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Greetings members and friends,<br><br>
 <br><br>
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.<br><br>
 <br><br>
<h2><b>Parents rights bill moving through the Minnesota
Legislature</b></h2><br><br>
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<br><br>
 <br><br>
If you missed it, you could
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/MQk0R7gMIBo?si=hQCwneFgxnCRGrOi&t=4105">
watch this clip of our live testimony</a>. 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.<br><br>
 <br><br>
<h2><b>Minnesota’s organized blind spotlighted in the media over debate
over rideshare ordinance </b></h2><br><br>
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
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6-WHmoLtKQ&t=750s">press
conference with the mayor and business leaders</a>. 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).<br><br>
 <br><br>
<h2><b>First-time convention attendees should apply before Monday for
convention scholarships</b></h2><br><br>
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!<br><br>
 <br><br>
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.<br><br>
 <br><br>
<a href="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 </a><i>Braille
Monitor</i>
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2401/bm240108.htm">
.</a><br><br>
 <br><br>
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.<br><br>
 <br><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/form/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scho?q=form%2Fkenneth-jernigan-convention-scho">
Apply for the Kenneth Jernigan Fund Scholarship online</a> before April
15, 2024.<br><br>
 <br><br>
<h2><b>College students must apply by Monday for our academic
scholarships</b></h2><br><br>
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.<br><br>
 <br><br>
To apply for a scholarship,
<a href="https://nfbmn.org/scholarship-program">complete the online
application</a> by Monday, April 15, 2024. Be sure to include the
additional required documents and send them to
<a href="mailto:scholarships@nfbmn.org">scholarships@nfbmn.org</a>. A
Microsoft Word version of this information and application can also be
requested through the same email address. <br><br>
 <br><br>
<h2><b>Mark these key dates on your calendar</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>Monday, April 15: Deadline to apply for Joyce & Tom Scanlon
academic scholarships
<li>Monday, April 15: Deadline to apply for Jernigan Fund convention
scholarship
<li>Saturday, May 11: Metro Chapter Grocery Bag Fundraiser (Plymouth,
MN)
<li>Tuesday, May 21 6:00 PM-8:00 PM: BLIND, Inc. Board Meeting
<li>Saturday, June 8 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Lunch before Affiliate Board
Meeting (Rochester, MN)
<li>Saturday, June 8 12:30 PM-3:00 PM: Affiliate Board Meeting
(Rochester, MN)
<li>Wednesday, July 3 – Monday, July 8: National Convention (Orlando,
FFL)
<li>Tuesday, July 16 6:00 PM-8:00 PM: BLIND, Inc. Board Meeting
<li>Monday, July 22: NFB-BELL Academy (Saint Paul, MN)
<li>Later This Fall: Annual State Convention (Twin Cities)
</ul><br>
 <br><br>
Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota<br><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org">www.nfbmn.org</a> | (612) 872-936<br><br>
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