<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Members and Friends:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to provide a clarification which I hope will clear up any misunderstandings you might have about recent postings to this list. Throughout the past couple weeks, much information has been shared here about our upcoming Washington Seminar and our Day in Annapolis. As has been stated in these emails, these events are our primary opportunities to advocate with our state and federal legislators about the issues which matter to us. However, I think there might be some confusion about what these events are and who is or is not required to attend them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been contacted by a few of our members who were concerned that they were required to attend both events and may not be able to. They were also under the impression that both events were sponsored by MDABS. To clarify, no member is required to attend any event, whether or not MDABS is sponsoring it. We usually ask that as many of our Board members as possible attend all MDABS events, but we understand the various responsibilities of life and therefore do not withhold any of the rights of membership or office based on a member’s attendance at any event. Few things are mandatory in this organization, and we will give you plenty of advanced notice in the event that something is deemed so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As to the specific events in question, neither the Washington Seminar nor the Day in Annapolis is sponsored by MDABS individually. Rather, these are annual events held by the National Federation of the Blind and the NFB of Maryland respectively, the state and national organizations with which we are affiliated. These are opportunities for Federationists to make our lawmakers aware of the legislation that is most important to us as blind people. As members of the Maryland Association of Blind Students, we are also members of the NFB and its Maryland affiliate. For this reason, our state President, Sharon Maneki, is making us aware of these events so we can take advantage of the rights and responsibilities of Federation membership along with our non-student colleagues, including legislative advocacy at the state and national levels. I would therefore encourage anyone who is available to attend either or both events so our voices too will be heard. One of our legislative priorities for this year, the TEACH Act, will have a particular impact on blind students who are currently in college or who will be in the future. It is especially important, then, that our lawmakers hear from blind students on this issue. If you are unable to attend either event, however, your membership in either MDABs or NFB will not be put in jeopardy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this letter clears up any confusion you might have on this front. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions. Let us continue to further our cause, whether or not we can attend our upcoming legislative events.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yours in the movement,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris Nusbaum, Vice President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Maryland Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (443) 547-2409<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:dotkid.nusbaum@gmail.com">dotkid.nusbaum@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter: @Chrisn98 and @NFBMD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations for 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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>