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

Central Minnesota Chapter — St. Cloud area; meets at 12:30 on the second Saturday of every month at the American Legion in Waite Park

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

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

The Annual NFB of Minnesota Convention is October 31-November 2 2014, in New Ulm.  Members will receive a letter with details, and the letter will be on our website at www.nfbmn.org.

By Judy Sanders, Secretary

Seventy-six Federationists gathered at our NFBM headquarters for our 2014 semiannual convention on May 17, 2014.  It was a rare beautiful spring day, but these Federationists were dedicated to working together to change what it means to be blind.

Because of the many people who preregistered for the convention, the line moved quickly, allowing everyone to get to the coffee and doughnuts sooner.  Thanks go to the NFBM Seniors Division for the breakfast.

By Paul Levy, Star Tribune

(Editor’s Note:  This article appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on June 10, 2014.  Jordan Richardson is a member of our Metro chapter, and a past president of our student division.  His mother, Carrie Gilmer, is a past president of our parents division and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, a Division of the NFB.)

At the start of the school year, Jordan Richardson stored his white cane and Braille laptop and told the preschoolers whom he would teach to read that he is blind.

By Kristin Tillotson, Star Tribune

(Editor’s Note:  This article appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on June 22, 2014.  George Wurtzel is a member of our Metro Chapter.)

George Wurtzel whistles “Camptown Races” as a high-powered lathe hums a quarter-inch from his thumb and forefinger.  Thread-thin streams of sawdust arc like an exploding firework off the small chunk of pine he is fashioning into a sombrero-shaped wine stopper, some of them landing on his “Duck Dynasty”-worthy beard.

By Amanda Swanson

(Editor’s Note:  Amanda is a member of the NFB of Minnesota, and lives in Bluffton, Minnesota.)

By Tom Scanlan

In 1974, the members of this great organization elected me treasurer, and then reelected me every two years since.  For those 40 years, I have been able to give back for so much that has been given to me by the National Federation of the Blind, both nationally and in Minnesota.