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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>All – The hotel that Joyce is talking about, the Holiday Inn in downtown Bridgeport, was actually the one that the Southern Connecticut chapter proposed in 2012 (I think, must’ve been) for the 2013 and 2014 conventions.  We lost in the board vote to Meriden.  I recall that one of the main reasons given was that there wasn’t a lot of green or park-like space around the hotel for dog relief, walking, etc…  Regardless of the variety of news coverage of Bridgeport, this part of downtown has been slowly revitalizing over the years, probably even in the past three years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Joyce and fellow Southern CT Chapter members – I know Ellen looked into another hotel, possibly in Shelton.  It may be worth checking into it again; there is also a Marriott on the Trumbull/Stratford (Trumbull side) line that my church has used regularly for functions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Nathanael<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 09, 2015 11:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List<br><b>Cc:</b> Justin Salisbury<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Please don’t shoot me for this, but I have to ask a sensitive question here. I grew up with my only knowledge of Bridgeport being the poverty and crime that was constantly on the news about it. When I heard that the BELL program was going to be there this past summer, I was surprised that we ran a program in a city with such a rough reputation. I went, anyway, because it was our program, but I cannot help but wonder how many people held back because it was Bridgeport. To defend the city, I actually thought it was pretty legit when we were there, at least the part of town that we were in. The perception of the city that pervades our state will have more of an impact, though, than the realities of the city. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>How much do perceptions like that matter?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Take care,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Justin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Justin Salisbury, NOMC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Graduate Student<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Email: <a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu"><span style='color:#0563C1'>President@Alumni.ECU.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Twitter: @SalisburyJustin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>"None can be free as long as any are enslaved" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dr. Kenneth Jernigan<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>blindhands--- via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 09, 2015 10:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List' <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> blindhands@aol.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Perfect.  There is a hotel downtown that does all this conference stuff   It is like 2 blocks away from the bus station and Train station.  Paratransit is there, but you will need to contact them a few days before to put in for a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Cookiechumper--- via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 9, 2015 8:55 PM<br><b>To:</b> ct-nfb@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Cookiechumper@aol.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Helllo,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I've got a friend  who knows all the major people  as corporate, political etc in Bridgeport  and can make something happen. He especially known for  disablity could get special  trasporttion on topo of the public  trasportation. As have already spoken to him to come up with a prospal which he'll get to me shortly to present.+<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Thanks Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In a message dated 12/9/2015 8:07:03 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, <a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a> writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>I expect that a lot of the public transit issue is going to take care of itself if we are already looking at the kinds of hotels that can accommodate our convention. This cannot be wisely assumed, but there is a pretty good shot. I say this because we don’t find hotels with many rooms, meeting space, catering, a restaurant/bar, etc., out in the boonies; these are in urban areas. Where do we find mass transit systems, such as buses, trains, and cabs? These are also in urban areas. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>While we are certainly capable of holding a convention in a place that does not have mass transit access, I would not expect us to want to do that when so many options with mass transit access are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>This project is so fun and exciting; it really makes me wish I was physically in the state 24/7. On that note, if anyone knows of any Orientation and Mobility jobs in Connecticut, not counting school systems or the V.A. (I have to work with RSA clients for about 3 years), please let me know!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Take care,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Justin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Justin Salisbury, NOMC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Graduate Student<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Email: <a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu" title="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu"><span style='color:#0563C1'>President@Alumni.ECU.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822" title="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Twitter: @SalisburyJustin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>"None can be free as long as any are enslaved" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dr. Kenneth Jernigan<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='color:black'> Ct-nfb [<a href="mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Edward Shaham via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 09, 2015 6:05 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List' <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Edward Shaham <<a href="mailto:personal.edward@gmail.com">personal.edward@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>I think a lot of us, including myself depend on the train or bus, to get to convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Edward<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> Ct-nfb [<a href="mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Carol Lemieux via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 9, 2015 6:43 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> Carol Lemieux<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>How much good will paratransit and/or a train do most people travelling to the convention?  Paratransit will help locally, but not so much for people coming from across the state.  Few people have take the train in recent years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>  <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid #C3D9E5 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:7.5pt;margin-top:7.5pt;margin-right:3.75pt;margin-bottom:3.75pt;WORD-WRAP: break-word;-webkit-nbsp-mode: space;-webkit-line-break: after-white-space' name=quote><div style='margin-bottom:7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> Wednesday, December 09, 2015 at 3:13 PM<br><b>From:</b> "Deb Reed via Ct-nfb" <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>To:</b> "NFB of Connecticut Mailing List" <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> "Deb Reed" <<a href="mailto:deb.reed57@gmail.com" title="mailto:deb.reed57@gmail.com">deb.reed57@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div name=quoted-content><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>The location should have paratransit, right? Southington does not. Also, should the location have a train? <br><br> Deb Reed, President <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>National Federation Of The Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Central CT Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Phone - 860-973-3679<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Email - <a href="mip://13e2aae0/deb.reed57@gmail.com" target="_parent" title="http://deb.reed57@gmail.com">deb.reed57@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><br>On Dec 8, 2015, at 11:49 PM, Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb <<a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hi Edward,</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks for opening the floor for such an important discussion! I bet you’re going to be attending the leadership seminar in Baltimore about planning state conventions. I really like the North Carolina model of having a host chapter for each convention. The chapters go out and put together competitive convention package bids with hotel details, pricing, and some info about public transit access, and then the state board votes on the best proposal. It’s really quite cool, and the host chapter is touted and praised; it’s a big deal. I’d like to see us move toward that here in Connecticut. Another benefit, of course, is that it gives us negotiating power to drive down the prices.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Some affiliates like to have a convention in a place with either no chapter or a weak chapter if possible to bring people to an NFB function that wouldn’t normally be able to attend. That’s nice, but I also like having local people in the local chapter available to help with details. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Let’s consider the city populations. I have collected a list of the 25 largest cities and towns. I like the idea of aiming for places with a decent population. Here is is:</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>1              Bridgeport          144,229</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>2              New Haven        129,779</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>3              Hartford               124,775</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>4              Stamford             122,643</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>5              Waterbury          110,366</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>6              Norwalk               85,603</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>7              Danbury               80,893</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>8              New Britain        71,254</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>9              Greenwich          61,171</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>10           Bristol   60,477</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>11           West Hartford   60,495</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>12           Meriden              59,186</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>13           Hamden               57,862</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>14           Fairfield                57,345</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>15           Manchester       56,385</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>16           Milford 55,907</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>17           West Haven       52,420</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>18           Stratford              48,853</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>19           East Hartford     48,571</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>20           Middletown       48,030</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>21           Enfield  44,895</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>22           Wallingford         44,859</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>23           Southington       42,250</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>24           Shelton 39,991</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>25           Groton 39,167</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>I might like to try Waterbury, Danbury, or New Britain. We could also try to do it in Storrs on the UConn campus using the Nathan Hale Inn and Rome Ballroom facilities, especially given its proximity to our birthplace of West Willington, but maybe we ought to save that for the 50th anniversary.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Yours,</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Justin</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Justin Salisbury, NOMC</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Graduate Student</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Louisiana Tech University</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Email: <a href="mip://13e2aae0/President@Alumni.ECU.edu" target="_parent" title="http://President@Alumni.ECU.edu"><span style='color:#0563C1'>President@Alumni.ECU.edu</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822" target="_blank" title="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Twitter: @SalisburyJustin</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>"None can be free as long as any are enslaved" </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dr. Kenneth Jernigan</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='color:black'> Ct-nfb [<a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Edward via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 08, 2015 10:27 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <<a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Edward <<a href="mip://13e2aae0/personal.edward@gmail.com" target="_parent" title="http://personal.edward@gmail.com">personal.edward@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>Good question. Either a location, or a specific hotel, but I would like to get some ideas on the table. If you could let us know where you would like the convention held, NY, that will be a good start.<br>Thanks,<br>Edward<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=AppleMailSignature><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'><br>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:black'><br>On Dec 8, 2015, at 10:21 PM, Hamit Campos via Ct-nfb <<a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Are you asking about just a hotel or what city? Because the last 1 was a little too far for us.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='color:black'> Ct-nfb [<a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Edward Shaham via Ct-nfb<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 8, 2015 9:53 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mip://13e2aae0/ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> Edward Shaham <<a href="mip://13e2aae0/personal.edward@gmail.com" target="_parent" title="http://personal.edward@gmail.com">personal.edward@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [Ct-nfb] hotel for convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>Does anyone have any ideas as to where to hold our next convention? If so, please email the list, and let us know what you think. Where would you like to see our convention held?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>Edward<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>_______________________________________________<br>Ct-nfb mailing list<br><a href="mip://13e2aae0/Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ct-nfb:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/personal.edward%40gmail.com" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/personal.edward@gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/personal.edward%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>_______________________________________________<br>Ct-nfb mailing list<br><a href="mip://13e2aae0/Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_parent" title="http://Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ct-nfb:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/deb.reed57%40gmail.com" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/deb.reed57@gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/deb.reed57%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>_______________________________________________ Ct-nfb mailing list <a href="mailto:Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a> <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</a> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ct-nfb: <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/bustero%40mail.com" target="_blank" title="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/bustero@mail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/bustero%40mail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Ct-nfb mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ct-nfb:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/cookiechumper%40aol.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/cookiechumper%40aol.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>