[NationalHarbor] Important Information and Chapter Meeting Reminder Saturday, March 26, 2022 From 1-3 pm.

[Amber Woods]

Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends,



Note: Please read this email completely, especially if you are going to the
convention and you are in need of funding.

Chapter Meeting Saturday,

We will have a chapter meeting on Saturday, March 26, 2022. 1 pm to 3 pm.

As Requested: From the 4-5 pm Call:

Here is the link information below:

to join the senior listserve:

https://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbnj-seniors_nfbnet.org

Once on the List serve, ask them to provide the Zoom link recording for
March 22, 2022.





If you want to attend Convention and it is your first time, please read and
or contact the following information below:

Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship | National Federation of the Blind
(nfb.org)
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship>

Quick Facts: (Please Read information either in the link above or the body
of this email entirely.

In order to qualify for being selected, you must”

-First time convention with financial needs

-Be a Current member (Dues are paid and proof of participation in the
chapter- will explain in more detail in the meeting)

-Register for Room(note hotel will hold one night charge), Banquet ($75)
and Convention Registration ($25).

-Agreement from the chapter to return chapter funds if you receive
scholarship funds and need an advancement of funds. (will be discussed in
the meeting)

-Contact President Amber Woods no later than March 27, 2022 if you need
assistance in filling out applications for Jernigan and or State assistance
note: there will be time for chapter assistance.

-Contact President Ronza Othman (443-426-4110) before March 31 for both the
Jernigan and State assistant funds.



Historically, winners received $400 to $500.

For additional information, please contact the chairman of the Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee, Tracy Soforenko, at
kjscholarships at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2415.



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.



How to Apply

Starting January 1, 2022, apply online using the Kenneth Jernigan
Convention Scholarship online application form. The deadline to submit is
April 15, 2022.



The application will ask for the following information:



Contact Information: Include your full name and both your primary phone
where you can be contacted by your state president and your mobile phone
you might use at convention, if available. Please include your mailing
address and, if you have one, your email address. If you don’t have an
email address, please consider if there is a friend or chapter member who
might be able to assist with email correspondence.

State Affiliate/Chapter Information: Include your state affiliate, your
state president, chapter, and chapter president, if you attend a chapter.

Mentor Information: Include your personal convention mentor and provide
that person’s phone number.

Funding Request: Include your specific request and explain how much money
you need from this fund to make this trip possible for you. We suggest you
consult with other members to make a rough budget for yourself.

Essay Questions: How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do
you want to attend a national convention? What would you receive? What can
you share or give? Provide any special circumstances you hope the committee
will take into consideration.

If you cannot apply online, you can still apply by writing a letter to your
state affiliate president answering the above questions. This letter should
be emailed to your state affiliate president. Once you have decided you
will apply, please contact your state president in person or by phone to
request his or her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the state
affiliate president when to expect that your application will be submitted
and mention the deadline.



Once your online application has been submitted, your application will be
provided to your state president via email. It is still your responsibility
to contact your affiliate president. He or she must email a president’s
recommendation directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Committee at kjscholarships at nfb.org. Your president must email the
recommendation no later than the deadline of April 15, 2022. If you have
applied outside of the online form, the state affiliate president must
email both the recommendation and the application letter.



Notification of Award

If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter
with convention details that should answer most of your questions. The
committee makes every effort to notify winners by May 15, but you must do
several things before that to be prepared to attend if you are chosen:



Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from attending,
you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for roommates of your
own to reduce the cost.)

Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by May 31.

Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many conventions
and can answer your questions as a friend and mentor.

If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a
scholarship this year.



Receiving the Award

At the convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with
the amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will
be listed in the letter we send you. The committee is not able to provide
funds before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate
to assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a
scholarship, and to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or
credit card.

Award Details

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB
National Convention are the round-trip transportation, the hotel room for a
week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We
attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an
individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won’t pay
all the costs. Most years the grants were in the range of $400 to $500 per
individual. In 2019, ninety grants were offered.

We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention
mentor, someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to
share money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive
agenda in the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the
amazing experience that is convention week.


Thank you,

Amber Woods

National Harbor Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

301-978-6686
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