<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Happy new year to everyone,<div class=""> I hope that everyone had a joyous time with family and friends and celebrated the journey which was 2017.</div><div class=""> 2017was a year where a lot of exciting things took place in the division and I think we should be proud of these things.</div><div class=""> From creative conference calls to exciting and inspiring convention gatherings.</div><div class=""> Our division once again came together and showed that we as blind people can live the lives we want through service to others.</div><div class=""> On the flip side, our post-convention momentum was not as strong as in years past, and we have struggled to keep the level of activity that the division is used to.</div><div class=""> In truth, many divisions find difficulty keeping the post convention momentum due to the fact that life tends to happen not long after we return home. </div><div class=""> Work, family, social and other federation matters easily take up our time.</div><div class=""> To our membership, I want you to know that as the calendar turns to 2018, I plan to recommit myself to this division that we have worked so hard to build.</div><div class=""> I want you to know that these aren’t just words a president should say, but words from a person who several years ago dreamt up an idea that turned into a shared vision amongst friends. some of those friends are still an active part of this vision, others a part of it in spirit.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""> This year is an opportunity to dream big and build bigger and I hope you are as excited to do so as I am.</div><div class=""> The future of this division is one that will be built on the ideas, the time and the effort of more than just one, more than just a few, but many.</div><div class=""> </div><div class=""> My friends and federation family let’s do what we do best, and let’s get involved!</div><div class=""> Best,</div><div class=""> Darian </div><br class=""><br class=""><div class="">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" 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</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=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">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 class=""></o:p></span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></span></div></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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