[Travelandtourism] Convention First Timers/See Below

Fri Mar 20 22:08:10 UTC 2015

>From the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan Fund 

Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of honoring 

our former president and longtime leader by establishing a program to 

promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration and

learning occur. Here is Allen's announcement about the 2015 Kenneth Jernigan

Convention Scholarship Fund Program:

Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have not done 

so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship

Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship grant. Perhaps 

this July you too can be in the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida, 

enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at the largest and 

most important yearly convention of blind people in the world.

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB 

national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room for a 

week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We 

attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an 

individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won't pay 

all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400 

to $500 per individual.

We recommend that you find an 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.

Who is eligible?

Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB 

national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for funding assistance?

You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB 

information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a 

good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below.

You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or her

help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect your

request letter by email, and mention the deadline.

You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He or 

she must add a president's recommendation and then email both letters 

directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your

president must forward the two letters no later than April 15, 2015.

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

Your full name, and all your telephone numbers and label them-cell phone, 

home, office, other person (if any).

Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.

Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter 

president, if you attend a chapter.

Your personal convention mentor and provide that person's phone number.

Your specific request:

Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible 

for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget 

for yourself.

The body of your letter should answer these questions:

How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want to 

attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share or 

give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special 

circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.

When will I be notified that I am a winner?

If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter 

with convention details which should answer most of your questions. The 

committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15, but 

you must do several things before that 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, including the banquet, by May 31.

Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many conventions 

and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.

If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a 

grant this year.

How will I receive my convention scholarship?

At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with the 

amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will be 

listed in the letter we sent you. The committee is not able to provide funds

before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate to 

assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a 

scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or 

credit card.

What if I have more questions? For additional information email the 

chairman, Allen Harris, at <kjscholarships at nfb.org
<mailto:kjscholarships at nfb.org> > or call his Baltimore, 

Maryland, office at (410)  659-9314, extension 2415.

Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on 

the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the 

most important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in 

Orlando.

Sincerely, Denise Valkema by iPhone

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Winter Garden, Fl.  34778

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