<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Hello Federation Family,</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">This is a reminder that we will hold our first 2026 State Convention Planning and Task Update Meeting tomorrow, Friday, September 4, at 6:00 PM Central Time.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">This is separate from our regular monthly affiliate meeting, which will continue to be held on the third Friday of each month. Our first-Friday meetings are specifically for checking our progress and completing the tasks needed for our November 13\u201314 State Convention.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Our goal tomorrow is simple: find out what has been completed, what is still in progress, where someone may need help, and what needs to happen next.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">As a reminder, several assignments were made at our August 21 meeting:</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Marci Carpenter is working with Staybridge Suites Grand Forks to finalize the convention venue, including the meeting space, hotel rooms and rates, room setup, and other hotel needs.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Menuka is reaching out to neighboring NFB state affiliates, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children regarding convention participation.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Charlene is reaching out to the Lions Club regarding possible convention participation and assistance.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Tony is checking on possible door-prize donations, contacting Acubed Design regarding a possible convention presentation, checking with Perkins regarding Braille production for convention materials, and helping with convention information for the affiliate website.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">If you accepted one of these assignments, please bring whatever update you have tomorrow. If you have not been able to complete your task, that is okay\u2014please come prepared to tell us where things stand and whether you need help so we can keep things moving.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">We also have some important new developments to discuss.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Our Double Good popcorn fundraiser has been created. Members have received information for creating their individual Pop-Up Stores as well as information for advertising and promoting the fundraiser. We will check tomorrow to make sure everyone who wants to participate is prepared before the fundraiser begins October 1.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Tomorrow we will also review registration, publicity, volunteers, and any other convention tasks that need to be completed.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">2026 NFB of North Dakota State Convention</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">November 13\u201314, 2026</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Grand Forks, North Dakota</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Theme: Building the Next Generation of Leaders</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Convention Planning and Task Update Meeting</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Friday, September 4, 2026</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">6:00 PM Central Time</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Join the Zoom meeting with one click:</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/92677764612">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/92677764612</a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Please come prepared with your updates, questions, and anything you need help completing.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Our next regular monthly affiliate meeting will remain Friday, September 18 at 6:00 PM Central.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Thank you to everyone who has taken responsibility for a piece of this convention. These task meetings are meant to make sure none of us has to carry the entire convention alone and that we know exactly where we stand as November gets closer.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In Federation,</p><div><br></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angelita Martinez</span></p></div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">Angelita Martinez </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">President </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Phone: (701) 446-8097 </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Email: president@nfbnd.org </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</p></div></body></html>