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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope that the beginning of February finds you and yours safe and healthy and that 2018 is getting off to a great start. This is the first installment of what I hope becomes a regular update to keep the affiliate more connected. I have just returned from Washington Seminar and am busily preparing for our Affiliate and Chapter building seminar and Blind Day at the Capitol on February 12. Please read below for the latest happenings in the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2><span style='font-weight:normal'>Washington Seminar Update<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal>This week in Washington D.C., I and several members of the NFB of GA joined approximately 500 members of the National Federation of the Blind from all over the country to advocate on behalf of the blind community. The key issues were access to higher education for blind students (AIM High), the Accessible Technology Affordability Act, opposition to the ADA Education and Reform Act (HR 620), and the passing of the Marrakesh Treaty. To read more about these issues, visit the <a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar page.</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Georgia delegation contained 11 individuals from across the state, 6 of which received a $500 stipend from the affiliate. The members of the delegation were:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Greg Aikens<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Lorynn Boland<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Angela Daniel<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Shikha Desai<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Virginia Klein<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>David Robinson<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Shirley Robinson<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Zach Snow<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Gaylon Tootle <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Stancil Tootle<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'>Johna Wright<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had several good meetings with our elected officials. In total, we met with 11 of our 16 representatives and Senators or their staff, securing verbal promises that they plan to support our legislative initiatives. It will be key for us to follow up in the next few weeks to make sure they follow through on these promises. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Even if you were not able to attend Washington Seminar, it is not too late for you to call your members of Congress to ask them to support our initiatives. Visit the <a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar page</a> to educate yourself on the issues and then call your members of Congress. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Blind Day at the Capitol/Atlanta Seminar<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>You are invited to join the NFB of Georgia during our Atlanta Seminar on February 12, 2018 at the Capitol building in Atlanta. We will be meeting with legislators to discuss protecting the rights of blind parents and other issues relevant to the blind community. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join us from 9:00-11:00 AM in CAP 122 on the first floor to hear from speakers and meet with our legislators about this important issue. Please invite your legislators to join us during this time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After 11:00 AM, we encourage everyone to set up a meeting with your legislator to continue the conversation about protecting the rights of blind parents. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you do not know who your local legislators are or how to contact them, visit <a href="https://hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5950/getLocal.jsp">this page</a> from the League of Women Voters which will help you find out by using your Zip Code plus 4. If you don’t know the plus 4, there is a link on that page you can use to look it up. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m looking forward to seeing you all there on February 12. Please contact myself or Stancil Tootle with questions about the day. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Face to Face Board Meeting February 11<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>The board will be having a face-to-face board meeting, next Sunday, February 11 from 5:00-6:30 PM. It will be located at AMAC on the Georgia Tech campus. The address is:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>512 Means St NW<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Suite 250<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Atlanta, GA 30318<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Affiliate and Chapter Building Seminar<span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal>The weekend before the day at the capitol, leaders in the NFB of Georgia will be gathering for an affiliate and chapter building seminar. President Riccobono is sending Anil Lewis to join us that weekend to help equip our leaders with the tools and skills they need to build strong chapters and in turn, a strong affiliate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>National Scholarship Program<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The deadline for the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship program is March 31. So far, I have been contacted by two individuals. Please invite high school seniors or college students to apply by visiting <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships">https://nfb.org/scholarships</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for reading. Please contact me with questions about any of the items above. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greg Aikens, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbga.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>National Federation of the Blind of Georgia</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:gaikens@nfbga.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>gaikens@nfbga.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: (404) 444-8661<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=271 height=115 style='width:2.8263in;height:1.2013in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01D39E05.C2300B70" alt="Title: NFB of GA Logowith tag line, "Live the life you want.""><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>