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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear Federation Family,<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'>BESB has sent out a survey for all blind individuals to fill out. Please share this link with all your members and anyone you know who is not on the list serve. Attached and below is an idea for an answer for the last question. Naturally, all of you should modify it to put the answer in your own words. Thank you for taking the time to tell Cheryl Cepelak and Amy Porter what we need at BESB.<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><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Survey Link:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fform.jotform.com%2F220624751104041&data=04%7C01%7CCheryl.Cepelak%40ct.gov%7C313a8da752c844dbb6a308da135072f3%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0%7C0%7C637843533485546038%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=sMBgw%2BWchyRCOHUaZojDdScnv5p%2BZ%2FZrYV8P0tg%2F6Ro%3D&reserved=0">https://form.jotform.com/220624751104041</a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><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'>The NFB of CT reviewed the BESB survey at our board meeting this past Saturday. Our biggest concern was the last question when it referred the BESB leadership position as a “Manager.” This is highly unacceptable. The head of BESB should be a director or Commissioner, not merely a manager. This is what we have been discussing with Amy Porter and our legislators starting last fall. We want someone in that position who will have the best interests of the blind community in his or her position. Someone who will have passion for their job like Brian Sigman did. He went above and beyond for us. He didn’t just sit in his office but attended functions such as the children’s visually impaired fishing tournament, our state convention every year whether he was speaking or not. Brian would stay for the whole event including our banquet. He was always on the advisory board calls and listened to what the members had to say. He also emailed Lucia when meetings were happening, minutes were ready, job openings were available at BESB and when the Pandemic began weekly updates on Covid from the Governor. The new Director or Commissioner should have a deep and demonstrated belief in the capabilities of blind people. This is the kind of person BESB needs, not just a manager.</span><o:p></o:p></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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Best Regards,<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'>maryanne.melley@gmail.com<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>