MAB - Roe River Chapter
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The Roe River Chapter of the Montana Association for the Blind, located in Great Falls, serves as a hub of community, support, and empowerment for individuals with vision loss. As a newly established chapter, our mission is to foster independence and enhance the quality of life for blind and visually impaired residents in Great Falls and surrounding areas.
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2026 MAB Convention - 80 Years Serving the Blind
The Montana Association for the Blind proudly invites members, families, friends, professionals, and community supporters to the 80th Annual MAB Convention, September 11-13, 2026, in Great Falls, Montana.
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New! Braille Buddies - Braille Learning and Support Group
The New Braille Buddies program from the Roe River Chapter is a welcoming peer-support initiative designed to encourage and support new braille readers as they build confidence and skills. Whether someone is just beginning to explore braille or returning to it after vision changes, participants are paired with experienced braille users who offer guidance, practice, and encouragement in a relaxed, judgment-free environment. Support is available either in person or over Zoom, making the program accessible to members across the region. More than just learning dots and patterns, New Braille Buddies fosters connection, independence, and a shared sense of progress within the blind and low vision community.
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Summer Orientation Program
The Summer Orientation Program is a hands-on, immersive experience that helps blind and low vision students build confidence, independence, and practical skills they can carry into everyday life. Because the program takes place right in our own backyard, the Roe River Chapter plays an active role in supporting students beyond the classroom. Chapter members help coordinate and host activities during students’ downtime, giving them opportunities to relax, socialize, and explore the community in a meaningful way. From bowling nights and casual dinners to nature hikes and local outings, these activities reinforce orientation and mobility skills while also creating space for connection, fun, and a sense of belonging. Through this support, the Roe River Chapter helps ensure the Summer Orientation Program is not only educational, but welcoming, engaging, and rooted in real community life.
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Monthly Chapter Meetings
The Roe River Chapter meets on the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM, providing members with a welcoming space to connect, share updates, and engage in meaningful discussion. Meetings focus on chapter business, upcoming events, advocacy issues, and resources relevant to blind and low vision individuals in the Great Falls area, while also offering time for conversation, mutual support, and community building among members and guests.
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Become a Member Today!
Becoming a member of the Roe River Chapter in Great Falls means joining a supportive and welcoming community of blind and low vision individuals who learn, share, and grow together. Members have access to Braille Buddies classes for learning and practicing braille, Chapter Chatter for staying connected and sharing updates, and opportunities for meaningful community engagement. Whether you are newly blind, have low vision, or have been part of the community for years, the Roe River Chapter offers a friendly space to connect with others, build skills, and be part of a group that truly understands and supports one another.
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Contact the Roe River Chapter
The Roe River Chapter welcomes questions, ideas, and involvement from anyone interested in learning more about our work. The easiest way to get in touch is by email, where a chapter officer can respond and help connect you with meetings, programs, or volunteer opportunities. You may also reach out during our regular chapter meetings, which are open and welcoming to members and guests alike. We’re always glad to hear from community members and fellow Montanans who want to get involved or learn more about the chapter.
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Make a Donation
Donations to the MAB Roe River Chapter are guided by the unwritten but deeply valued principle of Treasure, Talent, and Time. We understand that everyone gives in different ways, and all forms of support are meaningful to our chapter. Financial contributions help us fund programs, events, and outreach that directly benefit blind and low vision individuals in our community. Equally important are donations of talent—sharing skills, knowledge, or professional expertise—and time, whether through volunteering at events, helping with planning, or simply showing up to support one another. This approach also shapes how we request support for chapter activities and events, ensuring that giving is accessible, respectful, and inclusive for everyone who wants to be involved.
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Most Recent RRC Updates
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2026 Summer Orientation Program
This year the MAB Summer Orientation Program was held in Great Falls at the Ursuline Center from June 15 through July 10, 2026. The Roe River Chapter was heavily involved for the second year in a row. We had several members of the chapter that were instructors again this year, as well as a few chapter members that attended as students. Overall it was a good turnout for the program, with a couple of new students, and even a few new instructors on staff.
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05/09/2026 - RRC Meeting Minutes
The MAB Roe River Chapter meeting on May 9, 2026, focused heavily on budget planning and logistics for the September convention, reviewing expected travel expenses for presenters and finalizing Saturday meal choices including a choice between London broil or chicken Marsala for the banquet. The chapter evaluated local fundraising efforts, noting a slow turnaround from the "Give Great Falls" event and outlining major pending corporate requests alongside upcoming restaurant fundraisers at Mighty Mo and Five Guys. Additionally, the chapter approved the April minutes with a name correction, accepted the treasurer's report, voted to move the June meeting to the first Saturday to focus exclusively on the Summer Orientation Program (SOP), and noted state board updates, including the cancellation of the OPW and Ed's appointment as the new MAB webmaster, before adjourning at 12:11 PM.
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04/11/2026 - RRC Meeting Minutes
The MAB Roe River Chapter meeting on April 11, 2026, focused heavily on final coordination for the annual convention in September, outlining scheduled speakers, a panel of students and graduates, prospective corporate sponsors, and logistics for a "Give Great Falls" fundraising booth. The chapter also passed structural updates, voting unanimously to combine the secretary and treasurer roles, removing the former treasurer by mutual agreement, and electing Kristi as Secretary/Treasurer, Juli as Vice-President, and Ed as President. Additional operational matters discussed included designing anniversary t-shirts, coordinating a July 4th barbecue service, planning accessibility advisory work for the public library renovations, and preparing for upcoming Chapter Chatter presentations.
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