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<div align="center">The following was shared with all at the recent
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota Convention in St. Cloud
which I attended during the weekend of November 16 to 18. <br>
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<div align="center">Ask yourself thist question:</div>
<ul>
<li>How much are you doing to help your affiliate or chapter to grow?
<li> Do you need something to
do?
<li>
</ul><br>
<div align="center">101 Ways to Help | NFB of Minnesota<br>
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<br>
<div align="center">101 Ways to Help<br>
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<br><br>
An activity at recent conventions has been the discussion and
distribution of a list of ways to help, or "jobs", in the NFB
of Minnesota affiliate. That<br><br>
list is below, and we would like to hear from you about which job(s) you
would be interested in doing. Please read on.<br><br>
<br><br>
There is a lot of work to do to improve opportunities for blind people
here in Minnesota, and lots of help is needed to get the work done.
Previous responses to this list have been extremely helpful to us in
finding the willing hands to do the work that is neededthank you to all
that have responded to this before! <br><br>
<br><br>
Some of the jobs listed here are one-person jobs; some require more than
one person to do them. Some are currently being handled very well by
someone or someones; a few of them are not yet being done at all yet and
need a willing soul to take them on. Even if you know that someone is
currently already handling a particular job, please indicate if you are
interested; we are not out to replace a person who is happily doing a
great job, but it is good to know who else might be interested in case
that person would like a break or needs help!<br><br>
<br><br>
Also note that although a hundred are listed here, there are many more
jobs to do in this affiliate that are not listed. If you think of
something you<br><br>
would like to do that is not here, please let us know!<br><br>
<br><br>
There is much that needs doing in Minnesota. Hearing from you what
activities you personally would be willing to do will help to determine
how much we as a the Federation will be able to get done. Thank
you!<br><br>
<br><br>
list of 86 items<br><br>
1. Coordinate food for potlucks/events (chapter)<br><br>
2. Work in kitchen at events where food is served (chapter)<br><br>
3. Coordinate the Walk For Opportunity<br><br>
4. Take payment at chapter or affiliate events.<br><br>
5. Get corporate sponsors for the Walk for Opportunity<br><br>
6. Greet new people at events/meetings and help them get
connected<br><br>
7. Coordinate condolences, get wells, and thank-you cards/calls
(chapter)<br><br>
8. Assist members in situations in which advocacy is needed (SSB,
government, etc.) (sometimes requires availability during the
day)<br><br>
9. Represent NFB of MN on councils/boards (involves much more than just
attending meetings)<br><br>
10. Track bills in legislature on internet<br><br>
11. Help with events for children and/or teens.<br><br>
12. Edit formatting of documents to be printed<br><br>
13. Keep track of timeline for planning events and give reminders about
items due<br><br>
14. Take minutes of meetings/conventions<br><br>
15. Manage the organization’s finances <br><br>
16. Write resolutions to be brought before the convention<br><br>
17. Coordinate convention logistics<br><br>
18. Organize mailings<br><br>
19. Participate in mailings (folding, stuffing, stamping, sealing,
etc.)<br><br>
20. Edit the Minnesota Bulletin (quarterly newsletter of NFB of
MN)<br><br>
21. Recruit content for the Minnesota Bulletin<br><br>
22. Coordinate the Minnesota Bulletin production<br><br>
23. Transcribe/emboss the Minnesota Bulletin into braille<br><br>
24. Create an audio copy of the Minnesota Bulletin<br><br>
25. Create/edit electronic version of the bulletin<br><br>
26. Label print Minnesota Bulletins for mailing<br><br>
27. Prepare braille Minnesota Bulletin for mailing<br><br>
28. Check tickets at convention events<br><br>
29. Record/stream audio for meetings/events<br><br>
30. Transcribe audio from conventions/seminars into written form for
inclusion in the Minnesota Bulletin etc.<br><br>
31. Take photographs at meetings/events<br><br>
32. Set up/tear down physical meeting space when meeting in our
headquarters building or other non-hotel spaces<br><br>
33. Keep track of inventory of NFB of MN supplies /literature that need
replenishing from time to time<br><br>
34. Write editorials to newspapers on our issues<br><br>
35. Do initial contacts with potential new members (phone call)<br><br>
36. Do initial contacts with potential new members (meet in
person)<br><br>
37. Call members to remind them about chapter meetings <br><br>
38. Call members to inform them about actions needed<br><br>
39. Call non-renewing members to encourage them to renew <br><br>
40. Handle phone calls from people who need referrals/assistance<br><br>
41. Mentor new members<br><br>
42. Maintain NFB of MN database <br><br>
43. Host or organize social events to bring members together<br><br>
44. Maintain our website (may require knowledge of code)<br><br>
45. Coordinate page content for our website <br><br>
46. Set up/maintain sound system for meetings/conventions in our
building<br><br>
47. Coordinate events for children or teens.<br><br>
48. Bring program ideas for meetings/conventions.<br><br>
49. Provide or coordinate transportation for members to NFB activities or
appointments<br><br>
50. Tutor someone in braille, either adults or children<br><br>
51. Take NFB literature to places like doctors’ offices to raise
awareness<br><br>
52. Organize door prizes for conventions<br><br>
53. Go to businesses to ask for door prizes for convention.<br><br>
54. Serve as "runner" for door prizes during
convention<br><br>
55. Recruit items for bake auction<br><br>
56. Organize the bake auction itself<br><br>
57. Coordinate meet the blind month activities<br><br>
58. Schedule legislative appointments for Washington Seminar<br><br>
59. Coordinate appointments schedule for day at the capitol<br><br>
60. Promote/coordinate contributions to PAC<br><br>
61. Promote/coordinate contributions to the Imagination fund<br><br>
62. Write press releases.<br><br>
63. Contact media to promote events/issues<br><br>
64. Do research to update database of media contacts<br><br>
65. Travel to various parts of the state to help with membership
recruiting.<br><br>
66. Contact potential new members in your area.<br><br>
67. Participate in Community Shares of Minnesota events (one of our
funding sources)<br><br>
68. Help develop written materials to present to legislators on our
issues<br><br>
69. Help meet in person with legislators to get their support for
specific legislation <br><br>
70. Coordinate community service activities that raise awareness about
blindness and the NFB while giving back to the community<br><br>
71. Participate in community service activities<br><br>
72. Speak to school classrooms about blindness<br><br>
73. Sell raffle tickets/candy etc.<br><br>
74. Lead NFB meetings.<br><br>
75. Come up with fund-raising ideas.<br><br>
76. Help with implementing new fundraising ideas.<br><br>
77. Write grants for NFB of MN<br><br>
78. Braille names for door prize drawings<br><br>
79. Write articles for the Minnesota Bulletin<br><br>
80. Plan meetings/activities for blind college students<br><br>
81. Plan meetings/activities for parents of blind children.<br><br>
82. Plan meetings/activities for blind seniors.<br><br>
83. Provide occasional help to members needing assistance with technology
<br><br>
84. Coordinate transportation to meetings/conventions<br><br>
85. Watch newspapers/web sites for news stories about blindness<br><br>
86. Maintain our social media sites (twitter, Facebook)<br><br>
list end<br><br>
<br><br>
Already on the to-do list of every Federationist:<br><br>
list of 15 items<br><br>
87. Promote a positive philosophy of blindness and Put philosophy into
action in daily life<br><br>
88. Bring ideas for activities/issues<br><br>
89. Call legislators about issues when needed<br><br>
90. Write letters on issues when needed<br><br>
91. Read Braille Monitor,Minnesota Bulletin,emails, etc. to stay
informed.<br><br>
92. Bring baked items for bake auction at annual convention<br><br>
93. Make appointment with your legislators for Minnesota Day at the
Capitol<br><br>
94. Contribute financial support<br><br>
95. Solicit contributions from others for the Walk for Opportunity, Give
to the Max Day, and other events<br><br>
96. Bring new members to Federation meetings/events<br><br>
97. Help someone if there is a problem.<br><br>
98. Turn anything destructive into something constructive <br><br>
99. Participate in projects/activities of the federation on a local,
state, and national level<br><br>
100. Participate in a hobby/activity outside of blindness, and expand
your social circle<br><br>
101. Something not on this list that you personally are doing or would
like to do.<br><br>
list end<br>
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