<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Hi Mark, thank you I\u2019m using dictation to send this message. Because I have gone out of town for the weekend. I am not sure exactly how many I have not counted but I know most are doing this. Not all and Massachusetts did have it this way until about five or six years ago no actually it was less than that. I\u2019m not sure how long but when I became president shortly after I became president I changed it. It was the white Massachusetts was previously as well and then I tried to do something different and it hasn\u2019t worked out so well. So we have changed it back. However, at some point if we feel like we need to, we can change it again. No Nothing is set in stone. But I would say probably 2/3 of the other affiliates have it set up this way. If you would like for me to call or contact each state and find out for sure I can, but that would probably take some time. I appreciate you and your inquiry.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Aug 14, 2026, at 3:14\u202fPM, Marc Kelley <marcekelley83@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Hello Shara,<div><br></div><div>Thank you for taking that time to send out that email with your "reason" for making that decision on behalf of the Massachusetts affiliate of the NFB.</div><div><br></div><div>I was unable to stay for the whole meeting on Monday night, but didn't want to ask one question and I am asking this question out loud because I think it would be beneficial if everyone knew the answer to this.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm curious as to how many other NFB affiliates monitor their email list like you are now doing? I would imagine that if this is really an issue that a lot of affiliates if not all we would already be doing this.</div><div><br></div><div>Looking forward to your response.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you,<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Marc Kelley<div>P: 617.480.4810</div><div>marcekelley83@gmail.com</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Aug 14, 2026, at 11:57\u202fAM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hello Beautiful NFB Family and Friends, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I want to take a moment to address some of the discussion that took place during our recent Cambridge Chapter meeting. There was a tremendous amount of conversation, and I know that some of you left the meeting with concerns, while others may have felt discouraged or deflated by what took place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please know that, as always, my first and foremost responsibility is to advocate for, support, and protect our members as much as possible. Sometimes, making decisions that I believe are in the best interest of our organization may be uncomfortable or may not please everyone, and I understand that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I also want to sincerely apologize for not giving everyone more advance notice about the changes to our email list. The situation developed much more quickly than I anticipated, and, quite honestly, I was caught a little off guard myself by how quickly everything came together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Over the past year, we have received many concerns that our email list has become overwhelming and difficult to keep up with. We have also experienced an increase in spam and other unwanted messages. In addition, there have been occasions when a member, believing they were replying to only one individual, unintentionally shared personal information with the entire list. Once that information is sent, we cannot take it back, and it can potentially compromise someone's privacy, confidentiality, and even personal safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Our email list also includes many people who are not currently members but are interested in learning more about the NFB, as well as donors, agencies, media representatives, and other friends and supporters of our organization. Because of this, we have a responsibility to be thoughtful about what information is shared broadly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">After speaking with and seeking guidance from other leaders within the National Federation of the Blind, I came to the difficult conclusion that we need to place some reasonable limits on what can be shared through our affiliate-wide email list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I want to be very clear: this is not personal, nor is it directed at any one individual or small group of individuals. This decision is about protecting the privacy and safety of our members, reducing unnecessary email traffic, and creating a more comfortable and manageable communication environment for our affiliate as a whole.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I truly hope that you will receive this decision in the spirit in which it is intended\u2014with care, respect, and a genuine desire to do what is best for all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We are a family, and families do not always agree. But we can continue to listen to one another, give one another grace, and work together toward something bigger than any one of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thank you for taking the time to read this, and most importantly, thank you for your understanding, compassion, and continued commitment to the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">With appreciation and love,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Shara<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><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Massachusetts-NFB mailing list</span><br><span>Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/marcekelley83%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></body></html>