<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">I thought that convention was excellent this year. For me one of the best parts of convention is the opening ceremonies presenting the blind veterans. Listening to them come up and introduce themselves and tell their rank and where they served. There were lots of many good things at convention this year to attend. Jaws AI and the talk of the FS companion, AIRA, visual, interpreting and AI, the target self check out becoming accessible. I too enjoyed the presidential report learning what the NFB had done for people over the past year. For me as well. The main one that stuck out was the woman who got her child taken away from her, her baby. And then finally getting him back. I also enjoyed performing in the performing arts showcase of talent. Lots of excellent performers there. As always, I enjoyed working at our exhibit table. I was also on the committee for the Kenneth Jernigan scholarships. And assisted with the line, as well as presented at rookie round up. Always an enjoyable experience for me.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><div class="x-apple-outlook-blockquote"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Becky Young, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, Des Moines chapter <br>Phone: <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">515-553-9270</span><br><a href="mailto:byoung@nfbi.org">Email</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><font color="#ffffff"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i>Website</i></a><i> <br>Live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></i></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation\u2019s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </o:p></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jul 24, 2025, at 2:54\u202fPM, Elizabeth Rouse via Tall-Corn <tall-corn@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hi, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I think my National Convention highlights for the year include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">\u2022Reuniting with a former summer program student of mine in an elevator bank. We got to take the stairs together multiple times throughout the week afterward, and catching up on his life was a treat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">\u2022Working the Exhibit Hall table with so many wonderful folks was fun, but getting some quality time to get to know Miss Sharon Omvig better might just top my list. She\u2019s not only one of the kindest hearts you\u2019ll ever meet but also a wealth of information about the Federation and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">\u2022Hosting this year\u2019s Showcase of Talent on behalf of the Performing Arts Division was a great experience, even though I lost my voice shortly afterward. Shoutout to Des Moines Chapter President Becky Young for her bravery in venturing onto the stage!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hope to hear about others\u2019 experiences soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Helen Mejia via Tall-Corn<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 22, 2025 7:09 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List <tall-corn@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Helen Mejia <hmejia@nfbi.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Tall-Corn] National Convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Good morning NFBI,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">For anyone who did not participate in the convention in any way, the recordings of the General Sessions and the banquet will eventually be available to listen to so you can check out some of what we are discussing.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">First, I want to thank everyone who helped out with fundraising efforts at the convention, in particular David and Elizabeth, who both contributed quite a bit of time in preparation and at the convention. We raised a significant amount of money to support our movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Second, for everyone who was able to attend the Convention, either virtually or in-person, could you share a brief highlight or two with the list? What stood out to you and why?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Two highlights for me were the Presidential report and the banquet address. In the Presidential report we hear about just some of the things that the NFB did over the past year. The report focused on some of the more personal stories of people who the NFB helped. For example, President Riccobono started off by talking about a woman who had her six-month-old child taken away, and she had trouble getting her back because of her blindness. The NFB advocated and testified so that the courts ruled in the mom\u2019s favor. Of course that resonated with me as a parent of a seven-month-old. What resonated with you?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Helen<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Helen Mejia, President<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">National Federation of the Blind<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of Iowa<br><a href="mailto:hmejia@nfbi.org">hmejia@nfbi.org</a><br>(570) 983-7867<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Tall-Corn mailing list</span><br><span>Tall-Corn@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tall-corn_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Tall-Corn:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/tall-corn_nfbnet.org/byoung%40nfbi.org</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>