From therealvictormarques at gmail.com Sat Nov 18 02:29:09 2023 From: therealvictormarques at gmail.com (therealvictormarques at gmail.com) Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:29:09 -0500 Subject: [NFB-Kzoo] Important - Please Read: Future of the NFB of Michigan At-Large Chapter Message-ID: <000a01da19c7$05263fb0$0f72bf10$@gmail.com> Hello fellow NFBMI friends, Last year, our affiliate president, Robert, started an At-Large chapter for the NFB of Michigan, to represent those of us who do not have a local chapter in their area. It is open to anyone to join from across the state not represented geographically by a local chapter, and even beyond, with an interest in Michigan issues. We would be meeting virtually for the most part (except perhaps at convention), and it's a great opportunity to network with people from a wide area. If you are already a member of another division (i.e. Seniors, Students, etc.) and do not have a local chapter in your area, you are absolutely encouraged to join At-Large as your home chapter. Of course, if you are not a member of another NFB of Michigan chapter or division yet, you are strongly encouraged to join our chapter to keep your NFB membership current. There are large sections of the state with no local chapter, and this would be the home for you within the Federation. We did not have attendance at our in-person meeting at the convention in Dearborn last weekend to conduct elections, discuss the business of the chapter, and plan for the upcoming year. Therefore, if there is interest in keeping this chapter going, we need to have a virtual meeting to gauge interest, conduct elections and determine the direction for how this chapter will operate for the upcoming year. Robert (chapter president for 2023) and Rachel (vice-president for 2023) are not running for re-election to the chapter board. This leaves me, Victor (secretary) to call for a meeting to see where this chapter is headed for 2024. We do have some interest in filling some of the board positions, but anyone is welcome to run for any of the positions, and we do not have enough interest to fill all positions yet. Your help in building this chapter is absolutely needed, we need other board members but above all we need enough members to make this vibrant and viable. We need to have sufficient membership and interest to continue forward with this chapter. If you are interested in being a part of this chapter for 2024, we will have to collect $5 dues before our meeting and then have a meeting to elect from the voting members. Please contact me if you are wishing to become a member and we can discuss how to become a member prior to our meeting. I am calling a meeting for Tuesday November 28, 2023 at 8 PM. This should give everyone sufficient notice and time to block off time on your calendar, and arrange to pay membership dues so we can conduct a business meeting. Please email me off-list at therealvictormarques at gmail.com to indicate your interest and intent to join the meeting and discuss membership dues. Happy to answer any other questions as well. Zoom Information https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz09 Meeting ID: 961 269 5221 Passcode: 902855 One tap mobile +16468769923,,9612695221#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New York) +13017158592,,9612695221 With Regards, Victor Marques 2023 NFB of MI At-Large Chapter Secretary