[NFBMI-Talk] Our Thanks...

Thu Nov 17 18:16:40 UTC 2022

What a great message Mr. President. "Congratulations on your election. It
looks as though you are prepared to take the NFB of Michigan to new heights
of accomplishment! Rock On NFBMI!

Warmly,

Christine 
Christine L. Boone, former Michigander.  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Robert Earl
> Parsons via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2022 6:51 AM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Robert Earl Parsons <robert.e.parsons at wmich.edu>
> Subject: [NFBMI-Talk] Our Thanks...
> 
> Good morning, Federation Friends
> 
> As we continue to step into the holiday season, the executive officers and
board
> of directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan extend
its
> appreciation for all who were able to engage in the great work done at our
> annual state convention in Grand Rapids from November 4-6. Whether you
were
> supporting our general session and business meeting via Zoom, working a
table
> at our exhibit hall, or singing your hearts out at our White Cane Karaoke;
the
> weekend was a bright welcome back to exciting programming and efforts to
> further support blind people in Michigan achieving their dreams. Though we
had
> many key members help in making this year's convention successful, we are
> always looking for new members and leaders who want to participate
actively in
> our efforts.
> Over the next few weeks there will be affiliate-wide announcements for
> members who are interested in attending our annual Washington Seminar.
Every
> year, members of all 52 affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind
arrive
> at our nation's capital, where we work in tandem to advocate for issues
that
> affect blind Americans nationwide. This groundbreaking work is part of the
core
> of our identity as a Federationist. Using the skill of advocacy has
secured many
> blind Americans, you, or someone you may know included some of the rights
we
> are afforded today. Important legislation like the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, the
> Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Workforce Innovation and
> Opportunities Act of 2014 all come from different collective groups
advocating
> for access and rights they feel people with disabilities deserve. The
National
> Federation of the Blind deviates from this mentality.  As the largest
organized
> movement of blind people advocating for their needs, our Washington
Seminar
> is an event where different teams of blind people work to advocate for
> legislation that further supports the rights and access for blind people,
> specifically. Some of our legislative priorities have included the Medical
Devices
> Nonvisual Accessibility Act (MDAA) and the Access Technology Affordability
Act
> (ATAA).
> So, what is this advocating thing? How does it work? Is that all there is
to being
> a Federationist? I know these questions are abundant in our new members'
> minds and for members that may have joined chapters or divisions during
the
> pandemic. A great way for chapter and division members to get involved in
our
> work is by joining a statewide committee. State affiliates create
committees to
> provide support for different aspects of our organization. Some committees
are
> year-long, while others are seasonal or may be related to a specific
event. When
> you join a statewide committee, it is likely you are working with members
of
> other chapters, divisions or even affiliates to advance the work of the
affiliate.
> This work has a mutual benefit for a local chapter or division because
joining a
> committee provides you with information from the affiliate that can help
your
> local area. Many chapter members adopt state programs locally to huge
> success. For example, at our 2019 state convention in Grand Rapids, the
> Michigan Association of Blind Students held their "Michigan's Got Talent,"
event
> and fundraiser, which was adopted from a state committee program. The
event
> helped the students raise $5000 and led to the division establishing the
"Larry
> Posont" award as a support to our state scholarship committee. In the next
> week, a description of the state committees will be included in our "Meet
the
> Board," post to this list. Please take some time to review that email
because it
> will provide guidance on what our duties as affiliate officers and board
members
> are. We hope this information helps with the exciting work we will be
starting
> soon. For more information about these items feel free to reach out at
(269)
> 216-8640. I'm so grateful to serve you all and can already imagine the
> possibilities. Let's go build the Federation!
> 
> With Love, Hope and Determination
> 
> Robert E. Parsons, Jr., M.A., CRC, CVRT, LLPC
> President| National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> Doctoral Student| Counselor Education and Supervision Western Michigan
> University '25
> Pronouns: He, Him, His
> P: (269) 216-8640
> 
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