2023 Convention Agenda
2023 Convention Agenda
#NFBMN
November 3–5, 2023
Kahler Grand Hotel
20 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Rochester, MN 55902
Steve Jacobson, President
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
100 East 22nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 872-9363, president@nfbmn.org
www.nfbmn.org
National Representative:
Julie Deden
Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind
and First Vice-president, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
Littleton, CO
The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota 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.
Registration
Registration is required to attend and participate in convention activities. Please consult the times in the agenda for when the registration desk will be open. On-site registration is available for $30, which includes a breakfast on Sunday morning. A limited number of meals are available at the following rates:
- Casual Dinner on Friday evening: $22
- Senior Breakfast on Saturday: $20
- BLIND, Inc. Luncheon on Saturday: $25
- Banquet on Saturday evening: $45
Please also ensure we have your most current contact information, including your email address. If you do not currently receive The Braille Monitor—our national monthly magazine—please let us know, and we will sign you up.
The Social Media Committee invites you to share your convention experience with your friends and family to show them how the NFB of Minnesota is empowering blind people. Post to Mastadon or Facebook using #NFBMN. We love pictures…just remember to add descriptions so everyone can enjoy them.
Assistive Listening Devices Available
This year, we will be adding assistive listening devices to make it easier for persons with hearing loss to hear presentations. A transmitter is directly connected to the sound system, and small receivers can receive the signal throughout the meeting room. You can connect your own headphones to the receiver, or we can supply headphones. In addition, we have a couple of neck loops available that will allow the receiver to be heard directly by hearing aids with T-Coils.
If you have a need for such a device, after you arrive at the hotel, you can contact either Rocky Hart at (218) 839-4544 or Steve Decker at (612) 655-1372 to make arrangements to check out a receiver. We has that you give a $10 cash deposit that will be returned to you when the receiver is turned back in.
Those donating items should bring them to the auction table during the hour before the Saturday morning general session begins. Please also bring your checkbooks and credit cards!
Live Streaming
For those unable to join us in person this weekend, the convention will be live streamed using the Zoom platform. Please note that you will not be able to participate or vote via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 923 2774 1808
Passcode: 290302
You may also join by phone by calling (312) 626-6799 and enter the meeting ID above.
Childcare
Childcare will be provided during scheduled meetings and during the banquet in Room 982.
- Friday: 2:30 PM-5:15 PM and 6:30 PM-9:30 PM (Note that childcare is not included during the Casual Dinner or the later part of Hospitality.)
- Saturday: 8:45 AM-12:15 PM, 1:45 PM-5:15 PM, and
6:30 PM-10:30 PM - Sunday: 8:45 AM-12:15 PM
Please keep your cell phone charged and turned to vibrate, as we will call you if your child needs you. For more information contact childcare coordinator Briley O’Connor at (703) 380-8876.
The Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) Plan has come to be an increasingly important part of financing our movement. The Federation has raised more than $11 million over the years through the PAC Plan.
The PAC Plan allows members, affiliates, chapters, and others to give a regular and automatic donation to the Federation every month. All you need to provide is your checking account, debit card or credit card information. Because of the costs associated with operating the program, the minimum donation is $5 per month, yet there is no restriction on how much you donate. Please sign up at the convention to begin a new PAC contribution or to make changes to your current contribution.
Your donation will help the blind live the lives we want. Complete the PAC form online at https://www.nfb.org/pac
Friday, November 3
2:00–5:00 PM—Registration (Heritage Hall Foyer)
Those who pre-registered should pick up meal tickets and agendas.
2:00–5:00 PM—Exhibit Area (Heritage Hall Foyer)
Please check out the exhibits located near registration. EZ2See® products will be showing calendars and other products particularly helpful for those with low vision. The accessible voting machine used in Olmsted County in the election next week will also be shown. There will also be a table at which members will be assisted to get connected with our state legislators.
3:00–4:30 PM—Career Exploration SEMINAR (Windsor 1)
Julie Deden, our national representative, along with Dan Burke, Briley O’Connor, Jamie Richey, and others will explore various aspects of choosing and preparing for a career, and advancing in your career after finding one.
3:00–4:30 PM—Technology Today (Windsor 3)
We need to make a lot of choices about the technology we use today. Do we use an iPhone or go with Android? Should we buy a Windows computer or does an Apple device make sense? Can blind people use Artificial Intelligence apps and should we? This seminar attempts to present a high-level overview of the technology that is available today by blind people using those technologies.
4:15–5:00 PM—Resolutions Committee (Windsor 2)
Jennifer Dunnam, Chairperson
5:15–6:45 PM—Casual Dinner (Heritage Hall 3)
Join your federation family for a fast, casual, and affordable dinner with a cash bar. We guarantee to have you fed before the start of the evening sessions.
7:00–8:00 PM—Registration (Heritage Hall Foyer)
Another chance for those who pre-registered to pick up meal tickets and agendas.
7:00–8:30 PM—Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Association of Blind Students (Windsor Hall 2)
Joshua Olukanni, President
7:00–8:30 PM—At-Large Chapter In-Person Meeting (Windsor Hall 3)
David Andrews, President
7:00–8:30 PM—Blind Parenting: Maintaining the Right Life Balance and Meeting Other Challenges (Windsor Hall 1)
Briley O’Connor, Facilitator. Parenting is not easy with all of the demands placed on parents by our careers, the demands of getting our kids educated, and more. How do we do it? Also, if you are blind and are considering being a parent, this is a good place to ask questions.
7:00–11:00 PM—Hospitality (Heritage Hall 3)
Join the Rochester Chapter for a fun evening of meeting others from around the state and there will be additional snacks. Dale Heltzer from our Rochester Chapter will be playing your favorite previously requested songs. A cash bar will be available.
Saturday, November 4
6:40 AM–12:00 PM—Registration (Heritage Hall Foyer)
This is your last chance to register for the convention and pick up a copy of the agenda.
7:00 AM—Breakfast and Annual Meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota Seniors Division (Heritage Hall 3)
Judy Sanders, President
9:00 AM–12:00 PM—General Session (Heritage Hall 1)
Coffee will be available in the back of the room.
- 9:00 AM, Welcome to Rochester—Councilman Patrick Keane and Jan Bailey, Rochester Chapter President
- 9:20 AM, Convention Logistics—Corbb O'Connor, NFBMN Vice President
- 9:30 AM, Report from our National Office—Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind, Littleton, CO, First Vice-president, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
- 10:10 AM, PAC Plan Report
- 10:20 AM, Fit Break (Kylesthenics)—Kyle Hanneman
- 10:30 AM, Updates from MSAB: Building a Place to Belong—Terry Wilding, Superintendant, and John Davis, Director
- 10:50 AM, Meet our Joyce and Tom Scanlan Scholarship Winners—Ben Zheng and Elizabeth Rouse
- 11:05 AM, Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library: Moving into the Future—Catherine Durivage, Library Program Director
- 11:25 AM, State Presidential Report—Steve Jacobson
- 11:40 AM, Capturing the Moment: How AI Brings Life to Photo Descriptions—Jennifer Dunnam, NFBMN Treasurer
- 11:55 AM, Announcements
- 12:00 PM, Adjourn
12:15 PM—BLIND, Inc. Luncheon (Heritage Hall 3)
2:00 PM–3:25 PM—General Session (Heritage Hall 1)
- 2:00 PM, The Continued Evolution of Minnesota State Services for the Blind—Natasha Jerde, Director
- 2:25 PM, Making Good Use of an MBA 2.0: Turning an Idea into a Career—Eileen Rivera Ley, Founder, Blind and Socially Savvy
- 2:45 PM, National and State Student Division Update—Joshua Olukanni, President, Minnesota Association of Blind Students
- 3:00 PM, AmeriCorps: Why It’s a Good Place to Get Work Experience—Katie Inman
- 3:15 PM, Auction and Door Prizes
- 3:25 PM, Adjourn
3:30–5:00 PM—DeafBlind Group In-Person Meeting (Heritage Hall 1)
Rocky Hart, Chairperson
3:30–5:00 PM—Guide Dog Users and Potential Users (Heritage Hall 2)
Briley O’Connor, Facilitator; This meeting will allow those using guide dogs to share information and discuss issues that are unique to them. In addition, this will be an excellent opportunity for persons considering the use of a guide dog to get questions answered by people with real experience.
3:30–5:00 PM—Socially Savvy Crash Course (Heritage Hall 3
Eileen Rivera Lye; “Socially Savvy” workshops have become famous throughout the country as a useful part of the education of blind youth and young adults. However, aspects of her work are valuable for all of us.
6:00 PM—Social Hour and Cash Bar (Heritage Hall Foyer)
Join us before the banquet for good conversation and a cash bar.
7:00 PM—Banquet (Heritage Hall 1)
Master of Ceremonies: Yadiel Sotomayor, MA, NCRTB, NOMCT, NCUEB
- Invocation
- Introduction of Head Table
- Raffles and Drawings
- Presentation of Joyce and Tom Scanlan Scholarships
- Keynote Address: Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind and First Vice-president, NFB of Colorado
- Special Auction Item
10:00 PM–11:30 PM—Post-Banquet Social and Cash Bar (Heritage Hall 1)
Sunday, November 5
Please remember to set your clocks one hour back. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday morning, which gives us one extra hour of sleep.
8:30 AM—Breakfast (Heritage Hall 1, included with registration)
9:00 AM—Business Session (Heritage Hall 1)
Coffee will be available on each table.
- 9:00 AM, Call to Order
- 9:05 AM, In Memoriam
- 9:10 AM, Treasurer's Report—Jennifer Dunnam, NFBMN Treasurer
- 9:20 AM, From Starting Flag to Finish Line: The BLIND, Inc. Journey—Jamie Richey, Interim Executive Director, and Students
- 9:50 AM, To Advocate, or to Participate: What Shakespeare Should Know about the NFB—Corbb O'Connor, NFBMN Vice President
- 10:05 AM, Resolutions—Jennifer Dunnam, Resolutions Committee Chairperson
- 10:25 AM, Fit Break (Kylesthenics)
- 10:30 AM, Elections
- 11:00 AM, Election of Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the 2024 National Convention
- 11:05 AM, Reports from Members Representing the Federation on Other Committees and Councils
- 11:25 AM, Reports from Chapters and Divisions
- 11:40 AM, Concluding Remarks from our National Representative—Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind
- 11:50 AM, Final auction Item and Door Prizes—
- 12:00 PM, Adjourn
Special Thanks
The activities of this organization can only succeed with the help and dedication of many Federationists, and the convention is no exception. The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota offers particular thanks to the Rochester Chapter for their hospitality, and to all of the many Federationists who have worked both out in front and behind the scenes to make this convention happen.
NFB of Minnesota Board of Directors:
- Steve Jacobson, Edina (President)
- Corbb O’Connor, Saint Paul ( Vice-president)
- Jennifer Dunnam, Saint Louis Park (Treasurer)
- Briley O'Connor, Minneapolis (Secretary)
- Dave Andrews, Stillwater
- Yadiel Sotomayor, Minneapolis
- Kotumu Kamara, Saint Anthony
- Michael Colbrunn, Mankato
- Jan Bailey, Rochester
- At-Large: Dave Andrews, President
- Metro: Deanna Langton, President
- Riverbend: Michael Colbrunn, President
- Rochester: Jan Bailey, President
- Twin Ports: Todd Olson, President
Divisions, Committees, and
Work Groups
- Convention Auction: Charlotte Czarnecki
- Convention Childcare: Briley O’Connor
- Convention Door Prizes: Amy Baron, John TeBockhorst, Tom TeBockhorst, and Michaela Moritz
- Convention Logistics: Corbb O’Connor
- Convention Photography: Lorraine Rovig
- Convention Sound, Recording, and Streaming: Ryan Strunk
- DeafBlind Group, Rocky Hart, Chairperson
- Legal and Policy Committee: Jennifer Dunnam, Chairperson
- Membership Committee: Jan Bailey, Chairperson
- Minnesota Association of Blind Students: Joshua Olukanni, President
- Minnesota Bulletin Editorial Team: Jennifer Dunnam and Kayde Rieken
- Resolutions Committee: Jennifer Dunnam, Chairperson
- Scholarship Committee: Ryan Strunk, Chairperson
- Social Media: Samantha Flax and Kayde Rieken, Co-chairpersons
- National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota Seniors’ Division: Judy Sanders, President