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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Maryanne,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thank you. I have one suggestion that I think would strengthen our first point about not allowing BESB to be subsumed into the larger department. Your first numbered point should remove the qualifier phrase “if there is to be one”. You should edit it to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>The new Director of BESB should be someone well versed in blind issues. They should only work with the blind. We do not want our services getting smaller and getting mixed in with other disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>We absolutely want there to be a BESB and a director, and phrasing it this way will make that even clearer. We may also want to add that we want someone with experience in best practices in the education and rehabilitation of the blind and the adjustment to blindness of blind seniors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thank you for the quick and thoughtful turnaround of this letter. You’ve captured all of the concerns very well, and I hope my suggestion will make it all the better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Nathanael<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><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>Maryanne Melley via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 08, 2021 10:29 AM<br><b>To:</b> erival@comcast.net; marysilverfox@gmail.com; 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'; rmirdi@aol.com; j.mccollum64@comcast.net; deb.reed57@gmail.com; veronicalalston@gmail.com; bmartin1998@gmail.com<br><b>Cc:</b> maryanne.melley@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] Letter for Amy Porter<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hello Board Members,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please review the attached letter for Amy Porter. Edit as you feel appropriate. I will then email it to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:maryanne.melley@gmail.com">maryanne.melley@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>