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<b>From:</b> NFBMN-News
[<a href="mailto:nfbmn-news-bounces@nfbnet.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:nfbmn-news-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>NFBMN
President via NFBMN-News<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, December 02, 2018 1:38 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nfbmn-news@nfbnet.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nfbmn-news] Weekly Update: Dec. 2<br>
<br>
Greetings, fellow federationists,<br>
On Friday at our convention, members met to discuss membership building
and fundraising, and there they shared stories of how they got involved
in our organization. One of the common themes that came up regularly was
being asked to do something by a current member.<br>
It feels good when someone asks me to do something. It might also feel
intimidating or daunting at times, but my overall feeling is one of
gratitude. When someone asks something of me, they are, in essence,
saying to me “I need help with a thing, and I trust you enough to ask
you.” Being trusted feels empowering, and empowerment, particularly for
us, is crucial.<br>
My first real exposure to the NFB was in Nebraska, when then president
Carlos Servan asked me if I would run for president of the Nebraska
Association of Blind Students. I had no leadership experience to that
point, and I was barely a member of the organization. Carlos saw
something in me, though, and he made sure I had the support I needed to
help our student division grow. That was the first time I can remember a
stranger ask me for a big favor, and I’ve been hooked ever since.<br>
As you do the work of your chapters, I would encourage you to include
other people in your efforts. Reach out to people you don’t see very
often or to people who you know, but who don’t attend chapter meetings.
Trust others to help us do the work of the Federation. You will be amazed
at the impact you will have.<br>
<br>
<b>Washington Seminar<br>
</b>Washington Seminar, where we go to educate our state representatives
and senators on the truth about blindness, is just under two months away.
If you are planning to attend, you can make your reservations now. If you
are interested in attending and would like more information, please don’t
hesitate to reach out.<br>
The Washington Seminar is one of our most crucial efforts, and we need
your help to advocate for the rights of all blind people. To learn more,
you can go to
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/washington-seminar">
www.nfb.org/washington-seminar</a><br>
<br>
<b>Letters from Santa<br>
</b>If you know a child who would like to receive a Braille letter from
Santa Claus, you’re in luck. Santa has made our National Center staff
honorary elves this year, and they will be sending out Braille letters to
interested boys and girls. To sign up a child to receive one of these
letters, you can go to
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters">www.nfb.org/santa-letters</a>
<br>
<br>
<b>Rideshare Survey<br>
</b>We are still looking for feedback from people who travel with service
dogs on the experiences they have using ride sharing services. If you or
someone you know is a dog guide user, I encourage Lyft and Uber
passengers to share their experiencesboth positive and negativeat
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/rideshare">www.nfb.org/rideshare</a>. There
is a survey there which will only take two minutes to complete, but which
will be very helpful for all our members.<br>
<br>
Member Spotlight<br>
If you would like to be featured in an upcoming member spotlight, please
send me a brief bio or a few notes about you, and I’ll be sure to include
you in a future update.<br>
This week, we get to know Corbb O’Connor, a recent-ish transplant, our
webmaster, and someone who was instrumental in handling convention
logistics in St. Cloud.<br>
Corbb grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and had consistent training from
highly qualified braille and orientation-and-mobility teacher. Thanks to
the Braille Bill passed with the advocacy efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind, the topic of braille came up at Corbb’s IEP
meeting in fifth grade. Even though he could have had braille instruction
every day for more than an hour, his parents let him decide if he wanted
to learn braille. He did…butin the words of his vision teachersonly as
a “backup” to large print to be used “someday.” To this day, he regrets
that decision and is sad that his parents let him decide. (Strangely, one
of his most vivid memories is teaching himself the slate and stylus with
the aid of a large print poster one summer afternoon!)<br>
Throughout high school and college, Corbb consistently thought that he
wasn’t as smart as everyone around him. In reality and in hindsight, the
truth was he wasn’t able to read at the same speed because his eyes were
strained from reading large print. He switched to audio textbooks,
butnot having used synthesized speech until trying to make it through an
“Introduction to Islam” textbookhe quickly found a remedy to
insomnia.<br>
Fast forward several years, and Corbb graduated from The George
Washington University and the Louisiana Center for the Blind. While in
the city of Ruston, Corbb met his now-wife Briley, learned how he should
have been using a cane for the previous 14 years, and finally learned
braille.<br>
Before moving to Minneapolis, Corbb lived in Illinois; Washington, DC;
Virginia; and Kentucky. He now leads a group of accessibility testers for
the software company Siteimprove. He spends most weekends exploring the
city with Briley and their three-year-old son Silas, andmost of allhe
looks forward to powering up a Ham radio (call sign K0RBB) or climbing
aboard a kayak.<br>
<br>
Dates to Remember
<ul>
<li>Jan. 28-31, 2019: Washington seminar, Washington DC
<li>July 7-12, 2019: NFB National Convention, Las Vegas, NV
<li>Oct. 25-27, 2019: NFBMN Annual state Convention, St. Cloud
</ul> <br>
Have a great week!<br>
Ryan<br>
<br>
<br>
Ryan Strunk, President<br>
<a href="mailto:president@nfbmn.org">president@nfbmn.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/" eudora="autourl">www.nfb.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org">www.nfbmn.org</a><br>
(612) 872-9363<br>
Live the life you Want.<br>
<br><br>
<br>
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