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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="3014 Delaware Avenue Suite 2
Kenmore, New York 14217
president@nfbny.org
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president@nfbny.org
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=250 height=106 style='width:2.6in;height:1.1in' src="cid:image007.jpg@01D3A66C.0F27ED30" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><!--[if gte vml 1]></o:wrapblock><![endif]--><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'>February 2018<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoHeader><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Greetings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>As promised, here is the February New York State President’s message. Look for these announcements about the second week of each month as I feel it is VERY important to keep everyone in the New York State Affiliate up to date with what’s happening in your affiliate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Since November, I’ve been working hard to establish administrative procedures and strengthen our chapters, divisions, and groups. I value the input of the membership and encourage you to share your thoughts with me. You can email me at <a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org"><span style='color:black'>president@nfbny.org</span></a> or call me at 716-222-36323. This is YOUR organization and I encourage you to make your voice heard. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>We recently returned from the Washington Seminar. Approximately 600 loyal Federationists came together to educate our Representatives on issues of importance to the blind of the nation. We discussed the Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (Aim High) Act, The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA), The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. Also we voiced our Opposition to the “ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017” (H.R. 620) Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, On February 15, 2018 HR 620 passed with a vote of 225 to 192. There is no senate bill and I hope there never is. We’ll take whatever action is necessary to secure our rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Our New York State Albany Seminar is fast approaching. This will be held on Sunday March 4<sup>th</sup> to Tuesday March 6<sup>th</sup>, 2018. We will be staying at the Radisson Hotel, Albany located at 205 Wolf Road. The first event is a banquet-style dinner meeting starting at 6:00 pm. The cost of the dinner will be $30/each night and the menu choices and issues will be announced shortly. If you are interested, please let me know as soon as possible so we can start planning. If you have ever considered helping with educating our Assembly people and state Senators, this would be your opportunity. The Albany Seminar is a great experience and a key part of what your NFB does. Please let me (Mike <a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org"><span style='color:black'>president@nfbny.org</span></a>) or the affiliate office (<a href="mailto:office@nfbny.org"><span style='color:black'>office@nfbny.org</span></a>) know if you are planning to attend and also what your meal choices are. Funding requests are due by February 16<sup>th</sup> and the form can be found at <a href="http://nfbny.org/funding-request"><span style='color:black'>http://nfbny.org/funding-request</span></a>.</span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>The NFB National Scholarship Committee is accepting applications for scholarships. Visit <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships"><span style='color:black'>https://nfb.org/scholarships</span></a> and also share this link with anyone who may be interested in applying for these scholarships. Help publicize this program so we can reach all blind graduating high school seniors, and college and graduate students. We give away 30 scholarships at our National convention so help spread the word.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>At the Washington Seminar we announced an exclusive partnership between Aira and the NFB to make all NFB affiliate convention hotels free Aira site access locations. More information will be provided closer to our convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Convention will be held July 3 through July 8, 2018 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. Reservations can be made directly with the hotel at <a href="tel:(866)%20996-6338"><span style='color:black'>(866) 996-6338</span></a>. The hotel will want a deposit of $100 for each room and will want a credit card number or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $100 check. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, 2018, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. Registration with the NFB National will be available after March 1 through the National website, <a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='color:black'>www.nfb.org</span></a>. Deadline for funding requests is June 9<sup>th</sup>, 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;margin-bottom:5.75pt'><tr style='height:213.75pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#FEFFFF;padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt;height:213.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.25pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><img border=0 width=270 height=130 style='width:2.8166in;height:1.35in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image006.png@01D3A66B.945CD660" alt="action item logo"></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:155%;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.25pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;line-height:155%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal'>ACTION ITEMS</span></strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;line-height:155%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><br><span style='background:#FEFFFF'>Tell others about our youth programs by sharing our </span><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10364&qid=2137921"><span style='color:black'>BELL Academy</span></a><span style='background:#FEFFFF'><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10364&qid=2137921"><span style='color:black'> page</span></a> and our </span><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10365&qid=2137921"><span style='color:black'>NFB EQ page</span></a><span style='background:#FEFFFF'>. Encourage students to apply for our 2018 </span><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10366&qid=2137921"><span style='color:black'>NFB Summer Internships</span></a><span style='background:#FEFFFF'> and our </span><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10367&qid=2137921"><span style='color:black'>NFB Scholarships</span></a><span style='background:#FEFFFF'>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Congratulations to Candice and Kyle Attrill on the birth of Tristan Wayne Attrill, Tristan entered the world on February 15 and weighted a whopping 10 pounds 14 ounces. Congratulations to the Attrill family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>I plan to send this to all members through the NEW-YORK-NEWS email list (<a href="http://www.nfbnet.org"><span style='color:black'>www.nfbnet.org</span></a> ) as well as our Facebook page <a href="https://m.facebook.com/National-Federation-of-the-Blind-of-New-York-State-157660447598953/"><span style='color:black'>https://m.facebook.com/National-Federation-of-the-Blind-of-New-York-State-157660447598953/</span></a> on a monthly basis. It is important for everyone to know what is going on with OUR affiliate so please encourage those you know to follow us through one of those means.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Let’s keep working together to make the Federation of the Blind a leader in the Blindness field.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Mike Robinson, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of New York State <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Upcoming Dates:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Sunday, February 8. 7:00 pm, Blind Parent’s Conference Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'> Contact: <a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org">president@nfbny.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Tuesday February 20, 9:00 pm, Chapter At Large Conference Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'> Contact: Mary Lou Mendez, President. <a href="mailto:successwithoutseeing@gmail.com">successwithoutseeing@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Sunday March 4 – Tuesday March 6, Albany Seminar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'> Contact: <a href="mailto:office@nfbny.org">office@nfbny.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'>Sunday, March 18. 7:00 pm, Blind Parent’s Conference Cal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'> Contact: <a href="mailto:president@nfbny.org">president@nfbny.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Saturday, March 24, <span lang=EN>5th Annual Tom Needham and Rick Welch Ice Hockey Fundraiser - In Loving Memory of Arnold S. Meyers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black'> Contact: Tommy Needham, organizer. <a href="mailto:returnofsugaz@gmail.com">returnofsugaz@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoHeader><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Michael Robinson, President, NFBNY | www.nfbny.org | (716) 222-3632 | (716) 222-3NFB" href="http://www.nfbny.org/" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:441.35pt;height:20.2pt;z-index:251661312;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:center;mso-position-horizontal-relative:page;mso-position-vertical:bottom;mso-position-vertical-relative:page;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.nfbny.org/"><img border=0 width=589 height=27 style='width:6.1333in;height:.2833in' src="cid:image009.png@01D3A66C.0F27ED30" alt="Michael Robinson, President, NFBNY | www.nfbny.org | (716) 222-3632 | (716) 222-3NFB" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></a><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>