By Jennifer Dunnam

Members of the National Federation of the Blind have said repeatedly that one of the most important and sometimes unexpected benefits of joining and participating is that this organization challenges and stretches its members. It asks things of us that we never imagined being able to do. Meeting these challenges strengthens us as people. Such stretching opportunities are not reserved for our newer members, either — they can happen to any of us.

Volume 77, Number 4, Fall 2011
Quarterly Publication of the
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, Inc.
100 East 22nd Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
Voice: (612) 872-9363
Website: www.nfbmn.org
Tom Scanlan, Editor
E-mail tom.scanlan@earthlink.net
WE ARE CHANGING
WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE BLIND

Many people are involved in getting this issue to you. The writers can write and the editors can edit, but until the material is printed, brailled, posted, and mailed, it is just a computer file. Therefore, we owe great thanks to the following people for the work they do to help produce this publication.

by Brook Sexton

(Editors' note: In addition to being a member of the Minnesota Bulletin's new editorial team and serving on our affiliate's scholarship committee, Brook Sexton helps to change lives wherever she goes—through her example and by her patient and wise teaching and mentoring. It is a treat to have her drop some knowledge here):

RESOLUTION A2020-01

Regarding Refining Nonvisual Absentee Voting

WHEREAS, universal suffrage, the hard-won right of every citizen to vote freely and secretly, is the bedrock upon which our democracy functions; and

Years in advance, our 2020 annual convention began to be discussed as a time to celebrate the 100 years since our founding in 1920. Although, ultimately, the global pandemic prevented a celebration where we could all gather together in person, our desire to celebrate this remarkable achievement remained irrepressible. Months ahead of the convention, with a great assist from the marvel of modern technology, a taste of what was to come was revealed on May 27, 2020—100 years to the day from the founding organizational meeting.

by Steve Decker

(Editors' note: Steve Decker is a lead accessibility consultant for Target, a father of three, a member of our Metro chapter, and a person who thinks carefully about the issues that affect us as blind people. He gave this presentation at the 2021 Annual Convention)

I’m a lead accessibility consultant for target.com, so I bring this today as my background and experience. All views I express today are my own.

For our 2021 Annual Convention, held November 5-7, all participants connected virtually through the Zoom platform just as we did for the 2020 Convention. The agenda was as jam-packed with information and inspiration as always, with presentations from Federationists, public officials, and more. Our students and seniors' divisions held their annual meetings. Many break-out sessions also took place on topics from employment to parenting to games, and everything in between. Again the auction was held on Friday evening to raise funds for the organization.

by Elizabeth Schoen, First Vice President
Minnesota Association of Blind Students

by Ryan Strunk

(Editors' note: The following is taken from the report delivered by President Strunk at our 2021 Annual Convention, held via the Zoom platform.)