[NFBMI-Talk] National Federation of the Blind of Michigan convention agenda

Tue Dec 1 17:11:23 UTC 2020

Hi Mike,

It was great to hear from you. I am really glad it helped to have the agenda in that format! It looked like a fantastic convention! I was unfortunately otherwise occupied that weekend because I would love to have joined you guys. I too heard many great things about the convention. Your agenda was really outstanding! 

Doug and I are well. He had knee replacement surgery 2 weeks ago and is coming along nicely! Yours truly is just hanging around. Our Church has a Lutheran elementary school with preschool and childcare, and I serve on the school board. I do enjoy the work. Have also been involved in local community work having to do with wind energy. Man, I have learned more about energy production and the nation's energy grid than I ever thought I would know. As for wind energy, it is not all it's cracked up to be. Wind energy is sold as a panacea, of clean, renewable energy. But it turns out that the wind does not blow all of the time. Who Knew??? Also, there is not yet a battery system that is strong enough or that holds its power long enough to store any kind of energy for future use. So again, when the wind stops blowing, the electricity stops flowing. Gosh, again, who knew??? LOL. 

These poor communities that do not realize this are surrounded by giant wind turbines that stand 500 feet high (taller than the Washington Monument). The turbines produce horrible physical effects on people with disabilities, those with PTSD, etc. Homes that are near the turbines get the shadow effect of the blades turning, and they can hear the constant humming of the enormous motors that operate these things. I never knew that these wind farms had 50 or 100 of the turbines all scattered throughout little communities across the plains. After all, we are only fly-over country, right? Well, for the moment at least, we have blocked one of these projects that was going to cover our whole county with wind turbines just when people are leaving the state capitol to move into Gage County. It was really fun to research this stuff, and to testify before the Zoning Board and the County Board of Supervisors. 

OK, well did not mean to go on that ramble. Tell me how you and Paulette are doing please! We miss you guys!

Hugs, virtually of course,

Christine

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michael
> Powell via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2020 1:03 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List' <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Michael Powell <mpowell7583 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMI-Talk] National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> convention agenda
> 
> Hello Christine.
> Since I rran across this the weekend of our convention I wanted to thank you
> for putting the Zoom information into the format of the agenda.  I had my
> part of the agenda completed for some time, what with scheduling
> presenters, giving them any help they needed and arranging times to appear.
> I was getting concerned that some of my colleagues thought they had all
> kinds of time to get things to me and our website wasn't looking like the
> convention was sooner rather than later.  I am sure It was  easy for some of
> them to get sidetracked when not having to be at a hotel working with
> arrangements concerning time and place that normally would keep people
> focused.  When I was able to finally get enough breakout session presenters
> to nail down their plans I put the agenda out so people could see it as I had
> made it clear I wasn't going to hold it up.  When I finally got the Zoom
> information I emailed it to as many people as I could though I would have
> preferred not to do it that way.  So I am glad that you simplified it for me by
> putting it all together like it should have been in the first place.
> Anyway, things went well  and I received many compliments on our
> convention.
> Thanks again and I hope you and Doug are staying safe with your family.
> Mike
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> christine Boone via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2020 10:15 AM
> To: 'NFB of Nebraska Membership List'
> Cc: christine Boone; 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: [NFBMI-Talk] National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> convention agenda
> 
> Greetings Felow Federationists in Nebraska and Michigan:
> 
> Although our NFB of Michigan began the convention last evening, there is
> plenty more still to come.
> 
> Below I have provided the entire agenda, in a more usable format.
> I hope you will all enjoy this excelllent convention. President Mike Powell's
> welcome message at the start of the agenda is a great read!
> 
> Best,
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> Agenda 2020 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Michigan Tell your Friends We encourage you to talk about the convention to
> your friends on social media. Our official hash tag is #NFBMI20 President’s
> Message I would like to welcome all of you to our first ever virtual state
> convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. We want to
> do all we can to make this an informative, enlightening, and enjoyable
> experience for everyone in attendance. If you are new to NFB we are glad to
> have you and are eager to share what we have come to know and believe
> about blindness and the capacity of every blind person to live the life we
> want. We see our power in action when we invest time, training, and energy
> to help each other and teach new people to understand this basic truth so
> they can join with us to make life and living better for all blind people.
> During this time of covid 19, the media was only too happy to give us their
> impressions of what they felt we as blind people would be up against. They
> see us as a vulnerable population and they think because we have to rely on
> the use of our hands rather than sight, we are necessarily more likely to
> contract the virus unless we have others who can look out for our interests
> and take care of us. It does not occur to them that we can work just as well
> as anyone else in our communities to limit our exposure to the virus and be
> considerate of others in order to keep all of us safe. Even before covid we
> knew that if we had to use our hands more for whatever reason, we are just
> as capable of protecting them when we have to and washing them more
> when we need to.
> Our white canes can help us maintain social distancing and we do not always
> have to be touching things or people in order to move about safely. In other
> words, we are not passive and dependent, but we are leaders and doers
> who can adapt to a new normal if we must and we will not allow ourselves to
> be held back or kept on the sidelines while others presume to know our
> limitations and have low expectations for us as blind people. All over this
> country we have taken the lead in utilizing the virtual environment to initiate
> projects that provide resources to blind people in need of help so they could
> get shopping done or any other services they might require. We have the
> ability to work to help all the people in our communities if we are just given
> the chance to show what we can do. We have used the Zoom platform to
> educate blind people in the techniques we use in a variety of disciplines
> ranging from cooking to crafts, and philosophy to technology.
> Here in Michigan, we worked to finally make it possible for blind people to
> vote using an accessible absentee ballot that could be filled out
> independently using a computer without having the assistance of another.
> Voters not wishing to risk infection by going out in public can now vote in the
> security of their homes. Though the pandemic was given as the reason this
> could not be done at this time, we pressed on as we had been trying to get
> this for the blind of Michigan since 2014, and that was long before the virus
> became a factor. This summer we participated in the largest national
> convention of blind people ever held in the virtual environment and
> Michigan had around 126 in attendance as part of the seven thousand that
> were there. We will always be a driving force in matters that impact the lives
> of blind people and we want to use this opportunity to show you that if you
> are not already a part of us, we need you and what you can bring to our
> movement in the way of your experience and background. All of us who
> discovered this movement learned that not only could we grow from the
> experience of blind people from all walks of life, we could value our own
> talents and gifts once we realized we were not alone or inferior. We are now
> part of a network of people who appreciate us, believe in us, and together
> we have the power to transform dreams into reality.
> So here’s to a great convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Michigan . Our door is always open. All you have to do is knock, and come in.
> Michael Powell, President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan 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.
> NFB Pledge
> I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the
> Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support
> the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.
> About Zoom
> Our entire convention will be hosted remotely on the Zoom platform. All are
> welcome. You can either join Zoom using a computer or phone, or dial in
> using your phone. For most meetings, you will be automatically muted when
> you join the room.
> Below are the links for the Zoom rooms we will be using for our state
> convention.  Room 1 is our usual Zoom room that we use for all our meetings
> throughout the year.  The 5:00 PM social hour, and  the general session
> meeting that launches our convention Thursday evening will be in that main
> room.  On Friday the resolutions committee meeting, the blind in science
> presentation by Michael Hingson, the science activity by Donna Posont will
> also be in that room.
> On Saturday our morning sessions, the presentation on NFB philosophy after
> lunch, our business meeting and banquet with auction will be there as well.
> Rooms 2 and 3 will be our additional breakout rooms.  Below the links the
> meetings for the additional breakout rooms will be listed.
> We also have included meeting links next to the appropriate agenda items.
> Main room
> https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz0
> 9
> Meeting ID: 961 269 5221
>   Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,9612695221#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New York)
> 
> 
> Breakout 1 Tech/exhibitor check-in, Non24, Senior division meeting
> https://zoom.us/j/97413687837?pwd=dzY1b2I3YWFGWEQ5MnNXczQ2aEVX
> QT09
> Meeting ID: 974 1368 7837
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,97413687837#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 
> Breakout 2 Toastmasters, MABS Trivia Night, Student Division meeting
> https://zoom.us/j/96142858272?pwd=RVNjNnFkRzc4WlhSTmZqU2w1SXNtdz
> 09
> Meeting ID: 961 4285 8272
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,961 4285 8272#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 
> Thursday, November 5 1. 5:00 PM, Welcome HourOpen, Mingle, tech help
> and getting set up, meet others in Michigan.
> 2. 7:00-9:00 PM. Opening session, Call to order and Welcome by Michael
> Powell, President.
> 3. Why I am in the Federation, Convention kick off speech by Brianne Harrald
> 4. Scholarship presentation – Robert Parsons, Scholarship Committee Chair
> 5. Celebrating success and looking ahead with voting, Michael Powell and
> Fred Wurtzel 6. Intro to Non-24: Jennifer Lyman, RN, BS, Nurse Educator-
> Midwest, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
> 7. Testing of affiliate voting platform, Sabrina Simmons
> 
> 
> Friday, November 6
> 1. 10:00 AM Resolutions committee meeting, Steve Handschu
> https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz0
> 9
> Meeting ID: 961 269 5221
>   Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,9612695221#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New York)
> 
> 2. 1:30-3:00 PM Technology seminar and exhibitor check-in: J.J. Meddaugh
> - Hear from technology companies and other exhibitors about their latest
> products in this fast-paced event. It’s like an exhibit hall tour without leaving
> your couch.
> https://zoom.us/j/97413687837?pwd=dzY1b2I3YWFGWEQ5MnNXczQ2aEVX
> QT09
> Meeting ID: 974 1368 7837
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,97413687837#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 3. 2:00 PM Science perspectives with Michael Hingson, physicist and
> computer scientist, Independent Science Spokesperson and President of The
> Michael Hingson Group.
> https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz0
> 9
> Meeting ID: 961 269 5221
>   Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,9612695221#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New York)
> 
> 4. 3:00 PM Toastmasters: We Make So Much More Than Delicious Toast.
> Come learn about how you can be self-assured and confident in social
> situations and even in employment, through involvement in the time-tested
> Toastmasters Program. Victor Marques
> https://zoom.us/j/96142858272?pwd=RVNjNnFkRzc4WlhSTmZqU2w1SXNtdz
> 09
> Meeting ID: 961 4285 8272
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,961 4285 8272#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 5. 3:15 PM Do try this at home: Sense-sational Adventures in Virtual Science
> Ponder the possibilities and plan to participate in our Sense-sational
> Adventures in virtual science. Learn how delicious coffee is processed by the
> digestive system of a bird; Celebrate Citizen Science; Study soil significance
> ;and indulge in ice cream of your own making. Engage all senses,embrace the
> challenge and experiment with others who are blind.
> If you would like to perform any experiments in your own location please
> contact Donna Posont for a materials list at donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com.
> https://zoom.us/j/9612695221?pwd=dHlxZDNwcVVZbUVTYUM5cEU4cDlndz0
> 9
> Meeting ID: 961 269 5221
>   Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,9612695221#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New York)
> 
> 6. 3:15 - 4:15 “A discussion on Non-24 Sleep Wake Disorder (Non-24 for
> short) led by a registered nurse educator. The presentation will look at the
> biology behind this circadian rhythm disorder, the cause, and how it differs
> from sleep disorders.”Jennifer Lyman, RN, BS, Nurse Educator-Midwest,
> Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
> https://zoom.us/j/97413687837?pwd=dzY1b2I3YWFGWEQ5MnNXczQ2aEVX
> QT09
> Meeting ID: 974 1368 7837
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,97413687837#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 7. 8:00 PM MABS Trivia night: open to all.
> The Michigan Association of Blind Students is hosting a Trivia Night on
> November 6th as part of convention programming. MI-ABS members receive
> complimentary access to the trivia game. There will be many valuable door
> prizes available for anyone in attendance, and it will be a fun night of trivia
> and entertainment, not to mention competing for bragging rights amongst
> your friends!
> To participate in this event, all you have to do is become a MI-ABS member.
> Please visit the following link for registration, and more
> information:
> https://forms.gle/g8FgbzEEP8wX5xLKA
> https://zoom.us/j/96142858272?pwd=RVNjNnFkRzc4WlhSTmZqU2w1SXNtdz
> 09
> Meeting ID: 961 4285 8272
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,961 4285 8272#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> Saturday November 7
> 
> 1. 9:00 AM. Call to order and opening remarks: Michael Powell
> 
> 2. 9:10 AM Report from national office Shawn Callaway. 9:40 questions and
> answers.
> 
> 
> 3. 9:45 AM NFB Training centers: Rachel Kuntz, Resource Development
> Coordinator BLIND INC. 10:05 questions and answers.
> 
> 
> 4. "Staying safe while blind" Hosted by Stephen Handschu, Level 2 1 Touch
> project Instructor and Daryl Rice, Former Law enforcement officer.
> 10:30 questions and answers.
> 
> 
> 5. 10:35AM Bill Robinson, Director Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
> (BSBP) 10:55 Questions and answers.
> 
> 
> 6. 11:00AM What’s new at the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled,
> Bridgid Murphy Turner, Reader Adviser/Adaptive Technology Librarian.
> 11:20 AM questions and answers.
> 
> 
> 7. 11:25 AM: Race, diversity, and inclusion, Panel discussion hosted by Shawn
> Callaway.
> 
> 
> 8. 12:00 PM Adjourn for lunch.
> 
> 
> 9. 1:00 NFB Philosophy: Chelsey Duranleau Communications Instructor BLIND
> INC.
> 
> 
> 10. 1:30 PM Michigan Association of Blind students meeting
> https://zoom.us/j/96142858272?pwd=RVNjNnFkRzc4WlhSTmZqU2w1SXNtdz
> 09
> Meeting ID: 961 4285 8272
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,961 4285 8272#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 11. 1:30Blind seniors Division meeting: Pat Pyle, President, Blind Michigan
> Seniors Advocating for Seniors
> https://zoom.us/j/97413687837?pwd=dzY1b2I3YWFGWEQ5MnNXczQ2aEVX
> QT09
> Meeting ID: 974 1368 7837
> Passcode: 902855
> One tap mobile: +16468769923,,97413687837#,,,,,,0#,,902855# US (New
> York)
> 
> 12. 3:30-5:00 PM NFB of Michigan Business meeting
> 
> 13. President’s Report Michael Powell
> 
> 14. Secretary’s report: Diana Mohnke
> 
> 15. Treasurer’s Report: Mark Eagle
> 
> 16. Election of officers
> 
> 17. Nominating Committee and Alternate Delegate
> 
> 18. Resolutions
> 
> 19. Chapter and Division Reports
> 
> 20. Old and new business followed by break before banquet.
> 
> 
> 21. 7:00 PM National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Banquet.
> Presentation of scholarships, awards and other presentations Keynote
> Banquet Address by Shawn Callaway National Representative.
> 
> 
> 22. Scholarship Winners Presentation – Robert Parsons, Scholarship
> Committee Chair
> 
> 23. Auction and door prizes after banquet.
> 
> 
> 24. Adjournment of the 2020 Virtual State Convention of the NFB of
> Michigan.
> Thank you for participating in the National Federation of the Blind of
> Michigan 2020 state convention. We hope to see you again in Grand rapids,
> November 5-7, 2021, or sooner at your next local chapter or division
> meeting.
> 
> On 11/5/2020 12:10 AM, Georgia Kitchen via NFBMI-Talk wrote:
> > Hi,
> > Could you please post the agenda again on the list in the body of the
> > email. Thanks, Georgia
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > com
> 
> 
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