By Judy Sanders, Secretary

Many people began their preparation for the 2012 semiannual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota by preregistering and purchasing their academic lunch provided by the Minnesota Association of Blind Students.  This meant a shorter line for everyone.

Even before registration opened on Saturday, May 19, people had the chance to shop at the Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Incorporated's rummage sale.

Coffee and doughnuts were available in the morning.

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.)

Twenty-seven years ago, I lost a dear friend and mentor.  Frank Smith was blind, and taught me to learn from my past mistakes, not to beat myself up, and look forward to the future.

By Jean Rauschenbach

In the summer of 2010, I had the opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Mexico with my church.  The purpose of the trip was to continue building relationships with the churches in Juarez and in a small mountain village deep in central Mexico. 

By Nancy Burns

(Editor’s Note:  This article is reprinted from QUE PASA, the quarterly newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico.)

By Emily Zitek

The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota is an organization focused on consumer advocacy for blind people and promoting a positive philosophy of blindness.  We are also a family.  Here is a column that we print from time to time, containing items that would not normally be sent out on our membership listserv but which are noteworthy and of interest to members.  Did you or a Federationist you know get a new job?  Go on a major trip?  Win an award?  Have a child?  Something else important to you?  If you have news you would like shared in this

By Jennifer Dunnam

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

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

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