<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=""><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">National Federation of the Blind</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class=""> Community Service Division</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">Service Snippets</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class=""> February 2017</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class=""> Darian Smith, President</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">president@nfbcommunit</b><a href="http://yservice.org" class="">yservice.org</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 16px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 16px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Dear Federation family,</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">As the calendar turns to February, we hope those who went to Washington Seminar took every opportunity to educate our representatives in congress, and raised both their collective voices and expectations for blind people at every turn and with every opportunity.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> I hope you can attend our open board meeting on February 12 at 9pm eastern.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Please call (712) 432-0140 and enter code 808277.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> I have already spoken with a number of people who tell me they are looking forward to attending, and I can say that the board, and the rest of the division are looking forward to hearing from them and all of you.</span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 16px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> here are the customary updates from the board’s committees as brought to you by their chairs.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">note: announcements are presented as submitted.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Web site/Blog </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none;" class=""><b class="">Committee</b></span><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">:</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 18px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">This month, I posted an entry about the Habitat build service project from the perspective of the volunteer manager who worked with us. Recently, I also posted the division’s 2016 year-end recap. In the coming weeks and months, be on the lookout for even more entries from fellow division members doing community service. Also, an announcement recently went out to the NFB Members list with a variety of updates and information about the division. This announcement contained blog topics for January, February, and March, so if any of these themes speak to you, write an entry and send it along. If you participated in a project that doesn’t fit any of these themes, but you still want to write about it, no problem! Send that along as well.</span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">If you haven’t checked out the blog yet, we invite you to do so at <a href="http://www.nfbcommunityservice.org/blog" class=""><span style="line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(4, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 99, 193);" class="">http://www.nfbcommunityservice.org/blog</span></a>. Send any entries or ideas for entries to <a href="mailto:blog@nfbcommunityservice.org" class=""><span style="line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(4, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 99, 193);" class="">blog@nfbcommunityservice.org</span></a>.</span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">On the Web site front, I’ve been keeping the Events page updated with current committee meeting dates/times as well as information on any upcoming conference calls or special programs, so definitely check that out to keep up-to-date on what the division is doing. Find us at <a href="http://www.nfbcommunityservice.org/" class=""><span style="line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(4, 99, 193); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 99, 193);" class="">http://www.nfbcommunityservice.org</span></a>, and let us know of any new features or information you’d like to see on the Web site.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> Chris Parsons</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 14px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">Outreach Committee</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none;" class=""><b class="">:</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Hello federation family</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> The outreach committee has had a great start to the year. We partnered with the membership committee to host a scholarship call. Patti Chang spoke about applying for the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship and other scholarship winners talked about their experiences. The committee has heard back from several disability offices saying they had sent the scholarship information and the division information on to their students. One office reported posting our information on their website. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> The outreach committee is currently working on putting together a service fair at the Nation NFB convention. We are in the process of adding other volunteer non-youth organizations to our existing youth organization as possible organizations to invite to the service fair. This is an opportunity for chapters and individuals to learn about volunteer organizations and how to get involved in them. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> The next outreach conference call will be on February 20</span><span style="font-size: 8.7px; line-height: normal; -webkit-font-kerning: none;" class=""><sup class="">th</sup></span><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> and we meet every third Monday of the month at 7:00p.m.Eastern. You are invited to our call. We know you have experiences and ideas that are a great asset to our committee and division.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=""><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);" class="">Ronnie Bellomy </span></div></div><div class=""><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);" class=""><br class=""></span></div><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=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>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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