<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:12pt;"><div>Hi all,</div>
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<div>Beth asked me to forward our National Convention Subsidy Guidelines (please see below) to you all. Anyone who is interested in attending the National Convention in Orlando this summer and expects to ask for a subsidy should read these.</div>
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<div>Lucia</div>
<div> </div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=5 face=Tahoma> </FONT></o:p></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF CONNECTICUT<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>NATIONAL CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR CONVENTION SUBSIDIES<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></div>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><U><FONT face=Tahoma>UPDATED JANUARY 2014 (changes in capital letters)<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></H2>
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<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>Persons seeking financial assistance to help with National Convention expenses should tell their chapter president.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If there is no chapter in their area, contact a state officer or director, or call our community outreach office. MEMBERS WHO WISH TO RECEIVE A SUBSIDY MUST REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>Chapter presidents, directors and officers will forward the request to the affiliate president, with an opinion on whether or not the person qualifies for our assistance.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>Their recommendations will be based on these guidelines:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>Non-first-timers must be paid-up members of their chapter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If we<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>don’t have a chapter in their area, they must be members-at-large.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>Members must have made a consistent contribution to our movement<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>over the past year.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>We will subsidize a family member of first-timers when approved by the affiliate president on a case-by-case basis.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>We will subsidize a blind child and one parent or authorized guardian.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>If a couple (parents of a blind child) wants to attend without the child, we will subsidize one parent.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>It is recommended that subsidy recipients attend THREE OF SIX convention sessions AND ONE OTHER MEETING (SUCH AS A DIVISION, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, OR THE BANQUET)<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> </B>or contribute in other ways to the well-being of our movement, such as child care or hospitality. Chapter presidents are responsible for monitoring the convention session attendance of the people in their chapter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The state president will appoint an attendance monitor for first-timers who are not associated with a chapter and for members-at-large.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The chapter president and the attendance monitor will report abuse of our attendance guidelines to the president as quickly as possible.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>We will not subsidize those who received our assistance last year, but failed to attend a majority of the convention sessions (see above).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>The affiliate president will make the final decisions on subsidy eligibility after getting advice from chapter presidents and other leaders.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=5>People must submit receipts for covered expenses WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RETURN.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=5>·</FONT><SPAN style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=5 face=Tahoma>We will try our best to provide subsidy advance if asked.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our ability to do this depends on our cash flow.</FONT><o:p></o:p></div>
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