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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="OLE_LINK9">Dear Members,<o:p></o:p></a></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>As previously announced, our annual Day at the Capitol will take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. This is our kick-off day for the legislative season, when Federationists from all over the state make our presence and our issues known at the Minnesota Legislature. Below is the information you'll need in order to be ready for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Summary<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><b>Date</b>: February 21, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><b>Start Time</b>: 8:15 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><b>Location</b>: Room 500 North in the State Office building, at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in St. Paul. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><b>Schedule</b>: The full group will meet at the beginning, then divide into teams to meet with legislators and distribute fact sheets. There will be a wrap-up at the end of the day in 500 north.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><b>RSVP</b>: </span><a href="mailto:president@nfbmn.org"><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>president@nfbmn.org</span><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>, at your earliest possibility but not later than Thursday, February 15, so that teams can be organized.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Making Appointments<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Instead of each member making their own appointments with legislators, again this year Judy Sanders will make the legislative appointments. You should contact Judy at 612-375-1625 or </span><a href="mailto:jsanders.nfb@comcast.net"><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>jsanders.nfb@comcast.net</span><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> if you want to be sure that we meet with your senator and rep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>If you need to find out who represents you in the state legislature, you can </span><a href="http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/"><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>enter your address here to find out who represents you</span><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'><u>, or you </u>can also call House information at 651-296-2146 and provide your address.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Fact Sheet<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>During the Day at the Capitol, a fact sheet explaining our legislative priorities and giving information about our organization will be distributed to legislators. The text of this fact sheet will be sent to you in a later email.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>RSVP<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>If you are planning to participate in our Day at the Capitol, please let us know by this Thursday that you will be there by emailing </span><a href="mailto:president@nfbmn.org"><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>president@nfbmn.org</span><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>. Knowing in advance who will attend helps us to get organized ahead of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>How The Day Will Work<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Our headquarters for the day will be in room 500 North in the State Office building, located at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in St. Paul. Someone will be in the room all day to watch our belongings, to take reports on the results of meetings, and to perform other coordinating tasks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>The day begins at 8:15 A.M. with discussion of the fact sheet and issues we will present to our legislators, as well as other logistics and questions you may have. (The fact sheet will be sent in a later email). Please arrive promptly so we can get started right at 8:15. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>After we go over our legislative issues and the logistics together, we will divide up into teams. Each team will be given printed fact sheets and a stack of index cards with location information for the offices of the legislators and appointment times. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Teams will go around the state office building and the Capitol to meet with as many legislators as we can. We will also distribute our fact sheet to legislators who are not available to meet with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>At the end of the day, there will be a brief gathering in 500 North to share results and celebrate. The exact time will be determined once we have the schedule worked out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Join Us On February 21!<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>Please make plans to attend our Day at the Capitol—our legislators need to see us in full force and to be informed about the issues important to blind Minnesotans. Even if you cannot be with us for the entire day, your help is needed for whenever you can be there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9'>We look forward to seeing you all on February 21, 2024 at 8:15 AM in room 500 North! If you have any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corbb<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), 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> | (612) 872-936<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>