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

[David Andrews]

>
>Quick correction: the hearing this week will be 
>in the State Office Building Room 5. Please 
>write to Jennifer if you plan to attend.

jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com


>Corbb, from my iPhone
>
>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>www.nfbmn.org | (612) 872-9363
>
>>On Apr 13, 2024, at 3:19 PM, Corbb O'Connor <president at nfbmn.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>Greetings members and friends,
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Parents rights bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature
>>
>>
>>
>>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
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Minnesota’s organized blind spotlighted in 
>>the media over debate over rideshare ordinance
>>
>>
>>
>>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).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>First-time convention attendees should apply 
>>before Monday for convention scholarships
>>
>>
>>
>>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!
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>><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>.
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>><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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>College students must apply by Monday for our academic scholarships
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Mark these key dates on your calendar
>>
>>
>>
>>    * 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: Nattional Convention (Orlando, FL)
>>    * 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)
>>
>>
>>
>>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President
>>
>>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>>
>><http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org | (612) 872-936
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