The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is two-fold — to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind.  By providing public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services and protection of civil rights, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families, members of the NFB strive to educate the publi

Metro Chapter — Twin Cities area; meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month at NFB of MN Headquarters, 100 East 22nd Street in Minneapolis

Riverbend Chapter — New Ulm area; meets at 9:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month in New Ulm; contact Monica Buboltz at 507-354-5680 for meeting location

Rochester Chapter — Rochester area; meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester 

Exciting times are coming in NFB conventions.  Keep these in mind as you plan your activities throughout the coming year.

By Stephen Larson

(Editor’s Note: Stephen Larson is the new director of administrative services at State Services for the Blind.  Most new employees are required to take six weeks of training in blindness skills to give them knowledge and confidence in the capabilities of blind people, followed by one week of low-vision training.  As part of his training, he chose to go for his six-week emersion training at Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND) Inc.  Here is what he has to say about his experiences.)

By Kristi Lovejoy

One day while on my way to work, driving of course, I stopped at a stop sign and proceeded to turn left on to a four-lane highway.  At the same time, a small minivan was making a left-hand turn from the highway on to the road I was on.  I proceeded to hit him right in the center of his van.  That was the day I realized I really was blind.

By Judy Sanders

(Editor’s Note:  Judy is secretary of the NFB of Minnesota, and a very active member of our Metro Chapter.)

Ah, the wonders and excitement of the Minnesota Great Get-Together!  I listen to the sounds — the music, the children laughing, the vendors selling and the food frying.  I smell the food — the grilling, the popcorn, and Sweet Martha's hot chocolate chip cookies.  I'm happy and hungry.

By Emily Zitek

(Editor’s Note:  Emily is a former office manager at Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), and now operates her own vending business in St. Paul as part of the Business Enterprises Program.  She is an active member of our Metro Chapter.)

By Brad Dunse

(Editor’s Note:  Brad Dunse is a former student of Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND).  He is a freelance writer and performing songwriter living in River Falls, Wisconsin.)

By Jean Rauschenbach

It all began at the state convention of the NFB of Minnesota in October where we were reminded of the Braille Readers are Leaders contest for adults.  Actually, for some of us, it began when we heard about my experiences on a team in Illinois (I participated by phone) from a previous year.  At the convention, we were urged to participate as individuals and establish a Minnesota team.  The first five people to indicate interest in being on the team would be its members.

By Patrick A. Barrett

(Editor’s Note:  Pat is a board member of the NFB of Minnesota, and a past president of our Metro Chapter in which he is very active.)

January generally means mounds of snow and plates piled high with spaghetti in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  For many of us in the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota (NFBMN), we have looked forward each year to the Central Minnesota Chapter’s successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser.