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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'>NFB of North Dakota Newswire<o:p></o:p></h1><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'>Vol. 1, Issue 3<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Next meeting of the NFB of North Dakota<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>We will be holding our next meeting on Saturday, May 6 2017 from 11:30 at the Raddison Hotel at 201 5<sup>th</sup> Street, North, Fargo, North Dakota. We have a private room reserved on the second floor next to the Zest Restaurant. This is a luncheon meeting and meals can be ordered off the menu.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>For those who cannot make it to the meeting, you can join us by phone via Free conference by dialing-in to (712) 832-8300 and entering the room code 9381122#. The phone line will be opened at 12:45 for those calling in and we expect the meeting to last until around 2:30 PM.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Guest are all invited to either attend the luncheon or joining us by phone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>So, plan on joining us either at the Raddison or by phone to find out what is going on with the National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Schwan Food Care Fundraiser<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The first 45-days where we earned the most on purchases ended on April 15. For the next 90-days, we will earn 5% of items purchased from Schwan and 10 % on gift cards purchased.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are two ways you can place your order—<o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Call (855) 870-7208 and provide the campaign ID 31609<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>By the web at <a href="https://www.schwans-cares.com/c/31609">https://www.schwans-cares.com/c/31609</a> <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The date for the end of this 90-day campaign will end on Friday, July 14. So, help spread the word and help us reach our goal of $1,500.00!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'>Uber Monitoring<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Last year Uber was sued by a few Federationist in California who use guide dogs because they were denied rides by Uber drivers. As a result of the suit, the National Federation of the Blind has entered into an agreement to monitor drivers and riders to see that they are not discriminated against or denied rides because of a guide dog and its handler.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have asked Sherry to Coordinate this reporting effort to our National Office and I will have a link on the website once this monitoring program is launched. The date for the launch is May 8, 2017 and it will run for 2-years with a possibility of an extention of a third year. The monitoring is not limited to only NFB members but anyone who uses a guide dog and wants to help in this project. More details will be forth coming in a later issue of the Newswire.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund was established at our 1998 convention in Dallas, Texas. The support from members and friends has been both generous and enthusiastic. The committee is again sponsoring a limited edition raffle to raise money for the Kenneth Jernigan Fund. The ticket cost is ten dollars. This drawing will yield at least $10,000 net for the Kenneth Jernigan Fund.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>You might ask, "What's in it for me?" Here is what's in it for you. If you are the winner of this drawing, you will receive round-trip air transportation for two to and from Orlando, Florida, for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention in July 2018. You will also receive lodging at that year's convention hotel for seven days during the convention. You will receive registration and banquet tickets for two. In addition, you will receive a cash prize of $1,000. On the other hand, if you don't win but you sell the winning ticket, your chapter will receive $500.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>You do not have to be present to win.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:14.25pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>Please have checks made payable to the National Federation of the Blind and note KJ Fund on the memo line.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;mso-line-height-alt:9.0pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background:black;mso-highlight:black'>Legislative Update</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act, also known as “AIMHIGH”, </span>H.R. 1772<o:p></o:p></h2><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2 style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN) and<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives earlier today. H.R. 1772 will promote instructional technology and content that are accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities. <br><br><o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>he Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017 (ATAA) H.R. 1734 and S. 732<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>These companion bills were introduced by Representatives David Young (R-IA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House and by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) in the Senate on March 28, 2017. Please remind your Senators and Representative that this legislation will establish a per-person individual refundable tax credit to be used over a multi-year period to offset the cost of access technology for blind people. <o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment (TIME) Act of 2017 (H.R. </span>1377)<o:p></o:p></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The TIME Act is still a priority of the National Federation of the Blind. It just wasn't front and center at the 2017 Washington Seminar. The bill was introduced by Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS) on March 8, 2017, to remove barriers to employment opportunities for people with disabilities by phasing out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act and facilitating the transitioning of people with disabilities now working in segregated employment settings into competitive employment opportunities in their communities. There is low hanging fruit we can secure from cosponsors of previous iterations of the TIME Act. Please see if your Senators and Representative will cosponsor this bill in the 115th Congress, especially members of the House of Representatives who have done so before.<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'>Call to Action<o:p></o:p></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Please call both of your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 732, the Access Technology Affordability Act. Also, Please call your Congressman or Congresswoman and ask him or her to cosponsor the AIM HIGH Act (H.R. 1772), the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1734), and the TIME Act (H.R. 1377).<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This is an excellent opportunity to circle back with your Senators and Representative to provide them with updates on legislation, which will help blind Americans live the lives we want. The number to the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121. From there, the operator can transfer you to your desired contact.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:white;background:black;mso-highlight:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Marakesh Treaty<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h6>As of this writing there have been 27 countries that have ratified the treaty. This was found on the World Blind Union Twitter feed about a week ago. The National Federation of the Blind expects things to be moving in the next couple of months, so stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></h6><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst align=center style='text-align:center'>* *<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>I hope these Newswire messages are helpful to you so that you can keep up with the activities both locally and nationally. Please feel free to share the Newswire with your friends and family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>Articles that you think would be of interest can be sent to me via e-mail to: <a href="mailto:mota1252@gmail.com">mota1252@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>If you have suggestions please also let me know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast>ENJOY!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Milton Ota, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Web: http://nfbnd.org/<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>909 8th St., S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fargo, ND 58103-2723<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: (701) 731-0511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>E-mail: mota1252@gmail.com<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></div></body></html>