[MN-at-Large] Great news and two days left for convention and academic scholarships

[David Andrews]

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>Greetings members and friends,
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>Â
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>I’m excited to write to you under a cloudless 
>sky, in the midst of a gentle breeze, and 
>enjoying the diversity of Minnesota 
>temperatures! It was wonderful to see so many of 
>you last weekend as we shopped at the BLIND, 
>Inc. “mansion sale;” I hope that you’re 
>enjoying your treasures and pieces of NFB 
>history as much as I am. Before I get to the 
>meat of this message about Monday’s deadline 
>to apply for academic and convention 
>scholarships, I’d like to take a moment and celebrate our recent successes.
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>Â
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>Parents rights bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature
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>Our parents rights bill was heard in the Senate 
>Judiciary Committee a couple weeks ago. The 
>committee received written testimony from me on 
>behalf of the affiliate as well as Dave Andrews, 
>Kallie Decker, Steve Decker, Catherine Enz, 
>Samantha Flax, Rob & Debbie Hobson, Nadine 
>Jacobson, Steve Jacobson, Matt Langland, Beth 
>McGarr, Justin Salisbury, Judy Sanders, and the Minnesota Council on Disability
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>Â
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>If you missed it, you could 
><https://www.youtube.com/live/MQk0R7gMIBo?si=hQCwneFgxnCRGrOi&t=4105>watch 
>this clip of our live testimony. Kallie and 
>Serina Decker brought tears to my eyes with 
>their dynamic, compelling experiences, and I’m 
>excited to tell you that they’ll be on the 
>road again this week in front of the House 
>Judiciary Committee. I hope that you’ll join 
>us on Tuesday, April 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Capitol Room 5.
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>Â
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>Minnesota’s organized blind spotlighted in the 
>media over debate over rideshare ordinance
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>As Twin Cities members are likely aware, the 
>City Council voted unanimously to postpone the 
>implementation of the controversial rideshare 
>ordinance from May 1 to July 1. While a delay is 
>not a fix, as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, 
>it’s proof that our voices were heard. What 
>started as a resolution by the Metro and 
>At-Large Chapters quickly became front-page news 
>including a 
><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6-WHmoLtKQ&t=750s>press 
>conference with the mayor and business leaders. 
>A special thanks go to Jennifer Dunnam for 
>publicizing the resolution to stakeholders 
>(including the mayor’s press office, who 
>amplified it) and appearing on live radio with 
>MPR’s Minnesota Today; Briley O’Connor, who 
>was featured on FOX9; and Judy Sanders, who 
>served as our press secretary for this effort. 
>The Federation was also featured by Bring Me the 
>News, AOL, FIOR Reports, KARE11 (twice), KSTP, 
>MPR News (twice), The Pioneer Press, The 
>Star-Tribune (twice), The Bharat Express News, and WCCO (twice).
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>Â
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>First-time convention attendees should apply 
>before Monday for convention scholarships
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>
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>Affiliate VP Steve Sawczyn, who chairs our 
>convention financial assistance committee, tells 
>me that we’re just a few days away from 
>releasing the link to the request form. If 
>you’re considering your first in-person, 
>national convention, though, read on!
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>Â
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>Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual 
>convention but have not done so because of the 
>lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention 
>Scholarship Fund invites you to make an 
>application for a scholarship grant. Perhaps 
>this July you too can be in the Rosen Center 
>Orlando enjoying the many pleasures and learning 
>opportunities at the largest and most important 
>yearly convention of blind people in the world.
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>Â
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><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2401/bm240108.htm>Read 
>more about the Kenneth Jernigan convention 
>scholarship in the January edition of our 
>flagship publication, the Braille 
>Monitor<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2401/bm240108.htm>.
>
>Â
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>Active NFB members (blind or sighted) who have 
>not yet attended an in-person NFB national 
>convention because of lack of funding are 
>eligible to apply. If you have attended a 
>convention virtually but have never attended an 
>in-person convention, you are still eligible to apply.
>
>Â
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><https://nfb.org/form/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scho?q=form%2Fkenneth-jernigan-convention-scho>Apply 
>for the Kenneth Jernigan Fund Scholarship online before April 15, 2024.
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>Â
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>College students must apply by Monday for our academic scholarships
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>This year we will be awarding two $2,000 Joyce 
>and Tom Scanlan scholarships to qualified 
>applicants who are legally blind and attending 
>school next fall in Minnesota. In addition to 
>the monetary award, winners will have the 
>opportunity to attend the Annual Convention of 
>the National Federation of the Blind during July 
>3-8 at our expense in Orlando, Florida, this 
>year. At the convention, scholarship winners 
>will have the chance to meet other blind 
>students from throughout the country and gain 
>valuable insights into succeeding as blind 
>people. Additionally, both winners are required, 
>at our expense, to attend the National 
>Federation of the Blind of Minnesota convention 
>in the fall, dates and location still to be 
>determined. The scholarships will be presented 
>at the banquet of our state convention.
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>Â
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>To apply for a scholarship, 
><https://nfbmn.org/scholarship-program>complete 
>the online application by Monday, April 15, 
>2024. Be sure to include the additional required 
>documents and send them to 
><mailto:scholarships at nfbmn.org>scholarships at nfbmn.org. 
>A Microsoft Word version of this information and 
>application can also be requested through the same email address.
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>Â
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>Mark these key dates on your calendar
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>
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>    * Monday, April 15: Deadline to apply for 
> Joyce & Tom Scanlon academic scholarships
>    * Monday, April 15: Deadline to apply for 
> Jernigan Fund convention scholarship
>    * Saturday, May 11: Metro Chapter Grocery Bag Fundraiser (Plymouth, MN)
>    * Tuesday, May 21 6:00 PM-8:00 PM: BLIND, Inc. Board Meeting
>    * Saturday, June 8 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: 
> Lunch before Affiliate Board Meeting (Rochester, MN)
>    * Saturday, June 8 12:30 PM-3:00 PM: 
> Affiliate Board Meeting (Rochester, MN)
>    * Wednesday, July 3 – Monday, July 8: National Convention (Orlando, FFL)
>    * Tuesday, July 16 6:00 PM-8:00 PM: BLIND, Inc. Board Meeting
>    * Monday, July 22: NFB-BELL Academy (Saint Paul, MN)
>    * Later This Fall: Annual State Convention (Twin Cities)
>
>Â
>
>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President
>
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
><http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org | (612) 872-936
>
>Â
>
>Â
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