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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note: Please read this email completely, especially if you are going
to the convention and you are in need of funding. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chapter Meeting Saturday, <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We will have a chapter meeting on Saturday, March 26, 2022. 1
pm to 3 pm. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Requested: From the 4-5 pm Call: <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the link information below:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to join the senior listserve:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbnj-seniors_nfbnet.org">https://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbnj-seniors_nfbnet.org</a>
<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once on the List serve, ask them to provide the Zoom link
recording for March 22, 2022.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you want to attend Convention and it is your first time,
please read and or contact the following information below:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship">Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship | National Federation of the Blind (nfb.org)</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Quick Facts: (Please Read information either in the link above
or the body of this email entirely. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In order to qualify for being selected, you must”<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-First time convention with financial needs <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Be a Current member (Dues are paid and proof of participation
in the chapter- will explain in more detail in the meeting)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Register for Room(note hotel will hold one night charge),
Banquet ($75) and Convention Registration ($25). <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-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)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Contact President Ronza Othman (443-426-4110) before March 31 for both the
Jernigan and State assistant funds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Historically, winners received $400 to $500. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For additional information, please contact the chairman of
the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee, Tracy Soforenko, at
<a href="mailto:kjscholarships@nfb.org">kjscholarships@nfb.org</a> or 410-659-9314, extension 2415.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How to Apply<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting January 1, 2022, apply online using the Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship online application form. The deadline to submit
is April 15, 2022.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The application will ask for the following information:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">State Affiliate/Chapter Information: Include your state
affiliate, your state president, chapter, and chapter president, if you attend
a chapter.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mentor Information: Include your personal convention mentor
and provide that person’s phone number.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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 <a href="mailto:kjscholarships@nfb.org">kjscholarships@nfb.org</a>. 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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Notification of Award<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Register online for the entire convention, including the
banquet, by May 31.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to
many conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and mentor.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you
did not win a scholarship this year.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Receiving the Award<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Award Details<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Amber Woods </p><p class="MsoNormal">National Harbor Chapter </p><p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland </p><p class="MsoNormal">301-978-6686</p></div></div></div>