[MN-at-Large] Convention Notice

[David Andrews]

>
>
>TO:              National Federation of the 
>Blind of Minnesota members and friends
>
>FROM:         Steve Jacobson, President
>
>SUBJECT:    2023 Annual Convention
>
>DATE:          September 23, 2023
>
>
>
>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, 2024.
>
>
>When and Where:
>
>
>
>The two-and-1/2 day convention will be held from 
>November 3-5, 2023, at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 
>20 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Rochester, MN, 55902. 
>This year we are pleased to have as our national 
>representative Julie Deden, 1st Vice President 
>of the National Federation of the Blind of 
>Colorado and Executive Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind.
>
>
>Hotel arrangements:
>
>
>
>Room rates are $99.00 per night, plus tax, for 
>singles, doubles, triples, and quads. Hotel 
>reservations must be made by October 19. To reserve your hotel room, either;
>    * 
> <https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=37675&Chain=29188&arrive=2023-11-03&depart=2023-11-05&adult=2&child=0&group=23BLIND113>Make 
> your room reservation through our special convention link; Or
>    * Call the hotel at (507) 280–6200 and 
> choose option 1; give them our group code 
> "23BLIND113" when making your reservation
>
>
>Registration and Meals:
>
>
>
>Everyone who registers for the convention will 
>be eligible for door prizes. You can 
><https://forms.gle/uMhSgKAftaxufNvw9>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 send in 
>your registration as soon as possible but no later than October 27.
>
>Registration for the convention, which includes 
>a breakfast on Sunday morning, is $25 in 
>advance, and $30 on site. The Friday casual 
>dinner is $22, the Saturday morning seniors' 
>division breakfast is $20, the BLIND Inc. lunch 
>costs $25, and the banquet is $45. If you have 
>any dietary restrictions, please indicate them on the registration form.
>
>Those intending to register on-site should still 
>contact Judy Sanders in advance at (612) 
>872-9363 or 
><mailto:jsanders.nfb at comcast.net>jsanders.nfb at comcast.net 
>to reserve your meals so that we can give the hotel an accurate count.
>
>
>Dues:
>
>
>
>This is also the time to pay membership dues, so 
>that you will be able to vote on our policies 
>and in our elections during 2024. 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. 
>Don't miss your chance to be part of shaping our movement.
>
>
>Transportation from Twin Cities:
>
>
>
>For those traveling to the convention from the 
>Twin Cities area, the Metro Chapter has 
>organized a chartered bus to Rochester. To help 
>cover the cost of the bus, a donation to the 
>Metro chapter of $25 per rider is suggested but 
>not required. The bus will leave from our 
>headquarters at 100 East 22nd Street at 10:30 
>A.M. on Friday morning and will depart from 
>Rochester at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon. You 
>may use the 
><https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRynkGKzOujSaoY-g7IGU0NtZv6SoiEsQ0VqO3p7e9_8JQYg/viewform>convention 
>preregistration form to reserve a seat. The 
>donations will be collected on the bus by the chapter.
>
>
>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 
><mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com 
>before October 27. 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 via the 
><https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRynkGKzOujSaoY-g7IGU0NtZv6SoiEsQ0VqO3p7e9_8JQYg/viewform>registration 
>form. Due to the size and complexity of this 
>convention, as well as the need to appropriately 
>plan for additional human and other resources, 
>please submit requests for specific 
>accommodations no later than Sunday, October 22, 2023.
>
>
>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 
>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 20, 
>2023. Email them to Kayde Rieken at 
><mailto:kayde.dawn at gmail.com>kayde.dawn at gmail.com.
>
>
>Auction
>
>
>
>Items will be auctioned off at various times 
>throughout the convention. Attendees are 
>encouraged to donate theme baskets, crafts, 
>baked goods securely sealed in disposable 
>containers, or other services. Please email a 
>description of your item in advance to auction 
>committee chair Charlotte Czarnecki 
>(<mailto:charlotte.renee1972 at gmail.com>charlotte.renee1972 at gmail.com); 
>also, let her know if you will be labeling your 
>item in braille or if you need for her to make 
>the necessary braille label. You can also let 
>her know if you wish to be one of the auctioneers.
>
>
>Convention Schedule
>
>
>
>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 a door prize.
>
>Some events will be added to this schedule, and 
>more details about the schedule will be made available as they are finalized.
>
>
>Friday, November 3:
>
>
>
>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
>
>•         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.: Meetings of the Minnesota 
>Association of Blind Students, the At Large 
>Chapter of NFB of Minnesota, and our DeafBlind group.
>
>7:00-11:00 P.M.: Hospitality
>
>
>Saturday, November 4:
>
>
>
>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.: Convention sessions 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 our new 
>interim 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 an 
>inspiring keynote address from our national 
>representative, Julie Deden. Following the 
>banquet, stick around for more after-banquet socializing.
>
>
>Sunday, November 5:
>
>
>
>9:00 a.m.-Noon: Breakfast will be available in 
>conjunction with this session. We will discuss 
>resolutions and other items of business, and 
>there will be more food for thought and 
>practical take-aways.  The following positions 
>will be up for election: President, Secretary, and three 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 raise  expectations for 
>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 2023 
>Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota!
>
>
>
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>
>
>Steve Jacobson, President
>
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
><http://www.nfbmn.org/>www.nfbmn.org
>
>(612) 872-9363
>
>Pronouns: he, him, his
>
>
>
><http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org
>
>Live the life you Want.
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