[MN-at-Large] Minnesota Minute: Three minutes and three asks

Thu Nov 23 05:51:44 UTC 2023

>
>Hello friends,
>
>
>
>Joy, laughter, celebration, camaraderie, and 
>productivity. These are just a few of the words 
>that come to mind as I reflect on our time 
>together last week in Rochester. I am humbled to 
>take a new role in our organizationâ€™s 
>leadership, Iâ€™m grateful for the work of so 
>many who have come before us in this work, and 
>Iâ€™m excited for what we will do together in 
>the near future. The convention was a success 
>because so many of you mentored, auctioned, 
>facilitated, spoke, contributed, prepared, and â€“ yes – ate!
>
>
>
>In this mini-newsletter, which I hope will take 
>you just three minutes to read, I would like to 
>present a few asks that I have of you.
>
>
>
>
>Consider applying to lead the NFB BELL Academy in Minnesota next summer!
>
>
>
>At our next board meting, I plan to bring 
>forward a discussion about hosting an NFB BELL 
>Academy in 2024. The National Federation of the 
>Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and 
>LearningÂ® (NFB BELL) Academy is a nationwide 
>summer program that prepares blind and 
>low-vision children to grow into confident and 
>independent blind people who live the lives they 
>want through instruction in literary braille, 
>cane travel, and activities of daily living.
>
>
>
>In addition to our financial position, the board 
>will need to consider whom is qualified and 
>interested to lead the program. At the end of 
>this message, Iâ€™ve included an outline of the 
>coordinatorâ€™s responsibilities. After reading 
>that list, if you are interested, please submit 
>a letter of interest to the board by Wednesday, 
>November 29. At this time, the board has not 
>decided whether the coordinator will be 
>compensated financially, so â€“ in your letter – 
>please indicate whether you have a perspectiive on this question.
>
>
>
>
>Save the date, make your reservations, and plan 
>to join our legislative efforts this winter!
>
>
>
>With the convention behind us, we now turn our 
>attention to planning for both Washington Seminar and Day at the Capitol.
>
>
>
>At our Washington Seminar, NFB members from 
>across the country convene to learn about and 
>advocate for legislative initiatives that will 
>improve the lives of blind Americans, and weâ€™d 
>love for you to join us! (Information about 
>financial assistance will be available shortly.) 
>If you are even considering attending, please 
><https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=wassm&qCiD=25&qCiMy=002024&qCoD=02&qCoMy=012024&qGrpCd=NF4&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=HI&qDest=550%20C%20Street%20S.W.,%20Washington,%20DC,%20US&srb_u=1&qRmFltr=>make 
>your hotel reservations now, and plan to join us 
>Monday, January 29 to Thursday, February 1 in Washington, DC.
>
>
>
>Whether or not you can travel to Washington, DC, 
>I hope that youâ€™ll mark your calendars to join 
>us for our legislative day at the Minnesota 
>Capitol, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday, February 21 at 8am.
>
>
>
>
>Order a set of accessible, at-home COVID tests!
>
>
>
>As we all start to move indoors, the winter 
>sniffles begin! The federal government continues 
>to distribute free, at-home COVID tests. Each 
>household may place one order, which will 
>contain twelve Ellume tests. While we were 
>previously able to order the tests online, the 
><https://acl.gov/accessibletests>Administration 
>for Community Living page now directs everyone 
>to call 1-800-232-0233. Select language by 
>pressing 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for 
>other languages. Then select 8 for the 
>accessible test (rather than 1 for the inaccessible tests.
>
>
>
>For assistance placing orders or administering 
>the test, call 888-677-1199. DIAL operators are 
>available Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 
>p.m., eastern. In addition, live chat and ASL 
>services are available through the <http://dial.acl.gov/>DIAL website.
>
>
>
>
>Share your ideas at the next affiliate board meeting!
>
>
>
>Our next affiliate board meeting will take place 
>on Monday, December 4 at 6pm. The meeting will 
>be held in-person at our headquarters building 
>and via Zoom. We plan to discuss:
>
>
>    * An NFB-BELL Academy in Minnesota next summer
>    * Convention feedback
>    * Appointing mentors/liaisons from the board 
> to each of our chapters, divisions, and groups
>    * Washington Seminar grants to BLIND, Inc.and our members
>    * 2024 priorities
>    * Day at the Capitol
>    * Other items that you suggest to me before we meet!
>
>
>
>Please let me know if youâ€™d like to join us 
>and if you have other topics that we should consider.
>
>
>
>
>Record these dates in your calendar!
>
>
>
>    * Wednesday, November 29: Applications for 
> NFB BELL Coordinator are due via email
>    * Monday, December 4 at 6pm: Board Meeting
>    * Sunday, December 31: Deadline to reserve a 
> hotel room for Washington Seminar
>    * Saturday, January 13 at 10am: Board Meeting
>    * Monday, January 29 – Thursday, February 1, 
> 2024: Washington Seminar in Washinggton, DC
>    * Wednesday, February 21 at 8am, 2024: Day at the Capitol in Minnesota
>
>
>
>
>Description of Coordinator Responsibilities  for the NFB BELLÂ® Academy
>
>
>
>The National Federation of the Blind Braille 
>Enrichment for Literacy and LearningÂ® (NFB 
>BELL) Academy is a nationwide summer program 
>that prepares blind and low-vision children to 
>grow into confident and independent blind people 
>who live the lives they want. The Minnesota 
>affiliate seeks a coordinator to facilitate the 
>planning and execution of a one-to-two week 
>program to serve Minnesota students in the summer of 2024.
>
>
>
>A successful program necessitates the 
>involvement of many volunteers, so the 
>coordinator will need to recruit and oversee a 
>team of individuals to accomplish the following:
>
>
>    * Work with the affiliate president and 
> board to determine the dates of the academy
>    * Secure a location where the academy will 
> be held (such as a school, community center, or other venue)
>    * Recruit volunteers for the academy, and 
> determine where their skills are best suited 
> (Some volunteers will be less comfortable 
> working with students but are eager to help 
> with putting together materials or getting 
> things Brailled before the beginning of the 
> academy, while others will want to work directly with students)
>    * Submit volunteersâ€™ information to the 
> Jernigan Institute staff to complete a background check
>    * Coordinate fundraising and grant writing 
> projects to help fund the NFB BELL Academy in Minnesota
>    * Advertise the NFB BELL Academy within Minnesota and recruit students
>    * Connect with families who are interested 
> in the NFB BELL Academy (such as answer 
> questions about what the program involves,  and 
> help families understand the value their student will get from attending)
>    * Work with the lead teacher to select 
> lessons from the NFB BELL curriculum, and 
> ensure necessary materials are purchased and available for students
>    * Facilitate transportation and meals for students during the program
>    * Plan parent engagement that will take place during the NFB BELL Academy
>    * Provide logistical support to the lead teacher during the Academy
>    * Complete a final report (which is critical 
> to the Federationâ€™s continuation of the NFB 
> BELL Academy, as it helps us learn what is 
> going well and what we need to improve for the future)
>
>
>
>A coordinator is crucial to insuring the success 
>of the NFB BELL Academy, and this person has the 
>opportunity to shape many young, blind 
>childrenâ€™s understanding of their blindness and future potential.
>
>
>
>At our next meeting, the Board of Directors will 
>consider whether Minnesota is in a position to 
>run this intensive program. A key factor in that 
>decision will be whether the affiliate has an 
>individual who is interested and qualified to lead the initiative.
>
>
>
>If you are interested in this role, please 
>submit a letter of interest addressed to the 
>Board of Directors via e-mail to 
><mailto:president at nfbmn.org>president at nfbmn.org 
>no later than Wednesday, November 29, 2023. At 
>this time, the board has not decided whether the 
>coordinator will be compensated financially, so 
>– in your letter – please indicate whether you 
>have a pa perspective on this question.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/mn-at-large_nfbnet.org/attachments/20231122/714a2330/attachment.html>