By Judy Sanders, Former Secretary, and Jennifer Wenzel, Secretary

On October 9-11, 2015, 116 registered attendees gathered at the Ramada Mall of America in Bloomington for the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota.  The convention theme was, “We are ensuring that we can live the lives we want.”

On Friday Afternoon, registration and the exhibit area opened at 2:30.  Those who pre-registered made a quick stop to pick up agendas and meal tickets.  Over thirty people registered at the convention.

By Seymour Clearly, (as told to Patrick A. Barrett)

I was adopted by the Boise County School District in Idaho when I was two years old.  I first met Pat Barrett in 5th grade.  His itinerant teacher, (vision teacher is in vogue today), was Elsie Geddes.  She was teaching Pat Typing and Braille.  No offense meant to Catholic readers, but she could have rapped knuckles with the best of nuns armed with rulers.

By Jennifer Dunnam

Another busy winter has turned into another busy (albeit not much warmer) spring as I write this column.  The Federation is, as always, in action on all levels, spreading the truth about blindness and getting things done.  Here are a few updates:

Volume 83, Number 2

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

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

At Large Chapter — statewide, consisting of those who live outside a chapter area and/or cannot attend a meeting in person; meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month by teleconference call.  The telephone number for the call is 1-605-475-6700 with access code 9458023.

Central Minnesota Chapter — St. Cloud area; meets at 12:00 on the second Saturday of every month (with an optional lunch at 11:00) at VFW Post 428, 9 18th Ave N in St Cloud

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 will be September 30 – October 2, 2016 in Rochester at the Kahler Grand Hotel.  Room rate is $97 per night plus tax.  Reservations must be made by August 30.  Members will receive a letter with details, and the information is on our website at www.nfbmn.org.

The National Association of Blind Veterans, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, is seeking members from Minnesota.  Jack Rupert from Lake Crystal is first vice president.  Interested veterans should contact Jack by e-mail at jerupert@outlook.com or telephone at (507) 276-4640.

By Tom Scanlan

I have written previously about what this organization has meant to me, and how it changed my life.  I have tried to repay it in some part, successfully I hope.

Two years ago, I ended my service as treasurer after 40 years.  Alice has picked that up well.