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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Attached and below is the agenda for our January 17<sup>th</sup> board meeting in Hartford.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>January 17, State Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>151 New Park Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>The Hartford Room<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Hartford, CT 06106<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Roll Call<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>NFB Pledge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Reports<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Treasurers Report – Cheri Duquette<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>ABPVI – (Advisory Board Persons with Visual Impairments) – Kristen Dockendorf<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>SRC - (State Rehabilitation Council) – Deb Reed<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>BCAC – Melissa Thompson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>PAC Plan – (Pre-Authorized Contribution) – Melissa Thompson<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>New Business<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>2026 State Convention – Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Washington Seminar Update – Mary Silverberg<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Protect Education, Employment, and Independent Living Programs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Access Technology Affordability Act<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Blind Americans Return to Work Act<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Birdies for Charity – Merly Ballesteros<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Vote on Subsidy for National Convention – Board Discussion <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Kenneth Jernagan Scholarship </span></b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><a href="https://nfb.org/form/convention-scholarship"><b>The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship application is open</b></a><b>. Application deadline is April 15, 2026.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>National Academic Scholarship </span></b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program"><b>Students can now apply for the 2026 scholarship program.</b></a><b> The application deadline is March 31, 2026.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Chapter News<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>April Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;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='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>A dream does not become reality through magic: it takes sweat, determination and hard work<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>