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.

The National NFB Convention is July 1-6, 2013 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida.  This is nearly a week of friends, fun, and serious business.  It is a chance to be part of the largest gathering of blind people in the world.  The full convention bulletin is in the Braille Monitor, and in the Upcoming Events section of the www.nfb.org website.

Resolution A12-01

WHEREAS, State Services for the Blind (SSB) recently created a new contracting system for center-based and itinerant adjustment-to-blindness service providers, incorporating major elements of the Administrative Rule that the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota helped develop in the 1980’s; and

By Judy Sanders, Secretary

Convention theme: THE URGENCY OF OPTIMISM

This year's convention theme was the title of President Marc Maurer's 2008 banquet address, and the aura of excitement that permeated the convention made it apropos.

Friday, October 26

Federationists began arriving at the Radisson Harborview in Duluth Friday afternoon, where registration and exhibits opened at 3 p.m. Exhibits included:

By Bryce J Samuelson

(Editor’s Note:  Bryce is a member of the NFB of Minnesota Board of Directors and president of our Rochester chapter.)

By Randi Strunk

Too often when people think about being blind they consider all the doors closed to them, all the things they will no longer be able to do, and how life just won’t be as exciting since they can no longer see.  As I look back on my life, however, I notice an opposite trend. 

By Lori Peglow

From the CMC's President's Desk

Relationships are a vital part of our emotional well-being as a person.  Interaction with others is essential to all of us, for we are social beings.  The first two chapters of Genesis in the Bible reveal that to us, and the behavioral sciences verify it.  You and I thrive when we have good relationships with others and with ourselves.

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