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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>This is a follow-up to my previous post—it is urgent we contact Senator Heitkamp but I would also consider contacting Senator Hoeven as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You should also read the attachment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for all your help.<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><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><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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With Love, Hope and Determination, We Turn Dreams Into Reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Together We Change What It Means to Be Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Hedtler-Gaudette, Dylan <DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 7, 2018 8:59 AM<br><b>To:</b> State President, North Dakota <mota1252@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> RE: Advocacy with Senator Heitkamp<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hi Milton:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks so much for this!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I hate to be a pest but the folks circulating this letter are hoping to get Senators to sign on by the end of the week, with tomorrow being the preferred deadline. I know that this is very short notice and I apologize for that but if there is any way that you can reach out today and tomorrow, that would be fantastic. If I recall correctly, you have something of a personal connection with Senator Heitkamp. Maybe that could be an entry point for you. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks again Milton! Whatever you can do would be much appreciated.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Best,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>~Dylan </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Milton Ota [mailto:mota1252@gmail.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 7, 2018 9:53 AM<br><b>To:</b> Hedtler-Gaudette, Dylan <DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org><br><b>Subject:</b> RE: Advocacy with Senator Heitkamp<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I will do my best—and I’ll forward this message to our listserv. We will be having a meeting this Saturday and I can then mention it again to see what kind of response I get.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks.<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: <a href="http://nfbnd.org/">http://nfbnd.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <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> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: (701) 731-0511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>E-mail: <a href="mailto:mota1252@gmail.com">mota1252@gmail.com</a><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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With Love, Hope and Determination, We Turn Dreams Into Reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Together We Change What It Means to Be Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Hedtler-Gaudette, Dylan <<a href="mailto:DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org">DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 7, 2018 8:36 AM<br><b>To:</b> State President, North Dakota <<a href="mailto:mota1252@gmail.com">mota1252@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Advocacy with Senator Heitkamp<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Milton:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this message finds you well. You may or may not remember me but my name is Dylan and I joined you for one of your Washington Seminar meetings with a staffer from the office of one of your Congressman.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am reaching out to you today to see if you and your colleagues in the North Dakota affiliate would be willing and able to engage in some advocacy and outreach with Senator Heitkamp regarding H.R. 620. Specifically, we are hoping to get the Senator to sign on to a letter of opposition that is currently being circulated by Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois). The letter basically states that all Senators who signed on to it are publicly stating that they oppose any bill like H.R. 620 and will not support it if it makes it to the Senate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are several Senators, including Senator Heitkamp, who are seen as soft on this issue. Part of that is about being close to the business community and part of that is about being in tough reelection campaigns in difficult states this year. If we can get Senator Heitkamp to sign on to this letter and publicly state her opposition to any bill like H.R. 620, that will really help our efforts to stop the momentum around the bill and hopefully prevent it from making it to the Senate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The letter is attached to this email. We are suggesting that you and your colleagues in North Dakota flood the Senator’s offices with calls and emails asking her to sign the letter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As always Milton, thanks for all that you do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>~Dylan <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Government Affairs Specialist<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314, extension 2210 | <a href="mailto:DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org">DHedtler-Gaudette@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1875in;height:.7916in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D3B5FA.A09706A0" alt="Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D3B5FA.A09706A0" alt="Image removed by sender. Facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D3B5FA.A09706A0" alt="Image removed by sender. Twitter"></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D3B5FA.A09706A0" alt="Image removed by sender. Youtube"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they 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>