<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fellow Federationists,<br class=""><br class="">Please see the below message from Tara Abella, who heads up the NFB Community Service Division’s Letters for Troops Program., </span></div><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <br class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This holiday season, the NFB community service division will be sending letters to our brave men and women in the military who have or are currently dedicating their lives to keeping our country safe. The holidays are often a difficult time for members of the military being that many of them are separated from their friends and family. We will be sending our letters to Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages to troops which will contain our letters. When writing a letter, please include and consider the following:<br class="">1: begin your letter with a salutation. In the salutation, include who you would like the letter to be sent to; veteran, new recruit, deployed troop, wounded warrior, or first responder.<br class="">2: include one or more paragraphs thanking the individual for their service and their sacrifice.<br class="">3: include one or more paragraphs about your self; occupation, interest, pets, hobbies, or funny stories to name a few.<br class="">4: conclude your letter with thanking them once again for serving.<br class="">5: do not include the following: political views, religious views with the exception of saying you will pray for them, any identifying information in regards to a miners school, full name, or location, negativity as we are bringing cheer and positivity this holiday season. If you are over the age of 18, you may include an address or email address for the soldier to write back. However, keep in mind your own privacy when making this decision.<br class="">6: email your letters to: <a href="mailto:Serviceawards@nfbcommunityservice.org" class="">Serviceawards@nfbcommunityservice.org</a></span></div><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Remember to mention that you are a member of the National Federation of the Blind. </span></div><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you would like to sign your letter for a more personal touch, you are more than welcome to do so and send a scanned copy which I will print to be sent. If requested, I also will sign any letters in braille. <br class="">Writing a letter will take less than 15 minutes of your day, but be so very valuable to those who are serving us. I strongly encourage all to participate and look forward to seeing all of the positive support and gratitude for our brave men and women. Letters are due December 16th.</span></div><div class=""><span class="" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Email me at <a href="mailto:taranabella0@gmail.com" class="">taranabella0@gmail.com</a> with questions. <br class=""><br class="">Thank you for all you do,<br class=""><br class=""></span></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" class="">Tara Abella</span><div class=""><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" class=""> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br class=""><div class="">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Darian Smith</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">President, National Federation of the Blind Community Service Division</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Web: <a href="http://www.nfbcommunityservice.org" class="">www.nfbcommunityservice.org</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Twitter: @NFB_CSD,@goldengateace</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CommunityServiceDivision" class="">www.facebook.com/CommunityServiceDivision</a>"</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; color: rgb(71, 135, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="">E-mail: <a href="mailto:president@nfbcommunityservice.org" class="">president@nfbcommunityservice.org</a></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""> </p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">(415)215-9809</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""> </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">blindness is not what holds you back.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""> “We need your service, right now, at this moment - our moment - in history. I'm not going to tell you what your role should be; that's for you to discover. But I am going to ask you to play your part; ask you to stand up; ask you to put your foot firmly into the current of history” — Barack Obama </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class=""> Help drive change for the blind .</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today!</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; color: rgb(87, 86, 214); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(87, 86, 214);" class="">For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org/" class=""><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(71, 135, 255);" class="">www.carshelpingtheblind.org</span></a> or call 1-855-659-9314</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: Times; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">“</div></div></div>
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