[MN-at-Large] Canceling tomorrow's board meeting, but read on for big announcements!

Fri Aug 28 16:37:04 UTC 2026

Thanks for the announcements!

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Christopher Murphy

Email:

 <mailto:cjohnmurph at gmail.com> cjohnmurph at gmail.com

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From: MN-At-Large <mn-at-large-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Andrews via MN-At-Large
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2026 11:22 AM
To: 'Minnesota At Large Chapter List' <mn-at-large at nfbnet.org>
Cc: dandrews920 at comcast.net
Subject: [MN-at-Large] Canceling tomorrow's board meeting, but read on for big announcements!

Hello Federation Community,

I’m writing to let you know that we are canceling the board meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, August 29.

Several of our committees are still working on recommendations that will come before the board. Rather than meet before that work is ready, I think it makes sense to give them the time they need so the board can have a more complete and informed discussion.

In the meantime, there’s a lot happening across the NFB of Minnesota, so I wanted to share a few updates.

State convention is coming!

Our state convention will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, and conclude around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, at the DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul East, 2201 Burns Ave., St. Paul, MN 55119.

Please book your hotel room now. You can call the hotel at (651) 731-2220 or reserve your convention hotel room online <https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/mspstdt-nfb-d6752c33-f812-47aa-b52f-91debbcbef11/> . The reservation page defaults to a Friday-through-Sunday stay, but rooms are also available beginning Thursday night if you’d like to arrive early.

More convention details are coming soon, but plans are already taking shape. The student division is putting together a star-studded seminar featuring artificial intelligence, we’ll have an escape room, and Dr. Mika Baugh from Indiana will host a sexual health fair. Dr. Baugh spoke at our convention a couple of years ago, and Minnesota will be the first state affiliate to host a local version of the sexual health fair offered at our national convention.

The Metro Chapter is also working on an activity for Friday evening, and of course we’ll have our auction and plenty more throughout the weekend.

We are also in the process of appointing our Resolutions Committee. Resolutions are formal statements adopted by our convention that express the policy and priorities of the NFB of Minnesota. They can address legislation, accessibility, education, transportation, technology, organizational policy, or other issues affecting blind Minnesotans.

I’d especially like to hear your ideas about resolutions we should bring before the convention this year. I’ve already heard some discussion about possible resolutions addressing the accessible ballot system used in Ramsey County, the inability to add stops when using paratransit, and concerns about technology being used in state government. If you’d like to help develop one of these ideas, or if you have another issue you think we should address, please let me know. We need as much input as possible.

Advocacy and legislative work

Please save the date for our next Day at the Capitol: Wednesday, January 20. This will be an in-person event, and our room at the Capitol is already reserved.

Our Government Affairs Committee is leading our legislative and policy work as we prepare for the coming session. This summer, we had a productive meeting with Representative Kim Hicks about our proposed legislation to improve how reading media are assessed for blind and low-vision K-12 students. Stay tuned for more on that effort.

We have also been invited to participate in the third annual summit of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles. Corbb is representing us on a state advisory group examining artificial intelligence in Minnesota through Minnesota Management and Budget’s long-range planning work.

Two members of our Government Affairs Committee also continue to represent us on the Secretary of State’s advisory group, which has been focused on the accessibility of our recent and upcoming state elections.

Our federal advocacy continues as well. Representatives Pete Stauber, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar are now supporting the Access Technology Affordability Act, and we continue working to build support for federal web accessibility legislation.

There has also been encouraging movement on return-to-work policy. H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, passed the House in July. The bill would restore Social Security’s authority to conduct demonstration projects testing ways to reduce barriers for disability beneficiaries who want to return to work. That authority could help create the opportunity to test ideas like those contained in the Blind Americans Return to Work Act.

Other affiliate updates

Our NFB-BELL Academy concluded with four students this summer. The Youth Programs Committee is now developing recommendations for what the program could look like next year.

The board of the Minnesota Center for the Blind, formerly BLIND, Inc., voted to dissolve the organization and transfer its assets to the NFB of Minnesota. Ownership of the contents of its St. Paul storage unit has now transferred to us, and we have taken over the rent. After convention, we’ll begin working in earnest to reduce the inventory and consolidate our storage.

Planning is underway for this year’s Walk for Opportunity, which will be a 5K around Lake of the Isles. We’re also planning new long-sleeve shirts with broader NFB of Minnesota branding so they can be worn well beyond the walk. Jennifer sent additional details last night.

Steve Jacobson is leading a committee reviewing and updating our affiliate policies. Among the topics already under discussion is a policy governing exhibitors at our state convention.

The At-Large Chapter is preparing a Double Good popcorn fundraiser. Chris Murphy will have a link to share soon.

The Metro Chapter continues working to improve Braille on Audible Pedestrian Signals throughout the Twin Cities area.

We also continue our work to strengthen membership development throughout Minnesota. We promoted our employment opportunity at the National Convention Career Fair, and there will be more to share as we finalize the job description and begin seeking qualified applicants around the country.

Finally, the board will need to meet before state convention to approve our IRS Form 990. I’ll send that meeting date once we have it scheduled.

There’s a tremendous amount of work happening throughout our affiliate, and I’m grateful to everyone who is helping move it forward. I’m also certain I’ve forgotten something. If there’s an update from your chapter, division, or committee that should be included in an upcoming announcement, please send it my way.

For now, please remember that there will be no board meeting tomorrow, August 29, and get your convention hotel room reserved if you haven’t already. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you Halloween weekend.

Corbb

Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President

National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota

www.nfbmn.org <http://www.nfbmn.org/>  | (612) 872-9363

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