<div dir="ltr">Good Evening,<div><br></div><div>Attached and pasted below you will find the minutes from our most recent at-large chapter meeting held yesterday, Tuesday March 11th. </div><div><br></div><div>I hope to see you at the convention!</div><div><br></div><div>BEst,</div><div>Liz</div><div>**********</div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The NFB of MA at-large chapter met briefly on Tuesday, March
11th. The meeting began at 6:32PM. Those in attendance included:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Brian Langlois</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Cullen Gallagher</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Debbie Malone</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Elizabeth Ann Johnson</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Kristina Constant</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Liz Lesperance</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Mike Karsok</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Ren Lovegood</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Sandy Burgess</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Shara Winton</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Shirley Doris</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The following are important details about the state
convention this coming weekend:</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The bus that will transport members to the state
convention on Friday will leave Cambridge at 9am. Get there early because the
bus will not wait. On Sunday the bus departs Springfield for Cambridge at 4PM.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Debbie emailed our NFB affiliate listserv out a
detailed description of the hotel. Towards the bottom of the email there are
directions to the guide dog relief area. When you exit the front door of the
hotel you will cross a driveway and the relief area is diagonally to the left.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The at-large chapter will be selling meat sticks
from Country Meats at the registration table. Be sure to bring lots of cash for
auction items, raffles, etc. There is an ATM near the elevators on the first
floor.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Shara shared that we have the entire second
floor of the hotel for our convention. The exhibit hall will be on this floor
near the atrium. The restaurants are on this floor as well. The Springfield
chapter will have a table set up in the atrium to help field questions. </p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>It is strongly encouraged that no one leave the
hotel by themselves to ensure that everyone is safe. </p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The hotel regularly charges a $20 per night
parking fee. Shara has requested that this fee be removed from our room block
but please be sure to check at the front desk when you arrive to ensure that
the fee has been removed.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>On Sunday morning be sure to remove all of your
belongings from your room prior to the start of general sessions. General
sessions begin at 9:15. Your belongings can either remain with you or the hotel
can safely lock them in the Mohogany ballroom.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>All meals covered during the convention will be
served in the Mohogany ballroom.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The at-large chapter will meet informally right
after general sessions on Saturday. We will meet from 5-6 in the Stonehaven
room.</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Cullen confirmed he has everything for our
auction item. This includes a $250 ray ban gift card along with a $50 visa
towards the purchase of the USB-C charging cable not included with the smart
glasses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Debbie shared information about a fundraiser she found. There
is a local organization that takes bags of items that you would regularly sell
at a yard sale. This organization pays approximately $500 for 10 full bags of
goods which they will then resell. Examples of items that they collect include
clothes, household appliances such as small toasters, towels, sheets, etc. They
don’t accept books. We will try to put together 10 bags. This is a good
opportunity to clean out your close out and raise some funds for our chapter.
More details to follow!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The meeting adjourned at 7:20PM.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Enjoy the convention!</p></div></div>