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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please find below information from President Riccobono for your consideration. I’ve also added a b it of information about the PAC program processing changes since I’ve gotten so many questions about it lately.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Update on Recurring Monthly PAC Donations:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>We appreciate all of our donors and especially our recurring monthly donors for your patience and understanding as we navigate an unexpected interruption in our donation process. In late October we learned the link between our financial system and the processor was going to be severed, making us scramble to find and implement a replacement system. The new system went live between December 19 and 22 when we started processing all missed donations as of November 7. If you are a PAC donor whose donation is processed after the seventh of the month, you will see two back-to-back NFB donations on your December bank or credit card statement. Now that our new system is in place, all donations will go back to their regular monthly cadence. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Our new system securely houses donors' payment methods within Stripe, a credit card and ACH processor. The new process automates some tasks and sends donors a receipt when a transaction successfully processes; this system also requires donors to manage their own bank details. Previously, NFB staff would enter bank information into our system; our new system does not allow us to complete this task. When a PAC, SUN, or Museum campaign donor wants to enroll a new pledge using a bank account or change their bank details, our accounting department will send a secure link to the donor who will enter their bank details and immediately verify the bank account. If a donor wants to switch from a bank account to a credit card or update a credit card, our accounting staff can update those details in the system. We apologize for any confusion or concern this process caused. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Bridgid Burke at </span><a href="mailto:donation@nfb.org"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>donation@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Convention Information Accidentally Omitted from Print <i>Braille Monitor</i>: </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some editions of the January 2026 issue of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> did not include the complete and correct hotel reservation information in the “Convention Bulletin 2026” article. We apologize for the error and any inconvenience it has caused. The relevant information is as follows:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Our 2026 National Convention hotel rate is $139 per night for singles and doubles. Triples and quads are available for $155 per night. Sales tax and a tourism fee total a combined 19 percent.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Beginning on January 1, you may call 800-627-7468 to book a room at either hotel. Specify our room block code, BL1, to ensure you receive our convention room rate. For each room you book, the hotel requires a deposit of the first night’s room rate, taxes, and fees, payable by credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Sunday, June 1, 2026, half of the deposit will be returned. Refunds will not be issued after that date.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The complete and correct article is located at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2601/bm260102.htm"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2601/bm260102.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind is now accepting nominations and recommendations for the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards. This award recognizes individuals and organizations that develop initiatives, programs, or innovations to advance the lives of blind people. The application, eligibility criteria, and award details are available at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>nfb.org/Bolotin</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>First-Timer Convention Scholarship:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship provides funding support for active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have never attended an in-person NFB National Convention. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Interested members may </span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>apply for the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> and can review eligibility requirements </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2601/bm260111.htm"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>in the latest<i> Braille Monitor</i> article</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. The application deadline is April 15, 2026. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>After a form is submitted, the applicant’s affiliate president will receive a copy for their records. Applicants are responsible for contacting their president to request a letter of recommendation. Affiliate presidents must email their recommendation to </span><a href="mailto:kjscholarships@nfb.org"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue'>kjscholarships@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> by April 15, 2026. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529):</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Since the beginning of December, we have done a fantastic job of creating cosponsor support for the Access Technology Affordability Act in the House of Representatives. We have gained eight new cosponsors in that span of time. Those representatives are James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Derrick Van Orden (WI-3), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10). This is a well-timed surge of support heading into the Washington Seminar. Thank you for all your hard work, and please keep up the advocacy!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><a name="_Hlk183426075"><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dates to Keep in Mind:</span></b><o:p></o:p></a></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk183426075'></span><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>