2008
Robert McDonald Fellowships to National Convention
by Tracy Soforenko
E-mail:
Tracy.soforenko@verizon.Net
The McDonald Fellowship program was established in 1998 in order to: (a)
assist those who have never attended a convention of the National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) before, or (b) financially assist those who have demonstrated a
commitment to our organization and who are unable to afford the costs of
attending a national convention.
Many of those who have attended our national NFB convention are amazed at how
seeing, meeting, and interacting with over 3,000 other blind and low-vision
convention attendees has literally changed their lives. They not only
experience how the problems of vision loss can be overcome, but they also
experience the confidence that can come with it. Robert McDonald was the
founding father of our state affiliate. He and his wife, Marian, gave of
themselves tirelessly and selflessly to further the progress and better the
lives of those who are blind, visually impaired, and low vision in Virginia.
When Robert (Mac) McDonald established the fellowship program, he recognized the
personal benefits that come to people who attend a national convention for the
first time. In Mac’s memory, the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)
continues his legacy of education and empowerment to Virginia's blind citizens.
This year the goal of the McDonald Fellowship program is to issue three McDonald
Fellowship awards, each in the amount of $750. These funds will be awarded to
assist each fellowship recipient in covering the cost of attending our 2008 NFB
National Convention to be held in Dallas, Texas, the week of June 29 through
July 5. This event will take place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas,
Texas. We will link-up each of our fellowship winners with a state mentor who
will assist each of them in getting the most out of the national convention
experience. Preference will be given to McDonald Fellowship applicants who have
not previously attended a national convention. As part of the Fellowship
application requirements, McDonald Fellowship winners are asked to attend the
entire NFB convention and write an article about their experiences for the
Vigilant (the newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia)
upon their return from convention. Winners will also have an opportunity to
address our 2008 NFB of Virginia state convention.
Deadline for applications for the McDonald Fellowship is April 15, 2008.
Winners will be announced on May 15, 2008. We ask that applicants write a brief
letter of application outlining their reasons why they should be considered for
a Fellowship. Preference will be given to applications from those who have
never attended a NFB National Convention before, those who have demonstrated
commitment to the NFBV organization by their participation in either chapter or
state activities over the past year, and by those applicants who include
pertinent supporting information that will help in our selection process (e.g.,
letters of support from chapter presidents). E-mailed applications or
questions about the Fellowship program should be sent to Tracy Soforenko,
Chairman, McDonald Fellowship Committee, by e-mail at
tracy.soforenko@verizon.net or by phone at (703) 635-2085.
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