[il-talk] FW: Important Update on U.S. Mint Coin Issue - Please read and click link to make your voice heard!

Mon Apr 21 22:50:07 UTC 2014

The Randolph-Sheppard blind entrepreneurs need your help.  Please read the
post by National Association  of Blind Merchants Executive Director, Kevan
Worley.   Scroll down to the NAMA page and send the U.S. Mint your concern.
This will take you no more than 2 minutes to complete.  Thank you for your
assistance in this important matter.

From: Kevan Worley [mailto:kevanworley at blindmerchants.org] 
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2014 10:26 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Important Update on U.S. Mint Coin Issue - Please read and click
link to make your voice heard!

Dear colleagues and friends:  Below is a very important announcement from
the NAMA Government Affairs Team.  As you know from previous issues of the
NFBEI Blitz, the U.S. Mint is considering changes to the metallic content of
most U.S. coins.  This is of concern to the entire vending industry.  It is
of special concern to the Randolph-Sheppard community.   If changes under
consideration are made, it will cost between $200 and $500 per machine to
adapt the vending machines to accept the new coins.  This would be cost
prohibitive to virtually every state business enterprises program in the
country.  We have been working closely with  Eric Dell and NAMA on this
issue.  Nicky Gacos recently testified at a stakeholders forum at the U.S.
Mint.  Now, we need your help.  

Please read the announcement below.  Please click on the link as indicated
which will take you to a website where you can register your concern.  You
only need to type in your name and address, submit it, and your concern will
be registered.  We need to make sure the U.S. Mint hears from as many blind
entrepreneurs and state agencies as possible.  Eventually, the debate will
likely move to Congress but we need to hear from you now.  We are asking you
to do two things:

1.  Click on the link and register your concern; and,

2.  Share with as many others as possible and ask them to do the same.

Additionally, if you have a relationship with an elected official in your
state who would be willing to write a letter, we'd like for you to
facilitate that.  Ideally, we would like a letter from governors, chairs of
legislative appropriations / budget committees, and/ or perhaps
commissioners of your state finance or budget departments.  These people can
speak to the financial impact this change could have on your state.  Eric
Dell with NAMA will be happy to participate on  a phone call with you and
your elected official to educate them and discuss the logistics of writing a
letter.  Eric is copied on this email so you can email him or you can call
him on his cell at 202-669-6139.  Please call or email Eric directly.  If
possible, please share a copy of any such letter with me.  At this point, we
don't want any of you writing letters.  We just need for you to register
your concern.  

Thank you for your prompt action to preserve the livelihoods of blind
entrepreneurs. 

At your service,

cid:image001.jpg at 01CDBCF2.C07B8380

Kevan Worley

Executive Director

National Association of Blind Merchants

kevanworley at blindmerchants.org 

866-543-6808

Wondering what to do with your old car or truck? Donating your vehicle to
the National Federation of the Blind is convenient and may qualify you for a
tax deduction. Call 1-855-659-9314 or visit www.carshelpingtheblind.org Your
donation can take the blind further

 U.S. Mint Publishes Request for Comments

in Federal Register

Industry is urged to Act Now by clicking link below

Dear Members:

Congress has tasked the U.S. Mint with finding ways to produce coins in a
more cost efficient manner. In this effort, the Mint recently announced that
it is accepting public comments on the mandate to research alternative
metallic content of coins. Changes in metallic content, shape, or size could
call for anything from a simple recalibration in vending machines to the
installation of new coin-accepting equipment, with a cost that would range
from $100-$500 per vending machine. With an estimated seven million vending
machines across the country, the costs of such changes could amount to an
industry cost of $3.5 billion, negatively impacting the entire vending and
food service industry and its consumers.

It is important that the industry makes its voice heard!

We only have 54 days left to submit comments

The Mint is assessing all coins for savings in production. NAMA is working
with other industries who will be negatively impacted by changes in the
metallic content, shape or size of coins and asking for you to
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001veqyX4dNtN2yWqIPPr88DX2QWL7-z7IeYi_6_AthoCsu
g-D6DzLtu4YTCfD0cGQLBDB3GOx4IryhimpMYCCDo1xC2Le9Npu3F9M74xYsLZZCb5G9G9vey8bu
4xvL9vOEF4JrpYQnlCnf74THxHSrrtJFkA6mhIcMpZ8YFlTvCkaMKgA_3aZ09PvhOhoUg5pfT2bQ
LZdQufH9zhE-jYppkNAVeEerk1LmFuBkTtVNqF8=&c=ckFnUaUU7MkV7v8vvHYf2T30kElEwGFXY
ja9MxrKomN_VfkKDaOTIA==&ch=WQBQ9AELp6l4YVXajps2C-pg3YW5fSpznQ4D6uFRq4dsjGZo2
walfA==> act today by clicking here to ensure that our voice is heard loud
and clear. Changes to circulating coins could have a tremendous, negative
impact on the industry.

If you signed this letter at the recent OneShow please don't send again
through this electronic alert. We urge you to forward this to your employees
and friends and emphasize the importance of them taking less than a minute
of their time to send this electronic message directly to the Mint. Once you
have input your information, don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the
alert and click "Send Message."

Thank you! As always, please contact your Government Affairs representative
with any questions. 

Thank you, 

Eric Dell, J.D., M.B.A.                                        

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

(571) 346-1902  edell at vending.org 

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