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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Everyone;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to introduce myself and the NEW executive committee of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State and let you know what we are working on.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I’m Mike Robinson, President-elect of the affiliate. I have been an active NFB member for 29 years and have served as President of the Buffalo, New York Chapter for the past 18 years. I have served in just about every office in the chapter as well as spending 10 years as second-vice-president of the affiliate. I make my home in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda where Angie and I have raised 2 sons and are loving grandparents to our 19 month Nova.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State on November 19th, 2017 at our state convention after Carl Jacobsen decided not to run for re-election. Myself, and our new Executive Board look to the future with excitement and encouragement. Carl has pledged his advice to make my transition as smooth as possible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The other officers who were elected are:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Vice-President, Chancey Fleet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 2nd Vice-President, Cayte Mendez<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Secretary, Lucy Marr<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Treasurer, Kate Carroll<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Right now, the Executive Committee is working hard to understand the operation of the affiliate so we have a strong foundation on which to build our state. I have traveled to Brooklyn, to our state office, to learn all I can about our operation and, along with Kate, our Treasurer, will be going to our National center in Baltimore to meet with Mr. Riccobono, financial and Newsline people and others to gain a better understanding of our operations. Once we have a stronger understanding of our state positions, then we will expand into programs, membership, chapter building, and other endeavors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington Seminar is coming up January 29 through February 1, 2017 at the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20024. The rate is $192.00 per night. This rate does not include DC sales tax, currently 14.8%.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may begin booking reservations directly on line by using this link to the Holiday Inn Capitol website <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://ichotelsgroup.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI®ionCode=1&localeCode=en&GPC=FB8&hotelCode=WASSM&_PMID=99801505">http://ichotelsgroup.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI®ionCode=1&localeCode=en&GPC=FB8&hotelCode=WASSM&_PMID=99801505</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that will include our booking code. You may also make reservations by calling 1 877-572-6951 and referencing booking code FB8.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Credit card information is needed at time of reservation. Individual cancellation policy is seventy-two hours prior to date of arrival to avoid one night's room plus tax cancellation charge on credit card provided. If your departure date changes, you must inform the hotel seventy-two hours in advance of departure to avoid a $100 fee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The affiliate will help as much as we can but you need to contact me as soon as possible. Also please let me know if you will be attending so we can arrange teams. The affiliate is handling making appointments. The deadline for room reservations is January 2nd.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are working on securing a location for the Albany Seminar. We have decided not to use the hotel which hosted convention and are seeking alternative accommodations. We are also aiming for the last Sunday in February, but this will depend on room availability. Please look for further emails with information about the Albany Seminar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had a recent scare with regards to the Federal Tax Bill, H.R. 1 (115), the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, (TCJZ). We feared the proposed legislation would eliminate funding for Vocational Rehabilitation programs, Medicare and Medicaid and, as a result, endanger the jobs of hundreds of New Yorker’s. This turned out to not be the case as a waiver for the PAYGO program was included in the final senate legislation. Below is a statement regarding the same:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Republican leaders are seeking to downplay the possibility that the GOP tax bill would trigger massive spending cuts under an obscure Senate rule known as PAYGO.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan released a joint statement this afternoon assuring that Congress wouldn't actually allow the across-the-board cuts to take place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"This will not happen," McConnell and Ryan wrote, arguing that lawmakers have "readily available methods to waive this law, which has never been enforced since its enactment."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If the tax bill, H.R. 1 (115), is signed into law, both chambers would need to agree to waive the decades-old Pay-As-You-Go rule to prevent the triggering of $150 billion per year in cuts to a slew of federal programs, including Medicare and student loans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>GOP leaders have long been confident that they can strike a quick deal with Democrats to waive the federally mandated slashing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"There is no reason to believe that Congress would not act again to prevent a sequester, and we will work to ensure these spending cuts are prevented," McConnell and Ryan wrote today.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But at least eight Democrats would need to support that vote in the Senate. And minority party lawmakers aren't making any promises they'll agree to bail out Republicans amid the frantic push to clear the tax bill. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A PAYGO waiver is likely to be included in a government funding bill this month, according to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who said she received a personal assurance from McConnell this week that the cuts would be stifled. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, V.R. services are safe, for now, with respect to the federal tax cut. We’ll keep you up to date with future developments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need to increase our NEWSLINE subscriber base, so I propose a contest. Whoever submits the most new applications for the service by February 16th will receive a $150 Visa gift card. The office must receive them by February 16th and you should write your name on the back of each application you send in. Feel free to contact me and I'll mail or email the application to you. So get out there and let's share the amazing NEWSLINE service with as many people as we can.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I look forward to leading our state affiliate into a promising and exciting future and encourage all of you to let me know your thoughts. I can be reached by email at president@nfbny.org, By telephone at 716-222-3632 (716-222-3NFB) or by snail mail at 3014 Delaware Ave Suite 2, Kenmore, New York 14217.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s get busy building the federation and making it possible for ALL of us to Live the Lives we want.<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mike Robinson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of New York State<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org">president@nfbny.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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>