[NFBMT] FW: Report on the 2022 National Convention

Tue Jul 19 21:47:08 UTC 2022

Hi All,

This is a quick report on the 2022 National Convention held in New Orleans July 5-11.  It was extremely good to be back in person again.  Many of us joined virtually as well.  Counting both in-person and virtual attendees, Montana was represented as well as we ever have been.  One of the negative consequences of coming back together is that many of us contracted COVID while participating.  I was one of those, and at least two other Montanans also tested positive near the end or following the Convention.  We took the proper precautions, but the current variant of the virus is highly contagious.

Thank you so much for allowing me to represent the NFB of Montana as your Delegate.  Travis Moses did a terrific job serving as our Alternate Delegate.  I won’t go into a lot of details, but the Convention was tremendous in so many ways.  From resolutions to amending our constitution, we set a large number of goals and improved practices for ourselves.  We learned about emerging technologies and public policies.  And there is unmeasurable benefit of hanging out with peers and working together to govern our organization.  Anyhow, please look at the forwarded information below to learn more or to revisit our Convention.  And here is to next year!

Jim Marks

President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana

president at nfbofmt.org <mailto:president at nfbofmt.org> 

(406) 438-1421

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

You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org <mailto:webmaster at nfb.org> > 
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2022 2:03 PM
To: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com <mailto:blind.grizzly at gmail.com> >
Subject: Thank You–Federation Coming Back Together Was A Great Success

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Thank You for a Successful #NFB22

Thank you for your participation, engagement, and support during this year’s National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. We are excited for your feedback and experiences! A post-convention survey is coming to you next week. Active membership and participation through your time and talents are of great value and appreciation within the movement. Together, we are all turning dreams into reality.

The 2022 NFB National Convention highlights in various formats will be available by July 30. Access the presidential report, resolutions, banquet speech, and YouTube archives:

*      <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26642&qid=7372051> Spirit, Togetherness, and Service: The Signature of the Blind People's Movement

*      <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26643&qid=7372051> 2022 Presidential Report

*      <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26644&qid=7372051> 2022 Resolutions

*      <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26645&qid=7372051> YouTube Playlist of General Sessions

Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who made #NFB22 a success. A special thank you to our affiliate leaders and national staff who went above and beyond to support those members who did test positive for COVID-19 and needed to quarantine during the convention—that is the Federation family spirit!

Convention Congratulations!

The National Federation of the Blind presents several scholarships and awards that honor blind individuals as well as teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and organizations whose work benefits the blind community. During the 2022 NFB National Convention, the following major awards were presented. Meet the winners:

*     Scott McCallum, the superintendent of the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) was named the 2022 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26646&qid=7372051>  at the board of directors meeting on Thursday, July 6.

*     Corey Grandstaff of Vancouver, Washington was named 2022 Blind Educator of the Year <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26647&qid=7372051> . Mr. Grandstaff serves as the Associate Director of Transition and Residential Programs at the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB).

*     Five outstanding innovators were presented with the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26648&qid=7372051> , with the top award of $20,000 going to 64 Ounce Games, which produces kits with Braille and tactile overlays to make popular board and card games, including educational games for children, accessible to the blind.

*     Thirty outstanding scholars received their National Federation of the Blind scholarships <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26649&qid=7372051>  at the convention banquet. Each were awarded $8,000. The prestigious Kenneth Jernigan scholarship was awarded to Colin Wong of Washington, who had the opportunity to address the convention during banquet <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26632&qid=7372051> . 

We congratulate all of these outstanding winners! 

Upcoming Post-Convention Sponsor Virtual Events

*     7/19/2022, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. CST: Digital Accessibility at Target: From Shopping to Employment. Hear from Target's Digital Accessibility team about our ongoing efforts to make Target.com, our apps, and our digital workplace accessible to everyone. We will leave time for questions, and the event will be recorded. Presenter(s): Steve Decker and others from the Target Accessibility team. Join the Digital Accessibility at Target Meeting <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26633&qid=7372051> . Meeting ID: 949 5160 5699. Passcode: 341747

*     7/25/2022, 3 - 4 p.m. ET: Job Training Without Limits, presented by Clusiv. Clusiv is the future of vocational training. Our remote capable and self-paced courses are just the beginning of how Clusiv is removing barriers between the high-paying tech jobs and the BVI community at scale. Tune in to learn more! Presenter(s): Lukas Simianer, CEO Clusiv.io. Join the Job Training Without Limits, presented by Clusiv <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26634&qid=7372051> . 

Save the Date: 2023 National Convention

We can't wait to be with you in Houston, Texas next year from July 1 through 6, 2023. More details coming soon to  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=22309&qid=> nfb.org/convention.

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 

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