[NFBMI-Talk] The Informant 2024| Vol. 10: The Convention Edition!

Thu Oct 17 00:20:23 UTC 2024

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBMI)

The Informant 2024

Vol. 10: The Convention Edition!

October 16, 2024

Affiliate Zoom Link

 <https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz09>
https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz09 

>From the President

Do you feel it? The beating of the heart? The excitement pooling as you
consider the closeness of what's coming. Do you hear it? The questions being
formed, statements being made and friendships being forged while so many of
you engage in new experiences and meet new people. This is the
pre-convention vibe family. Let's embrace this issue together, follow me.

First, Happy Blind Equality Achievement Month. What an appropriate time for
us to be discussing this, one of the most important times of the year for us
as blind people. With both convention in full swing and National White Cane
Awareness Day just passing; the energy coursing through the blind is
palpable, but in Michigan we are a special situation this year. 2024 has
been a whirlwind of advocacy, programming, and promotion of the Federation;
with each of you taking charge of our destiny as an affiliate. Please, take
the time to congratulate yourselves for this effort and to read below for
the fruits of our labor.

Important National Updates

*	The 2025 NFB national convention will take place at the Marriott
Hotel from July 8-13 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Additional information about
convention registration and hotel reservations will come shortly. To learn
more about our national convention, please visit
<http://www.nfb.org/convention> www.nfb.org/convention.
*	The 2024 NFB Ride Share Rally took place on October 15, 2024, from
10am until 3pm PT  outside the Uber and LIFT headquarters to educate their
leadership on our frustration regarding the ongoing rideshare denials for
guide dog handlers. The event was successful and coincided with our monthly
presidential release, where we were updated on the efforts and how we can
continue this advocacy. If you have not already learned about this
monumental demonstration, please tune into the online version of the October
2024 presidential release.

Important State Updates

*	Visitors and members of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan can now view this issue and past issues of "The Informant" on the
NFBMI Webpage. You can access these issues by visiting
<http://www.nfbmi.org/informant> www.nfbmi.org/informant.
*	We encourage all chapters, divisions and members that are
considering ways they can support our organization more to join the
Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) plan for as little as $5 per month. To
learn more about the PAC plan and how it benefits members and programs of
the National Federation of the Blind, please visit  <http://www.nfb.org/pac>
www.nfb.org/pac.
*	Attached to this message is the Word version of the 2024 NFB of
Michigan state convention agenda. The official online version will be
available in the beginning of the week. Please take time to use this
document to prepare for all that you will experience Halloween weekend with
the blind people's movement in Michigan. 
*	 he 2024 state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan will take place October 31- November 3, 2024. The convention will
take place at the Radison Plaza at Kalamazoo Center, located at 100 W.
Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Additional information regarding
registration is available by visiting  <http://www.nfbmi.org/convention>
www.nfbmi.org/convention.
*	Rooms at the discounted rate of $129 per night plus tax are
available on a first-come basis. To reserve, call (269) 343-3333 Monday
through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM and ask for the NFB of Michigan rate.
*	Register by October 20 to get the discounted rates of $15 for
registration and $45 for banquet. After October 20, the prices will go up by
$5 each.
*	The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle. If you would like to be
picked up from the bus/train station or the airport, fill out the
transportation request form on the convention page.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan recognizes its 2024
scholarship finalists: Calliandra Bowman-Tomlinson, Tiare Mayes, Oguzcan
Saygili and Felecia Bradford. We welcome them to our 2024 state convention
experience. 
*	Be sure to visit the largest exhibit hall we've ever had on Friday
from 11 AM to 6 PM. More information is on our convention website, but this
is the Convention Special Edition, so scroll below for a list of vendors and
sponsors! You won't want to miss this or a chance to win big with our NFB
BRB Exhibitor Passport Program.
*	The 2024 NFBMI Dots with Distance fundraising campaign began October
1, 2024. Throughout Blind Equality Achievement Month, take some time to
commemorate the importance of braille by sending your favorite person, or
yourself, a personal, customized braille note. You have two choices, a
simple note is $5, while joining the Braille Readers Brigade (BRB) for $15
gives you the note, along with additional important braille materials and
your personalized BRB Passport for exhibit hall. To learn more or to
pre-order your BRB passport, visit  <http://www.nfbmi.org/BRB>
www.nfbmi.org/BRB.
*	While visiting the exhibit hall on Friday, November 1; don't forget
to show your personalized BRB passport to the exhibitors and sponsors
operating the table  in exchange for a code word. These words come together
to make a phrase. Handing your personalized BRB passport and the phrase to
President Parsons before banquet on Saturday, November 2, 2024, enters you
in for a drawing of $150. If you pre-order your BRB passport, it will be
included in your pre-registration packet. Limited passports will be
available for purchase at the registration table.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan excitedly welcomes
NFB Second Vice President Everette Bacon as our 2024 national
representative. Everett serves as the president of the National Federation
of the Blind of Utah and as a resolute leader of the blind people's
movement. I look forward to all he will offer us during our convention
experience this fall. 
*	The 2024 NFBMI state convention is accepting submissions for door
prizes. A door prize is an item that is given away during public convention
sessions (general session, hospitality events, banquet, business meetings)
and are designated for registered convention attendees only. If you have
items, whether new or gently used, that you believe would make an excellent
door prize; please contact Donna Posont, New Wayne County chapter president
at  <mailto:Donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> Donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com.
*	The 2024 NFBMI state convention will be returning to its roots with
its live auction. The live auction occurs during the banquet on Saturday,
November 2, 2024, and is a fundraising opportunity for attendees to bid on
items donated  to support the Federation's programs for the next year.
Hosted by the Blind Michigan Seniors and our auctioneer extraordinaire,
Michael Powell; we are accepting donations for auction items. If you have an
item you would like to donate for our convention auction hosted by our
Michigan blind seniors, please contact Patricia Pyle at
<mailto:patriciajpyle at gmail.com> patriciajpyle at gmail.com.
*	The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan is grateful for the
generous donation of Detroit Tigers tickets we received from the Tigers
organization. A special thanks to both the Tigers and state affiliate
treasurer, Mark Eagle, for his tireless work to continue to promote the
presence and work of the Federation in our great state. The Michigan
affiliate attended our "Tapping with the Tigers" event, representing four
chapters and two divisions with pride. We look forward to future outings in
Comerica Park, as well as work to infuse more accessibility into the live
broadcast options for blind attendees.

2024 NFBMI Convention Exhibitors and Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

. Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

. Discover Kalamazoo

. Eye Learn

. Non-24/Vanda

Gold Sponsors

. Michigan Department of Education - Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO)

White Cane Sponsors

. Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity

*	Birding By Ear and Beyond

. Family Counseling and Mediation Services

. can Connect / Perkins School for the Blind

. Leader Dogs for the Blind

. Rehabilitation WAY, LLC

Exhibitors

. A. T. Guys

. Access To Places (virtual only)

. Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

. Braille Bright Assistive Tech LLC
. Disability Network Southwest Michigan

. En-Vision America (virtual only)

. Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind & Visually Impaired

. Guide Dogs for the Blind

. Lions 11-B1 Winter Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired

. Lions Bear Lake Camp

. Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library

. Michigan Ski for Light

. NewHaptics

. Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind

. Selvas BLV

. VisualEyes Access

. Western Michigan University, Department of Blindness and Low Vision
Studies

A virtual exhibit hall preview will be held Wednesday, October 30 at 8 PM in
the affiliate Zoom room.

Chapter/Division Updates

*	At Large Chapter: We are excited to host our state convention this
fall with the Michigan Seniors. We held our monthly chapter meeting on
October 1 at 8pm, where we held our election for the positions of President,
Vice President, and Treasurer/Secretary ahead of convention. As a result of
the meeting, Sanho Steele-Louchart was re-elected president, Kashonia Graham
as Vice President and Ather Jammoa as treasurer/secretary. We recognize and
thank Victor and Alizia Marques for their time and effort in the At Large
chapter and wish them luck in their new endeavors in Arizona. We will be
holding a philosophy debate presentation with the Flint chapter at state
convention and look forward to connecting with everyone at our annual
in-person meeting on Saturday, November 2 at 1pm. 
*	Detroit Chapter: October 5th, we commemorated BEAM by hosting Roller
Skating with the NFB at Detroit's Northland Roller Rink, a challenging, yet
wildly fun event that drew 45 participants. We sent representatives to the
affiliate's annual Lansing Gathering, the Just Ask Foundation's Health and
Fun Fair at the Eastern Market on October 3rd, and made plans to host a
vendor table at the Department of Elections' big October 19th Get Out the
Vote Block Party. At our Chapter Meeting, we discussed both the
multi-layered purpose of why we attend our State Convention, and how we
should explore, discover, and conduct ourselves at the Convention if truly
guided by NFB Philosophy.
*	Flint-Genesee Chapter: Nine members attended the Lansing gathering,
where we had a wonderful time connecting with our leadership team,
federation family and participating in the meetings. We participated as a
vendor at the Genesee Disability Network outreach day. Two members managed
our table, distributing information, while another member networked with
various organizations about the Federation and its programs. Our
communication committee recorded a podcast discussing our upcoming event for
Blind Equality Achievement Month. We will hold a Voters Outreach Training
focused on the VAT machine. Our special guests, our planning committee chair
and affiliate president, joined us to promote the state convention-great
job, and thank you to both!
*	Michigan Association of Blind Students (MIABS): MIABS will be
holding an in-person meeting at the 2024 state convention on Saturday,
November 2, 2024, in Kalamazoo. Our representative from the National
Association of Blind Students (NABS) is Qualik Ford. Qualik serves as the
president of the Maryland Association of Blind Students. For more
information about convention, our in-person meeting and how you can get
involved with the Michigan Association of Blind Students, attend our meeting
this Friday at 4pm on the Michigan affiliate Zoom platform. 
*	Blind Michigan Seniors Advocating for Seniors (BMISAFS): Hello
Michigan seniors! Please come to our monthly meeting at 8:00 PM on Monday,
October 28. We will be discussing final plans for our hospitality suite at
the state convention. There are jobs for everyone to do! Some folks will be
asked to help serve coffee and snacks and others will be asked to help steer
people to the hospitality suite when they arrive at the hotel on Friday. In
addition to the Friday hours (11:00 - 3:00) we will be open for an hour on
Saturday and Sunday mornings before general session  (7:30 - 8:30). Our
annual in-person Chapter meeting will take place on Saturday afternoon at
1pm. The agenda is coming soon. Please be prepared to pay your $5 annual
dues at that time. I'm so looking forward to seeing you at our monthly
meeting and in person at our Annual State Convention in Kalamazoo!
*	New Wayne County Chapter: Today the New Wayne County chapter will
volunteer at the Environmental Interpretive Center at the University of
Michigan-Dearborn. We plan to collect seeds and sow them in the prairie near
the Henry Ford mansion. This area needs more native grass in order to keep
away invasive plants and we will do our part to support that process. Nine
chapter members will travel to Kalamazoo to share a good time at state
convention.

With Love, Hope and Determination, 

Robert Parsons, Jr., M. A., CRC, CVRT, LLPC

President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

(269) 216- 8640

www.nfbmi.org <http://www.nfbmi.org> 

"Without struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglas

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