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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>Hello NFB Family!! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope you all are doing fabulously! <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> Thank you for your work to raise expectations every day by going to work, civil engagement, Fund-raising, recreational activities and just being a blind person getting out there and getting it done! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> I have been thinking deeply about how well we are getting outside of our typical circles and truly helping the public know who we are. We are somewhat successful pitching what we do to our friends and asking for donations from other Federation members. It often appears as though the effort to get the word out beyond our own membership is much more limited. Why is that? I believe it is because we could do more to stretch ourselves and also be strategic about our communications. If you want someone to support the work of the National Federation of the Blind, you have to be able to articulate why it makes a difference to those who do not know us. If you ask me to support the Federation, I already know the difference it makes. If you ask your neighbor, it might take more effort and have a bigger return.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>As we close this year, I encourage each of you to reflect on our work to discover if we could be doing better. I believe we can! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Can you think of three people with whom you can reach who do not know the Federation already, and invite them to join the movement by providing us with a financial contribution? Can you articulate the value of the movement in a way that moves them to action? I believe you can, and I am asking each of us to ask three new people by the end of the month.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I would like to see each of you speak as easily about our movement as you speak on your favorite restaurant or your favorite pet. The more you talk about us, the easier it will become. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> What we do is important and so are you. We need each of you to “Rise up” and help us show the world that blindness does not have to be a tragedy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:19.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>We are the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind people in the United States.</span><span style='font-size:19.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'><br></span><span style='font-size:19.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:#01893E;background:white'>You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</span><span style='font-size:19.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'><br><span style='background:white'>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.</span></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With Love, hope and determination, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>