<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:11.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would like to let everyone know that as of today, May 1<sup>st</sup> I am resuming my duties as affiliate president. I must thank Nathanael from the bottom of my heart for being our leader over these past five months. He has done an outstanding job along with his regular job and raising his young son. I would also like to thank all of you who have kept this affiliate running . From the office, Washington Seminar, Convention planning, Chapter meetings , the beginning “Chirps” for Birdies for Charity and all the many small things that keep us together as a family. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am not completely back to my old self yet, but I am strong enough to take on my responsibilities. I will be requesting in separate emails a conference call first with the board members and then one with the chapter presidents so I can be updated on what has been happening. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Finally, but of great importance I want to thank all of you for your support and kind thoughts and words before my surgery and during my recovery. I could feel the love coming through too me. You are a wonderful group of people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:maryanne.melley@gmail.com">maryanne.melley@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>With love, hope, and determination we can transform our dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>