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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>As we near the end of the year and start the new year, there is a lot going on the National Federation of the Blind. Here are some highlights from the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona quarterly board meeting held on November 11, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Congratulations and welcome to Sharonda Goode in her new role as secretary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Congratulations and welcome to Ammar Tarin and Joe Goode, who were both elected to the board during the state convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Congratulations to Amy Porterfield, who in addition to our NFB BELL Academy coordinator, will also serve as our legislative director.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Upcoming Events and Important Dates:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>January 16, 2024 – Phoenix Seminar. This is our day at the capitol where we advocate for policy issues that are important to the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona. This year’s seminar is going to be a live event, but we still encourage everyone to email your state representatives and senators in advance. Please contact Amy Porterfield at <a href="mailto:aporterfield@saavi.us"><span style='color:#0563C1'>aporterfield@saavi.us</span></a> if you are planning to participate. Additionally, please be sure to copy Amy on all emails sent to state representatives, and senators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>January 29 – February 1, 2024 – Washington Seminar:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>This event takes place at our nation’s Capital. The “Great Gathering IN” is January 29, at 5:00 p.m. Appointments are going to start on Tuesday, January 30, and should finish on Wednesday, but could possibly finish on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Financial assistance is available but is not intended to cover the full cost of attending. If you are planning to attend and are seeking financial assistance, email me at <a href="mailto:nfb.az.president@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>nfb.az.president@gmail.com</span></a>, with “2024 Washington Seminar Financial Assistance” in the subject line. All requests for financial assistance must be submitted no later than November 30, 2023. Your request must include how much you are requesting; whether you have been to the Washington Seminar before; If you are receiving assistance from another source and the dates you are planning on being in Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>The Washington Seminar hotel is the Holiday in Washington National Capitol. Hotel reservation information is available now at nfb.org/Washington-seminar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>The Braille Readers are Leaders contest is open. The contest ends on January 22, 2024. You can register and log your minutes by going to Actionfund.beanstack.org.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Scholarships:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>The National Federation of the Blind offers (30) $8,000.00 scholarships to blind individuals who are planning to attend college in the fall of 2024. The deadline to submit your application is March 31, 2024. Go to <a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org/scholarships</span></a>. If you are blind, or know someone who is, and are planning to attend college in the fall, please fill out and submit your application.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>National Convention:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Is July 3-8, 2024, in Orlando, FL. The Host hotel is the Rosen Center Hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Donald<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Donald Porterfield, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Arizona <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="http://www.az.nfb.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://www.az.nfb.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="mailto:nfb.az.president@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>nfb.az.president@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>520-850-2180<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>