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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><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Hi Shara,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>I am confirming that this information is correct for me riding the bus to and from Springfield.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Adam<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 31, 2025 1:56 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List' <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> sharawinton@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [Massachusetts-NFB] IMPORTANT!!! Deadline for hotel room block and transportation to state convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good Afternoon NFB Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our Transportation Guru, Debbie Malone is steadily working on securing our transportation from the Boston area to Springfield and back again for our upcoming state convention. Below I have listed the individuals who we have signed up to utilize this transportation option. Please take a moment to review the list. If your name is on the list and it shouldn’t be or if your name isn’t there and you wish to ride on the bus, please let me know ASAP. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The cost of using the bus for your convention transportation, will depend on the number of people who intend to ride. So it is very important that we have an accurate count. Thank you for your attention to this matter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bus riders to State convention 2025<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. Cullen Gallagher<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. Kinshuk Tella <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. Bronwen Tedesco<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4. Jen Bose<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. Adam Roberge<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>6. John Oliveira-one way <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7. Sengil Inkiala<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8. Kobena Bonney<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>9. Stephen Yerardi<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>10. Kristina Constant<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>11. William O’Donnell<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>12. Stephanie Valdes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>13. Kyra Sweeney<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>14. Shirley Dorris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>15. ElizabethAnn Johnson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>16. Sean Taylor<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>17. Debbie Malone<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>18. Paul Bedard<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>19. Isabel Rosario <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>20. Nick<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>21. Shannon Canton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>22. Tom Geraci<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>23. Christopher Suplice<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>24. Laurie Mattioli<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>25. Manahil Jafri<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>26. Marc Kelley<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also, if you haven’t pleas make your hotel reservation now. The deadline for making your reservation at our convention rate of $139 per night is Wednesday, February 5. You will need to call the hotel to make your reservation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>This year’s room rate at the <b>Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel</b> is <b>$139 per night plus tax</b>. Rooms must be reserved by <b>February 5, 2025</b>.<br>To book, please call the hotel directly at <b>1-413-781-1010</b> and mention the <b>NFB of Massachusetts Convention</b> to secure our special rate. Note: Online reservations will not guarantee this rate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>If you are a student, Please call me directly to book your room. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Seventy second state convention of the NFB of Massachusetts. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>All participants must be registered to attend the state convention. The early bird <b>registration fee is $100</b>, which includes five meals. You’ll also have the option to choose your <b>Saturday lunch</b> and <b>Banquet Meal</b> preferences. All other meals will be served buffet-style, with a variety of delicious choices to suit all tastes.<br>If you’re attending for just <b>Saturday</b>, you can select a <b>day pass</b> with lunch or a <b>day pass with lunch and banquet</b>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><b>Register now</b>: <a href="https://nfbma.org/state-convention/registration">Convention Registration</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Scholarships</b><br>Are you a blind or low-vision college student? We’re offering <b>four scholarships</b> to be awarded at our Saturday evening banquet. Applications are due by <b>February 15, 2025</b>. You can find the application form <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnnPuVIutta_h38GnT7t-TqdUuAoPWoqfTZN7Ja2Ijdg226Q/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnnPuVIutta_h38GnT7t-TqdUuAoPWoqfTZN7Ja2Ijdg226Q/viewform</a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>. For questions about scholarships, please contact <b>Kyra Sweeney</b> at <b><a href="mailto:kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com">kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com</a></b> or <b>310-430-3817</b>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The convention will take place at the <b>Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel</b>, located at <b>One Monarch Place, Springfield, MA</b>. You can easily reach the hotel via <b>Lyft, Uber, train, bus, or plane</b>.<br>The closest airport is <b>Bradley International Airport (BDL)</b> in <b>Windsor Locks, CT</b>, just 14 miles from Springfield. Alternatively, you can fly into <b>Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)</b>, 94 miles away, and take a train, bus, or rideshare to Springfield.<br>If you're traveling by train or bus from within Massachusetts, and not with our community bus, several routes are available to Springfield. For assistance with travel plans that are not those of our private bus, , please contact <b>Mika Pyyhkala</b> at <b>617-308-1114</b>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have any question or need any other help, please contact me. We can’t wait to see you at the 2025 NFB of Massachusetts State Convention—<b>Chasing Your Dreams and Living Courageously</b>!<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><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/">www.nfbma.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com">sharawinton@gmail.com</a><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>