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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>Sharon are we to copy the <a href="mailto:annapolis@nfbmd.org">annapolis@nfbmd.org</a>?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Terri<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> MD-Sligo <md-sligo-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sharon Maneki via MD-Sligo<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 23, 2024 2:31 PM<br><b>To:</b> greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org; mdabs@nfbnet.org; md-atlarge@nfbnet.org; md-sligo@nfbnet.org; nfbmd@nfbnet.org; central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org; mabm@nfbnet.org; mdpobc@nfbnet.org; nationalharbor@nfbnet.org; nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org; md-baltimore-county-request@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Sharon Maneki <nfbmdsm@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [MD-Sligo] Letter Writing<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Hello all, <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>This is the first of three emails that I will send you, it is now time to write letters for our bills. SB802: electronic ballot return and SB1091: textbook equity act for blind students. The house bills are HB775 voting and HB1076: textbook and equity act for blind students. We must write to the senator and delegates from your county that I will send in the second and third email. Twice, once for each bill. You can say something like this... <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Senator or Delegate, <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Please vote in favor of the amended HB775. A bill that will give blind and print disabled citizens the right to an electronic ballot return. This group of citizens is being denied the secret ballot and their right to vote privately. The bill balances security concerns because it proposes that the disabled person receive a thumb drive from the board of elections that they can vote their choice on. The drive which contains the ballot will be returned to the County in the specific envelope that was sent by the County. The county will use a standalone computer that is used for nothing else to print the ballot. Which can then be scanned just as other ballots are scanned. It is time to give civil rights to the blind. Please vote Yes for this bill. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Here is what you can say for HB1076<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>Please help blind students by supporting HB1076. Blind K-12 students have a problem getting their textbooks on time and some do not get them at all. The bill solves this problem by requiring that the State Department of Education pay for the cost of transcribing the book into braille. The students are not receiving an equitable education because their County cannot pay this cost. The State Department of Education has a responsibility to make sure that every Student in Maryland receives an equitable education. Therefore, they should take responsibility for transcribing these books. They will only pay when the instructional resource center does not have the book or it cannot be located in other states. Please vote in favor of this important bill. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'>You may add your personal story or experience. These letters must be to the delegates and senators before Friday March 1st. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black'><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>410-715-9596</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>