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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-size:11.0pt'>Good Evening,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful day, in whichever way is most enjoyable for you! The entire weekend promises to be perfect, weatherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>However, Fall is just around the corner and we have so much happening and so many plans to make.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Our 2025 National Convention was fantastic, but it would have been even better if more of our Massachusetts members had been able to be there! Please plan to join us in Austin, Texas July 3 – July 8, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who made #NFB25 a success. The convention highlights will be posted at nfb.org/convention. Access the following highlights, which are now available: </span><o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/banquet-speeches/creativity-persistence-and-hope-reclaiming-our">2025 Banquet Speech, "Creativity, Persistence, and Hope: Reclaiming Our Stories through the Organized Blind Movement" (HTML)</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/dopoXEDUzS8?t=5349s">2025 Banquet Speech, "Creativity, Persistence, and Hope: Reclaiming Our Stories through the Organized Blind Movement" (YouTube)</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/presidential-reports/2025-presidential-report">2025 Presidential Report (HTML)</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/vehnFSymJ80?t=129s">2025 Presidential Report (YouTube)</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2025-resolutions">2025 Resolutions</a><o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases">August Presidential Release #551</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> recording for chapter meetings will be available on August 2. There will not be a Presidential Release Live event in August. Reminder: the Presidential Release for Chapters is part of the chapter meeting agenda. It is recommended to play with enough time for discussion among members afterward. If there are questions from members that cannot be answered by your chapter president, or by me, please send the questions to </span><a href="mailto:communications@nfb.org">communications@nfb.org</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> to incorporate in the live events Q&A session or via another communication. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b> </b><b>Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during October each year. Chapters across the country organize local outreach events. We in Massachusetts, have two major events, happening in the Boston area. We hope to have even more. But for now, please mark your calendar and save the dates of October 5 for the David Ticchi Walk and our first ever Giggle Gala happening on the evening of October 16! More information is coming soon! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Reminder: please use the terms Blind Equality Achievement Month, Blind Month, or #BlindMonth when referring to and promoting activities. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b><o:p> </o:p></b></h3><h3><b>New Podcast Coming Soon:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>As announced at national convention we will soon be releasing <i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i>, a podcast series that brings to life the history of the National Federation of the Blind from 1940 to 1990 based on the comprehensive book of the same name. </span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media">Check out the trailer now on our Publications page.</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Letter Urging Congress to Make Permanent the Medicare Telehealth Benefits:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>On Tuesday, July 22, we sent a </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-urging-congress-keep-medicare-telehealth">letter to all members of Congress urging them to make permanent the Medicare Telehealth benefits</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> that are set to expire on September 30, 2025. This letter is to fulfill Resolution 2025-07 that was passed at the national convention earlier this month in New Orleans. The full letter can be read on our </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements">Policy Statements page</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please stay in touch, let me know what you want to see us do in the next few months and be sure to join us at the David Ticchi walk and our Giggle Gala! This affiliate, our unity and our comradery are very important to me. Let’s get working on building a stronger and better NFB of Massachusetts, which in turn will make the lives of all Blind people of Massachusetts even more rewarding! </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>With Love, Hope and Determination,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbma.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sharawinton@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>