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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is hard for me to believe that we’re already almost half way through February of 2023. Although there has been a pretty steady flow of information here, it has been a long time since there has been one of these update messages. We have been keeping very busy as have many of you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Day at the Capitol<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>On January 18, some thirty or forty of us visited over fifty members of the state legislature to present our position on extending protections for blind parents, improving our access to voting, and making our need for transportation visible. In addition, we distributed in person our fact sheet that outlines our positions to the remaining 150 members of the legislature. In other words, we contacted in one way or another all 201 members of our state legislature. In addition, we have had several virtual meetings with legislators via whom we could not meet on January 18. I want to thank the many students and staff of BLIND Incorporated who joined us. We have a lot of work to do yet, though, so please watch for additional emails.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>State Services for the Blind Budget Increase Request in Governor’s Budget<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Although it was not one of our three issues, we are watching other issues as well. Minnesota State Services for the Blind has requested a budget increase to ensure that Minnesota can receive all of the matching federal funds for which we qualify, to increase the ability to serve seniors who lose their vision, and to make much needed improvements in the Communication Center. Their request is included in the Governor’s budget and was prominently mentioned last month. Clearly, we support this requested increase and we will make our position known as this request progresses through the legislative process.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Washington Seminar<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Twenty-two of us went to Washington DC on January 30 through February 2 to bring our three national issues to Minnesota’s Congressional delegation. We were scheduled to meet with representatives of all ten of the Minnesota congressional offices, but one meeting had to postponed because the staff person with whom we were scheduled to meet tested positive for COVID 19. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We were fortunate to meet in person with the new representative of the first district, Brad Finstad. Our issues this year were passage of legislation to guarantee access to websites and software applications, making future medical devices accessible, and a gradual removal of SSDI benefits when one earns more than the substantial gainful activity limit. We are asking that benefits are reduced by one dollar for each two dollars earned beyond the SGA limit which is similar to how the SSI program has worked for decades. As many of you know, if you currently earn even one dollar over the SGA limit of $2,460 in a month, you lose all of your SSDI benefits. Our issues were well received, but much work remains there as well. Again, we appreciate the help we received from the students and staff of our training center, BLIND Incorporated. We were also honored to have the two Minnesota teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired who spoke at our state convention with us as well. They are participating in our national Teachers of Tomorrow program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Scholarship Application Time is Open<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>We are right in the middle of the application period for our two $2,000 Joyce and Tom Scanlan state scholarships and our national program with thirty scholarships. The deadline for national scholarship applications is March 31, and you can get more information at <a href="https://www.nfb.org/scholarships">https://www.nfb.org/scholarships</a>. Our state scholarship deadline is April 15, and more information is available on our website at <a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/scholarship-program">http://www.nfbmn.org/scholarship-program</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>National Convention in Houston<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>It isn’t too early to think about attending our national convention in Houston Texas from July 1 through July 6. Get more information at <a href="http://www.nfb.org/convention">http://www.nfb.org/convention</a>. We will be making available some assistance to Minnesotans, particularly to those attending for the first time. More details will be coming soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Minnesota BELL Program Next August<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Remember that we are planning to have a BELL program here in Minnesota next summer in cooperation with BLIND Incorporated. BELL stands for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning and it incorporates braille along with other interesting activities to help make learning fun for our blind kids. Our Minnesota BELL Academy will begin on August 7, but some scheduling aspects are being finalized. However, please be on the look-out for children who could benefit and give us the names of the parents of kids who would be interested. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have questions about our BELL program, please contact Briley O’Connor at <a href="mailto:brileyoc@gmail.com">brileyoc@gmail.com</a> or contact me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Dates to Keep in Mind<o:p></o:p></h2><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>February 18 10:00 AM – Metro Chapter Meeting (watch for emails with more details)<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>February 19 7:00 PM – At Large Chapter Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>February 28 7:00 PM – Rochester Chapter Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>March 4, 10:00 AM – NFB of Minnesota Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>March 9, 7:00 PM – River Bend Chapter Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>March 31 – National Scholarship Application Deadline<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>April 15 – State Joyce and Tom Scanlan Scholarship Application Deadline<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>July 1-6 – National Convention in Houston<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>August 7 – Our Minnesota BELL Academy<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Jacobson, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/">www.nfbmn.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(612) 872-9363<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: he, him, his<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Live the life you Want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>