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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>Good Evening Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The time has come to start preparing for this year’s Washington Seminar February 8 through 11. We will be receiving more information about this year’s legislative priorities very soon, likely in the next couple of days. There are just a few things to know ahead of that announcement.<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>This year’s event will be completely virtual with the Great Gathering In taking place on Monday, February 8, at 4PM central time.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>This is a unique opportunity to get as many people in front of Iowa’s congressional delegation as possible. If you are interested in speaking during meetings or other logistics during the week, please get with me as soon as possible so that we can start to coordinate.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>We need to get representation from each of our congressional districts if possible, so we may be splitting up groups depending on our meeting schedule.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>There will likely be other events throughout the week for all of us to attend, so stay tuned for those. This would include a training on February 8 before the Great Gathering in to solidify our work on the issues, so definitely be ready for that!<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>I as this year’s legislative director, and Chelsea Page as co-director and Zoom coordinator will be involved in some trainings put on by the National organization, but we will be hosting our own trainings to bring our affiliate up to speed on the issues and get everyone ready for presentations, so stayed tuned for information on mock meetings, the breakdown of issues, and more!<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>There will likely be more work to be done behind the scenes, so if you’re interested in helping with that, please reach out and I’ll find a spot for you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>I’m really looking forward to the opportunities this year’s Washington Seminar is providing. We have the wonderful chance to make this the best week ever! We may not be meeting in person with our Congressional delegation, but that will not stop us from our work to advance the cause of the blind. Let’s take our issues to Washington D.C. virtually, and let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa along the way! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>