[Nfbc-info] The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund

[Rochelle Houston]

             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 2019 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 Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las
Vegas, Nevada, 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, the specific amount you are requesting, 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, 2019.

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

   . Your full name and all your telephone numbers-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
     numbers;
   . 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.

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 that 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 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 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.
     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, extension 2415.

     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 Las Vegas.

Rochelle Houston, First Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of California
President, Pathfinder Chapter Los Angeles
rhouston58 at gmail.com
323 807-0300
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nations blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.