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Bottom-line up front:
<a href="https://forms.gle/BhsXGHbf4PW3yuMi8">Register for lunch on
August 10</a>and <a href="https://group.doubletree.com/8y15v9">make
reservations for state convention</a>!<br><br>
<br><br>
Good evening friends,<br><br>
<br><br>
We talk every year about how national convention is the jolt of energy
that we all need to continue our zeal to live the lives we want and
continue the work of the organized blind movement. What strikes me,
though, is the speeches that bring tears to my eyes. This year, it was
the sage advice from blind children themselves, their teachers,
filmmakers, lawyers, and the recap of the work that we’ve all done
together. I’m grateful for your partnership and the innumerable ways
that each of you contribute.<br><br>
<br><br>
On August 10, the NFB of Minnesota’s board of directors will gather at
the DoubleTree Saint Paul East hotel, also the site of our 2024 state
convention, for a focused conversation on membership development. Tracy
Soforenko, president of the NFB of Virginia and member of our national
board, will lead us in an exercise that is sure to entertain, challenge,
and encourage us in methods for finding more blind people to join our
movement. He’s promised me something about pirates…<br><br>
<br><br>
While the meeting will be hybrid over Zoom, I hope that you’ll join us
in person. In addition to discussing our largest annual fundraiser and
upcoming state convention, we will tour the hotel so we’re ready for
our biggest event of the year in November.<br><br>
<br><br>
Lunch is $24, and it will be served around 11:30am. Please
<a href="https://forms.gle/BhsXGHbf4PW3yuMi8">register and pay online</a>
by August 3, 2024. Please reach out to me personally if you need
financial assistance or if you have any access needs of which I should be
aware. We plan to have accessible documents, a request for speakers to
use microphones, our assistive-listening devices, auto-captions on Zoom,
and a gender-neutral restroom available.<br><br>
<br><br>
While you’re at it, it’s time to make room reservations for state
convention! The convention will start on Friday, November 1 at 9am and
conclude on Sunday, November 3 at noon. However, we’ll have a fun event
the night before (details coming soon), so you may want to plan your
arrival for Thursday, October 31 (yep, that’s a Halloween event but I
promise it won’t be scary).<br><br>
<br><br>
You can <a href="https://group.doubletree.com/8y15v9">book your state
convention room online with this special link</a>, or you can call the
DoubleTree Saint Paul East at (651) 731-2220 (ask for the National
Federation of the Blind rate).<br><br>
<br><br>
The address for the DoubleTree Saint Paul East is 2201 Burns Ave, St
Paul, MN 55119. We are working with the hotel to secure a shuttle from
the nearby Green Line station, so please stay tuned for details. This
November, we will for sure have access to that shuttle on Thursday,
Friday, and Sunday.<br><br>
<br><br>
I look forward to seeing you on August 10, and please remember to
<a href="https://forms.gle/BhsXGHbf4PW3yuMi8">register and pay online</a>
by August 3, 2024.<br><br>
<br><br>
Corbb<br><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) 872-9363<br>
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