[Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: Important Read/Respond Requesting your Assistance Guide Dogs

[David Andrews]

>
>Greetings from the National Association of Guide Dog Users,
>
>It’s hard to believe that this year’s 
>National Convention is just under 3 months away. 
>We are working hard to ensure that this year’s 
>convention experience will be one to remember. 
>NAGDU is looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.
>Once again, NAGDU is excited to announce that we 
>will be offering Convention sponsorships to 2 
>guide dog user teams. You do not have to be a 
>NAGDU member to apply. Please read over the 
>sponsorship details, including the application 
>requirements   carefully. The link to the 
>sponsorship information page and online 
>application is https://www.nagdu.org/sponsorship.
>
>  The National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> Convention Sponsorship provides funding support 
> to assist guide dog users who want to attend 
> the NFB national convention in person. This 
> year, NAGDU is sponsoring two guide dog users 
> with $500 each to assist with the costs of 
> attending the NFB national convention.
>
>Eligibility:
>The sponsorships are open to new or existing 
>NAGDU members who are guide dog users that would 
>benefit from monetary assistance to attend an 
>in-person NFB National Convention. This year, 
>the committee will consider applications from 
>all member applicants, whether they have 
>attended an in-person national convention or 
>not. The committee will then award two sponsorships to two  guide-dog users.
>
>Requirements of Applying:
>·    Applicants must be a guide dog user.
>·    Applicants must register for National 
>Convention by May 31, 2024. The online 
>registration is required even if the applicant 
>doesn’t yet know if a sponsorship will be 
>awarded. Visit the NFB Convention Page at 
>https://www.nfb.org/convention for more information.
>·    Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the time of the convention.
>·    Applicants must provide the name of an 
>affiliate President, chapter President, or guide 
>dog user division President for a reference.
>·    Applicants must attend both the NAGDU 
>seminar and business meeting at convention.
>·    Applicants must submit an article by 
>August 1 to be considered for the Braille 
>Monitor which tells about their convention experience.
>·    Applicants must not already be chosen to 
>receive a Kenneth Jernigan scholarship fund. 
>*Note: Qualified applicants should apply for 
>both. The committees will coordinate to ensure 
>NAGDU sponsorship recipients do not also receive 
>Kenneth Jernigan scholarship funds.
>
>How to Apply:
>Beginning April 1,  2024, apply online using the 
>NAGDU Convention Sponsorship online application 
>form. The deadline to submit your application is May 31, 2024.
>
>The application will ask for the following information:
>·    Contact Information — Include your full 
>name, your primary phone number (preferably the 
>mobile number you might use at convention), and 
>your email address. If you don’t have an email 
>address, please consider asking a friend or 
>chapter member to assist you with email correspondence.
>·    State Affiliate/Chapter/Guide Dog User 
>Division Information — Include your state 
>affiliate, and the name of an affiliate, 
>chapter, or guide dog user division president (if you are a member).
>·    Essay Questions — How do you currently 
>participate in the Federation? How long have you 
>been a guide dog user and how many guide dogs 
>have you had? How long have you and your current 
>guide dog been a team? Why do you want to attend 
>a national convention? What do you hope to gain 
>from attending? Provide any special 
>circumstances you hope the committee will take into consideration.
>
>Notification of Award:
>If you are chosen to receive a NAGDU Convention 
>Sponsorship, you will receive an email with 
>details that should answer most of your 
>questions. The committee will make every effort 
>to notify winners by June 7. Meanwhile, you must 
>do several things to be prepared to attend if you are chosen.
>·    Make your own hotel reservation. If 
>something prevents you from attending, you can 
>cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange 
>for roommates of your own to reduce the cost.)
>·    Register online for the entire convention 
>by May 31. While attending the banquet is not 
>required, it is encouraged. Visit the NFB 
>Convention Page at https://www.nfb.org/convention for more information.
>·    Find a NAGDU member, or someone in your 
>local chapter or affiliate who has attended 
>conventions in the past and can answer your questions as a friend and mentor.
>
>If you do not hear from the committee by June 7, 
>it means you were not chosen for sponsorship this year.
>
>  Receiving the Award:
>If you are chosen for the NAGDU Convention 
>Sponsorship, you will be given a pre-paid debit 
>or credit card loaded with $500. This card can 
>only be given in person. This year, recipients 
>will receive their funds ad the conclusion of 
>the NAGDU Annual Business Meeting. Please note, 
>NAGDU will not be able to provide funds before 
>the convention, so it will be your responsibility to pay your way there.
>
>  General Convention Costs:
>The three biggest ticket items you need to cover 
>when attending an NFB National Convention are 
>the round-trip transportation, the hotel room 
>for a week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home).
>We recommend that you find a NAGDU or 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.
>
>  More Information:
>For additional information, please contact the 
>NAGDU Sponsorship Committee Chair, Jessica Snyder, jsnyder at nagdu.org.
>
>Remember, the deadline to submit the application 
>is May 31, 2024. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.
>
>
>—
>Stacie Gallegos / Secretary
>National Association of Guide Dog Users
>Https://www.nagdu.org
>(346) 439-7444  |  SGallegos at nagdu.org
>“You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.”
>
>
>
>
>—
>Stacie Gallegos / President
>National Federation of the Blind Houston Chapter
>Https://www.nfbtx.org
>(346) 704-0190  |  SGallegos at nfbtx.org
>“You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.”
>
>
>
>
>
>—
>Stacie Gallegos / Secretary
>National Association of Guide Dog Users
>Https://www.nagdu.org
>(346) 439-7444  |  SGallegos at nagdu.org
>“You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.”