p.m.: Banquet. The banquet will feature a 
>keynote address from our national 
>representative, Everette Bacon, who will inspire 
>us with his own stories about the National 
>Federation of the Blind. Following the banquet, 
>stick around with fellow Federationists for an after-banquet party!
>
>
>Sunday, November 6:
>
>
>
>9:00 a.m.-Noon: Business session. We will hear 
>reports, deal with any remaining resolutions, 
>and much more. The following positions will be 
>up for election: President (so that the 
>membership can elect the officer to complete the 
>second half of the term), Vice President, Treasurer, and Two board members.
>
>
>See You There!
>
>
>
>Our convention each year is an opportunity for 
>the blind of our state to come together for a 
>common cause, to educate ourselves and others, 
>and to strengthen our bonds of friendship. We 
>will share public services and other resources 
>for the blind, exchange ideas, and formulate 
>plans and policies for the coming year. Please 
>join us for the 2022 Annual Convention of the 
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota and be part of the excitement!
>
>
>
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>
>
>Steve Jacobson, President
>
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
><http://www.nfbmn.org/>www.nfbmn.org
>
>(612) 872-9363
>
>www.nfb.org
>
>Live the life you Want.
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