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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear NABS Family:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In a few short days we will gather together in our hundreds to celebrate our past achievements, assess our present progress, and dream for our future—a future full of opportunity, in which blind students can and will be empowered to live the lives we want. We will be inspired by our leaders, informed by our tireless advocates, and entertained by our dynamic speakers. We will also exercise that most fundamental of democratic rights: the right to elect our own leaders, to choose those who will represent us in the halls of power. It is our duty, then, to choose those candidates in whom we believe, as well as those who believe in us. I believe in each member of our organization. I believe that we, working together, have the power to transform dreams into reality. This is why, after much contemplation and consultation with many NABS leaders, I am asking for your vote for the position of NABS Board member.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By way of introduction, I am a rising senior at Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, Maryland. A member in good standing of the National Honor Society, I have participated throughout my high school career in many extracurricular activities which have made my character very well-rounded, while keeping my academic efforts at the forefront of my activities. After graduation I plan to receive training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) before attending college to become a teacher of blind students. In my spare time I enjoy reading, writing, singing, traveling, hanging out with friends, listening to all types of music, and—most importantly—working with my Federation family to build our movement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though I have known about the National Federation of the Blind for most of my life, I did not become a contributing member until 2011, when I attended a life-changing program at the Jernigan Institute at which I was inspired by our positive philosophy and introduced to the myriad ways in which I could get involved in our cause. Empowered and excited as I was about our movement, I immersed myself in Federation activity the moment I returned home from this program, and my enthusiasm has never waivered. I currently serve the Federation in many capacities, most importantly as Vice President of the Maryland Association of Blind Students. Through my involvement in MDABS leadership since 2012, I have been able to participate actively in the planning of two student seminars, a variety of fundraisers, and other projects which have built and strengthened our division. Since I joined the Board of our division, we have established and maintained a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, worked to engage our membership in all aspects of our work, and grown our organization from a virtually unknown division with do-nothing leadership to a vibrant participant in the work of the National Federation of the Blind and our Maryland affiliate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Moreover, we have expanded our membership to include many passionate and energetic middle and high school students, many of whom I was instrumental in recruiting into our movement. This recruitment of the younger generation is a passion of mine which I will bring to my work in NABS. All the while I have remained personally engaged with our members, always ready to answer questions and be of support as I am able. I believe that the best way to lead is through maintaining a productive dialogue with the membership, listening to their ideas and collaborating with them to achieve the best end result. I have tried to live up to this philosophy in my work with the Maryland student division, and will do so at the national level if I am elected.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am running for NABS Board because I believe in our cause, and I am ready to do my part to further us in our journey toward first-class citizenship. The National Federation of the Blind has changed my life, and I am ready to give back that which has been so generously given me. Moreover, I am running because I believe that if NABS is to truly represent all blind students, high school students too should be represented in our leadership. Too often I have met blind high school students who have not yet been touched by our message of hope. They believe that their futures are limited and that blindness is the characteristic that defines them. We must reach out to these students, showing them by our example that blindness need not hold them back. As a member of this generation of students, I feel that I would be the best leader to facilitate this outreach. Finally, I am running because I have found NABS to be lacking in our social media engagement. Through my experience as social media coordinator for the NFB of Maryland as well as a member of our national Public Relations Committee, I plan to work toward fixing this lapse in our leadership.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, I am running for a position of national leadership. However, I do not plan to use that title to distance myself from the membership. I want to hear from all of you—your ideas, your suggestions, even your complaints. It is only through constructive dialogue that an organization such as ours can thrive. In that spirit, I would welcome your questions about my candidacy, concerns about NABS, and suggestions of what you would like to see NABS do in the future. In summary, the position of NABS board member is not a meaningless title to be taken lightly; rather, it is a sacred trust which must be honored and kept. I hope that you will trust me enough to elect me as your next Board member. Let us continue to transform dreams into reality together!<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 Nusbaum, Vice President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greater Carroll County Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vice President, Maryland Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Coordinator of Social Media, 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 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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>