[Nfb-greeley] Fw: Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarships

Tue Mar 18 03:08:35 UTC 2014

Please distribute.  Thank you.
Have a blessed day.
Best Wishes
Melissa R. Green and Pj
"Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where 
we focus our attention."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Lisa Bonderson
To: Antonio Rozier ; Brent Batron ; Buna Dahal ; Diane McGeorge ; Eric Woods 
; Gary Van Dorn ; Jeanette Fortin ; Jon Deden ; Julie Deden ; Kevan Worley ; 
Maryann Migliorelli ; Michelle Chacon ; 'Jessica Beecham' ; 
jhunter456 at gmail.com ; codyjbair at yahoo.com ; icyimi at gmail.com ; Tom Anderson 
; 'Wayne Marshall' ; graduate56 at juno.com ; 'Nicholas Thomas' ; 
copobc at gmail.com
Cc: Scott C. LaBarre
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 2:23 PM
Subject: Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarships

Greetings,

Attached and following is information for Kenneth Jernigan Convention 
Scholarships for people who have never had the opportunity to attend 
National Convention. Surely you know someone who fits into this category. If 
you do, please, please pass this information on to them and encourage them 
to begin the process of applying. The three easy steps can be found in the 
following message; but the April 15th deadline is looming! They need to act 
now!

Thanks,

Lisa Bonderson
NFB of Colorado

The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris

>From the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan Fund 
Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of honoring 
our former president and longtime leader by establishing a program to 
promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration and 
learning occur. Here is Allen's announcement about the 2014 Kenneth Jernigan 
Convention Scholarship Fund Program:

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 Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida, 
enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at the largest and 
most important yearly convention of blind people in the world.

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB 
national convention are the roundtrip 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. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400 
to $500 per individual.

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.

Who is eligible?
Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB 
national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for funding assistance?
1. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB 
information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a 
good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below.

2. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or 
her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect 
your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.

3. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He 
or she must add a president's recommendation and then email both letters 
directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your 
president must forward the two letters no later than April 15, 2014.

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

·         Your full name, and all your telephone numbers and label 
them--cell phone, home, office, other person (if any).

·         Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.

·         Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter 
president, if you attend a chapter.

·         Your personal convention mentor and provide that person's phone 
number.

·         Your specific request:

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.

The body of your letter should answer these 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? You can include in your letter to the committee any special 
circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.

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

1. 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.)

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

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

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

How will I receive my convention scholarship?
At 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 sent 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.

What if I have more questions? For additional information email the 
chairman, Allen Harris, at <kjscholarships at nfb.org> or call his Baltimore, 
Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, x2415.

Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on 
the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the 
most important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in 
Orlando.

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