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Fellow Federationists,<br><br>
I can’t believe it, but we’ll be meeting in less than two weeks to hold
our 2021 convention. I am excited to share the virtual space with you and
celebrate our stories and our accomplishments. Please remember that the
deadline to register is this coming Friday, Oct. 29, and as with remote
conventions past, registration is free.<br><br>
See below for full details, or for the shorter version, you can register
at
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/convention">www.nfbmn.org/convention</a><br>
<br>
Additionally, if you require additional accommodations to participate in
our convention, please let me know by Oct. 31.<br><br>
I look forward to meeting with all of you very soon.<br><br>
Warmly,<br><br>
Ryan<br><br>
<br><br>
We of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota are delighted to
announce plans for our 2021 annual state convention. This is also an
opportunity to renew your annual membership in the NFB of Minnesota in
plenty of time for the coming membership year, which begins on January 1,
2022.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>When and Where:</b></h2><br><br>
The two-and-a-half-day convention will be held from November 5-7, 2021.
We will again convene virtually this year because of the pandemic, so you
can participate from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere you like.
This year we are pleased to have as our national representative Ron
Brown, Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind, who
also serves as president of our affiliate in Indiana.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Registration: </b></h2><br><br>
Everyone who registers for the convention will be eligible for door
prizes, and this year there is no cost to register. You can
<a href="https://forms.gle/ebSizRiA9oYsEVSr7">register online</a>. If you
prefer, you can also register by mail using the form and return envelope
that will be in your mailbox shortly. Please register as soon as possible
but <b>no later than October 29</b>.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dues: </b></h2><br><br>
This is also the time to pay membership dues. You won’t want to miss the
chance to vote on our policies and in our elections. You can
<a href="https://forms.gle/ebSizRiA9oYsEVSr7">pay dues online via the
registration form</a> even if you cannot attend the convention. After you
register, you will soon receive an email with a link for payment. Only
members may vote on our policies or in our elections, so don't miss your
chance to be part of shaping our movement.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Convention Activities:</b></h2><br><br>
The convention will be filled with as much information, community, and
fun as ever. Some of our typical events will be conducted in modified
form again this year, and there will be many special activities to share
our positive message about blindness. There will still be an auction, as
well as division and committee meetings, resolutions, conversation with
government officials, thought-provoking presentations and discussions,
and times for just having fun! The banquet will be virtual, but it will
still include an exciting program featuring an inspiring address from our
national representative, Ron Brown. This year the positions of President,
Secretary, and three board members will be up for election. Stay tuned
for complete details about the schedule.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Proposed Bylaws Amendments:</b></h2><br><br>
This year, among other business, the convention will consider proposed
amendments to our organization's bylaws to designate that we hold only
one convention per year instead of two. Please read the attached
explanation and proposed amendments to prepare for the discussion and the
vote.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Resolutions:</b></h2><br><br>
Jennifer Dunnam, chair of the Resolutions Committee, asks that you submit
proposed resolutions in advance of the convention and then come
participate in the discussion. You may email your draft resolutions
to Jennifer at
<a href="mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com">
jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com</a> before October 29 . To see the
resolutions we have passed during the past twenty years, visit
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/about/resolutions">
www.nfbmn.org/about/resolutions</a>.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Requests for Accommodations Based on Disability:</b></h2><br><br>
The convention is designed and implemented to be accessible especially to
blind people in that materials are offered in accessible formats and
other nonvisual aids are provided (therefore special requests for these
items are not required). If you need specific accommodations based on
your disability other than the blindness-related accommodations mentioned
above in order to participate fully and equally in the convention, we
urge you to let us know as soon as possible by emailing
<a href="mailto:president@nfbmn.org">president@nfbmn.org</a>. Due to the
size and complexity of this convention, as well as the need to
appropriately plan for additional human and other resources, requests for
specific accommodations must be submitted no later than Sunday, October
31, 2021.<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>One More Thing:</b></h2><br><br>
Our convention each year is an opportunity for the blind of our state to
come together for a common cause, to educate ourselves and others, and to
strengthen our bonds of friendship. We will share public services
and other resources for the blind, exchange ideas, and formulate plans
and policies for the coming year. Please join us for the 2021 Annual
Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota and be
part of the excitement!<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
Ryan Strunk, President<br><br>
Pronouns: he, him, his<br><br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><br><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/" eudora="autourl">www.nfbmn.org</a><br><br>
(612) 872-9363<br><br>
Live the life you Want.<br>
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