[NFB-Conventions] Pre-Register for the 2019 NFBMN Convention

[David Andrews]

>
>Greetings, fellow federationists,
>We will meet in less than a month in St. Cloud 
>for the 2019 fall convention, and I want all of 
>you to be there. You will find the official 
>invitation letter pasted below. Preregistration 
>forms have been mailed out shortly, but those 
>wishing to preregister online are encouraged to 
>do so by going to <http://www.nfbmn.org/convention>www.nfbmn.org/convention.
>I look forward to seeing you all soon in St. Cloud
>Cordially,
>Ryan strunk, President
>
>We of the National Federation of the Blind of 
>Minnesota are pleased to announce plans for our 
>upcoming annual state convention. Enclosed in 
>this letter, you will find information you’ll 
>need to know concerning logistics (including 
>advance registration), costs, and an outline of 
>some of the events that will take place this year.
>
>The two-and-1/2 day convention will be held from 
>Oct. 25-27, 2019, at the Best Western Plus Kelly 
>Inn Hotel at 100 SW 4th Avenue S., St. Cloud, 
>Minnesota, 56301. This year we are pleased to 
>have as our national representative Dr. Marc 
>Maurer, our long-time national president and 
>current general counsel in the National Federation of the Blind.
>
>Hotel arrangements: Room rates are $99.00 per 
>night, plus tax, for singles, doubles, triples, 
>and quads. Hotel reservations must be made by 
>Oct. 11. To reserve your hotel room, either
>
>    * Book your room online at 
> <https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.24113.html?groupId=5Z9AG4X9>https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.24113.html?groupId=5Z9AG4X9 
>
>Or
>2) Call the hotel at (320) 253-0606 and mention 
>that you are with the National Federation of the 
>Blind of Minnesota while making your reservation
>
>Advance Registration: A pre-registration form 
>and return envelope are enclosed with this 
>letter, so that you can register for the 
>convention ahead of time and avoid standing in 
>line. There is also an online preregistration 
>form at <http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org. 
>Convention registration is $10 in advance, and 
>$15 on site.  The senior breakfast is $15, the 
>BLIND Inc. lunch costs $20, and the banquet is $35.
>In addition, this year we are pleased to offer 
>an affordable, casual dinner on Friday night, 
>which will take place between our afternoon 
>business sessions and our evening division 
>meetings. This dinner will give you the 
>opportunity to socialize with friends and catch 
>up with those you may not have seen in a while. 
>The dinner will be structured so that you will 
>be able to get to all meetings without getting 
>caught in the restaurant rush. The cost of the dinner is only $15.
>If you need vegetarian meals, please mark that 
>option on the form. For advance registration, 
>the registration form and the payment for 
>registration, breakfast, lunch, casual dinner, 
>and banquet should be mailed no later than Oct. 
>18.  Mail to: National Federation of the Blind 
>of Minnesota, 100 East 22nd Street, Minneapolis, 
>MN 55404.  Checks or money orders should be made 
>payable to NFB of Minnesota.  Please do not send cash.
>
>If you do not pre-register for the convention, 
>please still e-mail 
><mailto:sstarnes at blindinc.org>sstarnes at blindinc.org 
>or call 612-872-0100 to make breakfast, lunch, 
>casual dinner, and banquet reservations so that 
>we can give the hotel an accurate count. Also, 
>let her know if you will want a seat on the bus 
>going from the Metro area, discussed below.
>
>DUES: If you have not yet paid your $5.00 
>membership dues, a renewal slip is 
>enclosed.  Please renew your membership by 
>returning $5.00 and the slip in the enclosed 
>envelope.  If you did not receive a slip with 
>this letter, your dues are paid to June 1, 2020. 
>Dues may also be paid online at 
><http://www.nfbmn.org/join.html>www.nfbmn.org/join.html.
>
>Transportation: For those traveling from the 
>Twin Cities area, the Metro Chapter has 
>organized a chartered bus to St. Cloud.  A seat 
>will cost $20 whether you are traveling one way 
>or round trip; seats for children ages 5 to 12 
>are $10, and children under 5 ride free. Payment 
>will be collected on the bus by the 
>chapter.  The bus will leave from our 
>headquarters at 100 East 22nd Street at 11:30 
>A.M. on Friday morning and will depart from St. 
>Cloud at 1:30 P.M. on Sunday afternoon.  You may 
>use the pre-registration form to reserve a seat.
>
>
>
>SCHEDULE
>
>
>
>
>We will hold our traditional bake auction during 
>the Saturday and Sunday general sessions and the 
>Saturday evening banquet.  Door prizes will also 
>be given during those times.  You must register 
>and be present in the room to win.
>
>Some events will be added to this schedule, and 
>more details about the schedule will be made available as they are finalized.
>
>
>
>Friday, October 25:
>
>
>
>
>3:00–5:00 p.m.: Registration will be 
>open.  Registration will also be open at other 
>times during the convention.  If you 
>pre-registered, be sure to stop by registration 
>to pick up your meal tickets and the convention agenda.
>
>3:00–5:00 P.M.: Skills Fair and Meetings
>•           Skills Fair and demonstrations (open throughout the evening);
>•           Resolutions committee meeting 
>(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 send your draft resolutions to Jennifer at 
>the NFB office or e-mail them to 
><mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com. 
>To see the resolutions we have passed during the 
>past ten years, check our Web site under “What We Do.”
>
>5:00-7:00 P.M.: Casual dinner with friends­beat 
>the dinner rush and enjoy an affordable meal in a relaxed environment
>
>7:00-9:00 P.M.: Annual meeting of the Minnesota Association of Blind Students.
>
>7:00-9:00 P.M.: Skills Fair Continued
>
>
>
>
>Saturday, October 26:
>
>
>
>
>7:00 A.M.: Breakfast and Annual Meeting of the 
>NFB of Minnesota Seniors Division.
>
>8:15 a.m.: Registration opens, and coffee and pastries will be available.
>
>9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: General session packed with 
>a variety of information and discussion on 
>current issues related to blindness.  Among 
>other items, we will talk to Minnesota agencies 
>for the blind, learn from the stories of our 
>members and friends of all ages, and discuss our 
>current activities and plans for the future.
>
>12:00 p.m.: BLIND, Inc. Lunch: Celebrate the 
>progress and accomplishments of our 
>consumer-directed training center with a 
>delicious lunch and a program featuring students and staff of BLIND Inc.
>
>6:00 p.m.: Social hour with cash bar prior to 
>our banquet.  Come and join us for more hospitality.
>
>7:00 p.m.: Banquet. The banquet will feature an 
>inspiring keynote address from our national 
>representative, Dr. Marc Maurer, who will 
>inspire us with his own stories about the 
>National Federation of the Blind. Following the 
>banquet, stick around with fellow Federationists for an after-banquet party!
>
>
>
>Sunday, October 27:
>
>
>
>
>9:00 a.m.–Noon: Business session. We will hear 
>reports, deal with any remaining resolutions, 
>and much more.  The positions of President, 
>secretary, and two board members will be up for election.
>
>
>
>OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE
>
>
>
>
>Childcare: Childcare will be provided during 
>scheduled meetings and during the banquet. A 
>minimum donation of $20 is requested. For more 
>information, check the box on the 
>pre-registration form, and we will contact you.
>
>Cash Prizes for Essays: The Metro Chapter 
>invites all Minnesota Federationists to 
>participate in its annual essay 
>contest.  Although there is not a specific essay 
>question, the essay should be focused on 
>experiences as a blind person and highlight a 
>positive message or outcome.  The length of the 
>essay should be about 2-3 pages.  The winning 
>essay will be published in the Minnesota 
>Bulletin, and the writer will receive 
>$75.  Another $50 will be awarded in a random 
>drawing from the rest of the essays, which will 
>also be considered for publication. Both winners 
>will be announced at the banquet on Saturday 
>evening.  All entries must be received by Oct. 
>18, 2019.  E-mail them to Kathy McGillivray at 
><mailto:gilgal63 at gmail.com>gilgal63 at gmail.com.
>
>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.  Make 
>plans to join us and be a part of the excitement!
>
>
>
>
>
>Ryan Strunk, President
><mailto:president at nfbmn.org>president at nfbmn.org
>www.nfb.org
><http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org
>(612) 872-9363
>Live the life you Want.