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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The 63<sup>rd</sup> annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State is fast approaching. Get your reservations in <i>TODAY</i>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join us on October 18 – 20, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Buffalo Airport for this fun and “motivating” event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>You Are Cordially Invited to Attend<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>The 63<sup>nd</sup> Convention of the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Of New York State<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:20.0pt'>“Be Motivated”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind of New York State will hold its sixty-third annual convention in Buffalo, NY, from October 18-20, 2019. Please join us as we strive to build a network of expertise and encouragement among blind New Yorkers and work together to make a positive difference in the lives of blind people across New York State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Who Are We?</span></b><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The NFB of NYS is an organization of blind and visually impaired New Yorkers who believe that, with the appropriate training, attitude, and opportunities, blind people can Live the Lives We Want. NFB of NYS brings blind people together to support and learn from one another and to celebrate our achievements as we work together to improve the lives of the blind of New York. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Our Convention Agenda<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>It is our pleasure to welcome back, as our National Representative, Mr. Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind. We will be privileged to hear him share information about the ongoing work of the Federation nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>The theme of this year’s convention will be <i>“Be Motivated”. </i>Our speakers and panel discussions will highlight ideas and tools that will inspire us to grow, both as individuals and as Federationists. We hope everyone will come away from convention feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and motivated to take the next steps on our personal journeys and to advance the work of the Federation in each of our communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>On Friday, October 18, the day will be filled with break-out sessions and small group meetings. Among these will be the annual seminars of the various divisions of the NFB of NYS. These will include our Seniors Division, our Student Division, Guide Dog Division, Blind Parents Group, and our Parents of Blind Children Division. There will also be seminars on Small Business and ABLE Accounts. These meetings are interactive and open to all convention attendees, so please stop by!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Also, on Friday, we will host a town hall style meeting with Brian Daniels, Associate Commissioner of the New York State Commission for the Blind. Everyone is welcome to attend our board meeting where, among other things, the winners of our 2019 NFB of NYS scholarships will introduce themselves. <span style='color:black'>Convention attendees are encouraged to explore our exhibit hall, where the latest technology will be on display and information pertinent to our community will be shared.</span> In the evening, join us for our hospitality event! Meet and mingle with other Federation members in a relaxed atmosphere of food and fellowship. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>All day Saturday the general sessions of the convention will provide us with the opportunity to hear presentations on topics that are important to blind people across New York and across the nation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>The excitement will continue during Our Saturday evening banquet, with an address by our keynote speaker, Mr. Anil Lewis, auctions, and prize giveaways. The banquet will come to a dramatic close with the presentation of our 2019 NFB of NYS scholarships. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Please see the “special notes” later in this letter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>On Sunday morning we will hold our annual business meeting to chart our course for the coming year. We will also consider the resolutions that the Convention deems vital for our future as we review and update our organization’s policy goals. We will hear Chapter and Division reports from around the state. We will then return home, revitalized and ready to Live the Lives We Want, and to share our experiences and our learning with other blind members of our communities. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Reservations, Room Rates and Registration<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>This year’s convention will be held in Buffalo, at the Holiday Inn, 4600 Genesee Street, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Please make all hotel reservations through the NFB of NYS office, by visiting </span><a href="http://www.nfbny.org/conventions/register"><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>www.nfbny.org/conventions/register</span></a><span style='font-size:15.0pt'> and completing our online registration form, or by filling out the attached registration form and returning it to the affiliate office. Room rates this year are $104 per night, including doubles and quads. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Using the same registration form, you will also be able to purchase your banquet ticket ($30) and pay your $15 convention registration fee. To make eating on the go easy during this fun and event-packed weekend, we also offer the option to purchase boxed lunches both Friday and Saturday, which can be ordered for $12 each when you register. <b>All payments including the hotel room must be made through the NFB of New York</b>. A five percent discount will be given to anyone who registers by October 1, 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Limited financial assistance may be available through NFB of NYS to attend the convention. For information, please contact the President of NFB of NYS, Mike Robinson, (716-222-3632) for more information. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Free childcare will be provided during all our events. Pre-registration for this service is required by October 1.</span></b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>Please call the office at 716-222-3632 with any questions regarding this year’s convention.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>The convention is shaping up to be a tremendous event. Come to Buffalo and share in the excitement. I look forward to seeing everyone there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:15.0pt'> Mike Robinson, President NFB of New York<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Big Caslon"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>SPECIAL NOTES<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The Commission for the Blind Town Hall Meeting will take place from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Friday, October 18th.<span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The Board of Director’s Meeting will be held from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm on Friday October 18th.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Join us on the evening of Friday, October 18<sup>th</sup> at 7:00 pm for our Autumn-Themed Hospitality event! There will be Family Feud between Chapters, A talent showcase, and more. Refreshments will be served! All are welcome.<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Transportation from the Buffalo airport and the Depew Amtrak train station to the hotel is simple this year. The Holiday Inn offers a shuttle to and from both these locations. If you will be traveling to Buffalo by bus, you can still take advantage of the hotel shuttle by purchasing a fare with the Buffalo airport as its destination, and then arranging to take the hotel shuttle from there. The phone number for the hotel to arrange a shuttle is 716-634-6969. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Are you interested in working for yourself? Perhaps you have considered self-employment as a career option, or perhaps you have considered owning your own business. but have faced obstacles to achieving your goal. Or perhaps you have had difficulty finding employment in the traditional workplace and would like to find out if self-employment or business ownership is a viable option for you. Or maybe you are already self-employed or are a business owner. Whatever your interest in self-employment or business ownership, bring your lunch and join us to discuss the types of opportunities available, to share our experiences with self-employment and business ownership, to identify barriers to successful self-employment or business ownership opportunities for the Blind, and to explore the interest in having a group focusing on self-employment opportunities and/or the development of self-employment/business ownership training program.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Do you have an old, Unused or broken cane laying around? We are collecting canes to be rehabbed and sent to third-world countries where they will be put in the hands of people who might not otherwise have access to a cane.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>What is an ABLE account? How can it help me? How do I start one? Why should I have one? All these questions and more can be answered by attending a free seminar on Saturday October 19 from 12:15 until 1:45. Pick up your box or takeout lunch and check your agenda for the location. Financial professionals from AXA Advisors will be presenting regarding ABLE Accounts and answering all your questions.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:-.25in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Are you a diabetic? Do you have questions about diabetes that you haven’t been able to get answered? Come and join us on Friday afternoon as the Diabetic Action Network exchanges ideas and information. Let’s tackle the challenges of diabetes together!</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mike Robinson, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of New York State, Inc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2175 Sheridan Drive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Buffalo, New York 14223<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>716-222-3632<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>716-222-3NFB<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>“</i><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#333333;background:#F2F2F2'>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.”</span></i><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>