[NFBMI-Talk] The Informant November December 2025

Mon Nov 17 01:56:20 UTC 2025

The Informant:

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

November/December  2025

Affiliate Zoom Link:

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

President's Report:

Sheila Fulmore, First Vice President/Acting President

As announced at our state convention, President Robert Parsons is taking a
sabbatical. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. In his absence  I
will be serving as acting president. Thank you for a wonderful state
convention. From our members who participated, our volunteers, convention
committee, and our board; it takes a village, thank you all for making our
2025 convention a great one. 

2025/2026 Affiliate Committee Chairs:

Sheila Fulmore, First Vice President/acting President

Fundraising: 

Ann McKay-Bacon

Youth and Family: 

Donna Posont

Communications: 

Maryann Murad, Chair; Jason Bias, Co-chair 

Legislative: 

KaShonia Graham, Chair; Mike Powell, Co-chair

*Leadership Development*

*Community Involvement Committee (CIC)*

Membership: 

Maryann Murad

Scholarship: 

Sanho Steele-Louchart

Convention: 

Sheila Fulmore, Chair;  Pat Pyle/Gail Bowman Co-chair(s)

*Resolutions:* 

Exhibit Hall Coordinator: 

Damontae Scott/KaShonia Graham

At-Large Chapter:

Sanho Steele-Louchart, President

The At-Large chapter meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:00
PM. We meet in the Michigan Zoom Room. Please join us Tuesday, November 18
for our philosophy discussion. We will talk about NFB philosophy and how it
applies to various accommodations, modifications, and expectations for blind
people. We will be planning a New Year's Eve gathering; please stay tuned
for more details!

Detroit Chapter:

KaShonia Graham, Ather Jammoa, Sanho Steele-Louchart

The new Detroit Chapter is officially taking shape! During our State
Convention on Friday, October 31, we gathered for an energizing meeting full
of great ideas, enthusiasm, and vision for what's ahead.

We are tentatively planning a holiday party that will bring together those
involved in building the new Detroit Chapter, along with members of the
state affiliate who wish to join us. The exact date and time will be
announced as we get closer to December, so please keep an eye on the
listserv for updates.

We look forward to seeing you at upcoming meetings and celebrating the
exciting future of the new Detroit Chapter! 

Flint Genesee Chapter:

Damontae Scott, Vice President

The Flint-Genesee Chapter will be hosting its annual Holiday Celebration
Gathering December 13 from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The Chapter had nineteen
members register & attend this year's state convention. The Flint-Genesee
Chapter also holds our monthly meeting every third Thursday at the Gloria E.
Cole Flint Public Library from 5:30 PM to 6:45 pm. We will also be having a
fund raiser from November 20th through December 20th

We are excited to announce our upcoming RADA Cutlery fundraiser! This year,
our goal is to raise $1,000 to support training and family programs for
blind and low-vision individuals. Your participation helps us make a
meaningful impact in our community.

Special Holiday Reminder:

All orders placed by December 5th are estimated to arrive by Christmas; this
will be perfect for holiday gifts! Every purchase brings us one step closer
to our goal. Thank you for your support and generosity!

Online orders or more info contact Gail at  

 gail at bowman.solutions <mailto:gail at bowman.solutions>  

Damontae:

lennysox at icloud.com <mailto:lennysox at icloud.com>  

MIABS:

Jeff Crouch, President

Hello from the Michigan Association of Blind Students. We are full of
energy, hope, and determination after our state convention. Our students had
a great time learning from each other, networking and getting filled with
the collective energy to work together to build the federation. Our students
enjoyed the gamers guild and the movie event. The banquet speech was another
highlight that was really loved.

Our next meeting will be in December via zoom with a date to be announced
soon. We are excited for what the future brings for our division and the
affiliate  as a whole.

BMISAFS:

Pat Pyle, President

Hello Michigan Seniors! Our next meeting will take place on Monday, November
24th  at 7:00 PM. I would like to share with you the highlights that our
members

experienced during our State Convention. One of my favorite events was our
in-person Chapter meeting. There were seventeen people present! We have two
new members! Several of us mentioned the Banquet (the food was wonderful!)
President Riccobono gave a speech that was heartfelt and motivational.
Several others

mentioned the opportunity to meet with their peers. One member loved the
opportunity to experience the accessible voting machines. The Motown event
was a fun-filled event with immense talent, food, and dancing! Thank you to
all that helped support our candy fund raiser, and auction! More about the
finances at

our next meeting.

NFBMI New Wayne County Chapter:

Donna Posont, President

The New Wayne County chapter will meet at 11:30 AM on December 6 at the
Caroline Kennedy Library, 24590 George Street in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
Our

holiday celebration will take place on December 12pm 6p m in the Edison room
in Allegria Village,  Ford Road, Dearborn, Michigan.

Convention thoughts:

I was thrilled to share about the Birding by Ear and Beyond program in the
exhibit room. I love distributing door prizes and am thankful for those who

donated door prizes and auction items. My favorite part was the banquet
address as I could really relate since I grew up with low vision and tried
to fake

it for a number of years to get by. Thankfully, I discovered the National
Federation of the Blind and became a confident, cane carrying person who
happened to

be blind.

Calendar of Events:

*11/18/2025: NFBMI At-Large Philosophy Discussion(6 PM)

*11/20/2025: NFBMI Flint Genesee chapter meeting (5:30 PM)

*11/20/2025: NFBMI Legislative Committee Meeting (7:30 PM)

*11/21/2025: NFBMI Convention Committee Meeting (7:00 PM)

*11/24/2025: NFBMI Flint Genesee Chapter Planning/Fund Raising  Meeting
(6:00)

*11/24/2025:  NFBMI Senior Division Meeting (7:00 PM)

December 2025:

Wishing you joy, peace, and moments of rest this holiday season. May the
coming year bring you happiness and new opportunities. Happy Holidays to
all!

*12/02/2025: NFBMI At-Large Chapter Meeting (6:00)

*12/05/2025: NFBMI Fund Raising Committee Meeting (06:00PM)

*12/05/2025: NFBMI Communications Committee Meeting (8 PM)

*12/06/2025: NFBMI New Wayne County Chapter meeting (11:30 PM)

*12/08/2025: NFBMI Youth and Family Committee Meeting (07:00PM)

*12/12/2025: NFBMI New Wayne County Chapter Holiday Party

*12/13/2025: MIABS Meeting (11:00 AM)

*12/13/2025: NFBMI Flint Genesee Chapter Holiday Party (11:00)

*12/16/2025: NFBMI At-Large Philosophy Discussion (6:00)

*12/18/2025: NFBMI Flint Genesee Chapter Meeting (5:30)

*12/18/2025: NFBMI Legislative Committee Meeting (7:30 PM)

*12/22/2025: NFBMI Senior Division (7:00 PM)

*TBA: Detroit Chapter/Affiliate wide Holiday party (stay tuned, watch the
List Serve)

January 2026:

*01/02/2026: NFBMI Fund Raiser Committee Meeting (6:00 PM)

*01/02/2026: NFBMI Communications Committee Meeting (8:00 PM)

*01/03/2026: NFBMI New Wayne Chapter (12:00 PM)

*01/06/2026: NFBMI At-Large Chapter(6:00 PM)

01/10/2026: MIABS (11:00 AM)

*01/12/2026: NFBMI Youth and Family Committee Meeting (7:00 PM)

*01/15/2026: NFBMI Flint Genesee Chapter (5:30 PM)

*01/15/2026: NFBMI Legislative Committee Meeting (7:30 PM)

*01/20/2026: NFBMI At-Large Philosophy Discussion (6:00 PM)

*01/26 through 01/29/2026: Washington Seminar

Discovery becomes wisdom only when we give it structure

Sheila Fulmore, First Vice President/Acting President,

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan