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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Nfbnet-master-list [mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>President, National Federation of the Blind via Nfbnet-master-list<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 24, 2016 1:15 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbnet-master-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-master-list] Washington Seminar Changes<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <br> <br><b>From:</b> President, National Federation of the Blind <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 24, 2016 1:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership (<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>)<br><b>Subject:</b> National Federation of the Blind Washington Seminar 2016 Update<br><b>Importance:</b> High<br> <br> <br>Fellow Federationists,<br> <br>The snow has stopped and a beautiful blue sky and bright sun now illuminates the two and a half feet of snow we have received in the Baltimore/Washington area. The shining sun is a great symbol of the hope and determination I continue to hear from Federationists who have traveled or are working to travel to Washington D.C. There is good reason to be hopeful as all indications are that Congress will be in session and that our 2016 Washington Seminar will happen this week. Information is changing regularly and we will do our best to keep everyone updated. For example, just moments ago we received reliable information that the House of Representatives has cancelled votes for this week but that Congressional staff will still be on the Hill for meetings. With all of the complexity of the situation, here is a breakdown of our revised plans.<br> <br>Monday, January 25:<br>The tours of the NFB Jernigan Institute that were scheduled to leave from the Holiday Inn at 8:00 a.m. have been cancelled. The seminars and meetings that were scheduled to take place at the Holiday Inn Capitol on Monday have all been cancelled with a few exceptions. The Legislative Seminar scheduled for 2:00 p.m. has been rescheduled to 5:00 p.m. in the Capitol Ballroom. That seminar is expected to run until 6:30 p.m. The Great Gathering In has been rescheduled to Tuesday morning and will be shortened to accommodate legislative appointments that are already scheduled. The meeting of the NFB National Association of Blind Students has been moved to 7:30 p.m. in the Capitol Ballroom. Students who wish to have more information about activities of the student division and changes should contact President Sean Whalen at <a href="mailto:nabs.president@gmail.com">nabs.president@gmail.com</a> or (262) 309-1034. Room 353, our Washington Seminar nerve center sometimes referred to as Mercury will be open for business beginning at 1:00 p.m. I encourage you to check in at 353 for updates and to give new information about your Hill appointments. You can call room 353 by dialing (410) 216-3314.<br> <br>Tuesday, January 26:<br>The Great Gathering In will take place at 8:30 a.m. in the Capitol Ballroom at the Holiday Inn. This year's Gathering In will be a launch for hill appointments as we know that many individuals have Tuesday meetings on the hill in the late morning and into the afternoon. I expect the energy at the Gathering In to be as high as ever even despite the historic “Blizzard of 2016.” On Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m. we have a Congressional Reception planned to take place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (Constitution Avenue and 1st Street NE) in Room G50. This will be a nice way to welcome members of Congress and staff back to the Hill and get our issues in front of them in a dynamic way. Everyone should plan to participate in the reception and invite members of Congress to the event. Our student division promises a sweet ending to a long day with the NABS Café at 8 PM through midnight on Tuesday. This fundraiser for our student division should not be missed simply because two feet of snow is on the ground. The students say, “Buy a wristband from any member of the NABS Board for $5 prior to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, or pay $7 at the door. Either way, the cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and other tasty treats will satisfy your sweet tooth…” Music and auction items are promised for the NABS Café as well.<br> <br>After Tuesday, January 26:<br>We expect our Washington Seminar operation to continue as planned through the rest of the week. Room 353 will continue to be open and our staff will continue to work with members to manage key Hill visits. As needed, we may ask members to drop packets off at offices that will be missed this year because local constituents could not get into DC. As long as NFB members have appointments on the Hill and until all offices have received a packet, our team will be in Washington to get the job done.<br> <br>Other notes:<br>Diane McGeorge is at the Holiday Inn and can help you with problems you might encounter at the hotel. Again, the number for room 353 is (410) 216-3314. I spoke with Diane this morning and she assured me that there are a number of rooms still available at the end of the week and that hotel stays could be extended at the #NFBWS16 rate. If your arrival or departure dates at the hotel have changed, I encourage you to call the hotel to adjust your reservation. Even if you are just cancelling one night, please make it easy on the hotel by calling them to cancel the evening you will miss. Please continue to keep Parnell Diggs (<a href="mailto:pdiggs@nfb.org">pdiggs@nfb.org</a> or (843) 267-2018) in the loop regarding changes in your plans for Washington. It is important that we have a good list of who is going to be on the Hill so we can adjust our plans appropriately. Please continue to follow the hashtag #NFBWS16 in social media in order to keep up on seminar happenings and the work of other Federation members. We will continue to share information about changes in Washington and adjustments to our plans as quickly as possible.<br> <br>Thank you for your commitment to the work of the National Federation of the Blind. The hope and determination that Federationists across the country have demonstrated during the past week is a significant part of what makes our organization unique and effective. For those who simply have not been able to get to Washington because of the lack of seats on rescheduled flights, thank you for the effort you have put in to Washington Seminar 2016. While there is nothing quite as effective as being on the ground and in a Congressional office, please remember that there is a lot you can do to let your members of Congress know that our issues are important to you as one of their constituents. Finally, I know that the rescheduling of appointments and the uncertainty over the past couple of days has been frustrating for all of us. The effort is definitely worth it. I would encourage you to continue to be flexible and reschedule appointments to Wednesday and Thursday if you have members on the ground in Washington. Remember, together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<br> <br>Sincerely,<br> <br> <br>Mark A. Riccobono<br>President<br>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<br> <br> <br> <br> <br>Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<br>Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>Phone: (410) 659-9314<br>Fax: (410) 659-5129<br>Email: <a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br>Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice<br>Web: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a><br> <br>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.<br> <br>We are celebrating our 75<sup>th</sup> year and planning for the future we will build together! <br><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1">Make your contribution</a> to that future now.<br> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>