<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">I agree with your idea, however, I also feel that Maurice is correct in that connecting with him first is the right thing to do as he is president and he should always be the first to provide guidance before anything is done.</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jan 30, 2024, at 8:54 PM, Michael Forzano via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">I could barely hear anything at the reception. Truly disappointing. I'm planning to draft a letter to President Riccobono about what I think needs to be done to address these issues. I would be happy to send it to this list first for feedback and if others from the division are interested in co-signing I think that would be helpful too. I'm hoping to get to this within the next week or so. In the meantime if anyone has thoughts on what should be included, feel free to let me know.<div><br></div><div>-Mike<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jan 30, 2024, at 7:12 PM, Rocky Hart via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">agree, 100%. I just attended the congressional reception and would have liked for that to be a little bit more accessible.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jan 30, 2024, at 5:36 PM, Milton via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Joining the Zoom for the Great Gathering is an option but we need to see that those who are able to go to D.C. and go to the Hill is important so that Congress will know that the NFB does have a group of deafblind people who care about the legislative agend agenda of the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Rocky Hart via NFB-DB<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 30, 2024 3:57 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> rockyhart1221@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFB-DB] Meetings at NFB National Events<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know if anyone has any thoughts about attending the great gathering in remotely versus in person. Since I arrived to Washington late last night, I was able to stream part of the great gathering in, and it was very accessible. This could be a potential option, if you want to gain more access to the meeting, granted, you are in a quiet enough environment. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jan 30, 2024, at 4:28 PM, Kat Bottner via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">This includes us, the fact that people are struggling to hear at the great gathering in, and the mock meetings at the Washington seminar is a huge issue. The springs the issue further at national convention as well.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jan 30, 2024, at 4:16 PM, Maurice Mines <<a href="mailto:mmines@mauricemines.org">mmines@mauricemines.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal">Hi the issues that Mikel brother up are being talked and will be fixed. The Volunteer SSP training is on 070324 at 10:00 AM and the Division meeting is on 0705 from 1-5 PM. HTH Maurice A. Mines.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Please continue to ask questions, but remember our focus is the Deaf Blind Federationest. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Jan 30, 2024, at 16:37, Kat Bottner via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I too am happy to help with this effort in anyway that people see fit.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Kat<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jan 30, 2024, at 11:19 AM, Misty Kienzynski via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal">As a person with (currently) only mild hearing loss, I am still in complete support of all DeafBlind members of this organization as well as all with any disability other than blindness.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">It is my belief that our organization needs to do far better in being inclusive of all people with multiple marginalizations.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">That said, at least within my state of Indiana, I have been advocating for the inclusion of A (for Accessibility) into our DEI efforts. After all, there can be no true diversity, equity and inclusion without accessibility for all, and you’d think that our organization of all organizations would understand and seek to implement that. Nevertheless, I feel I hav received some resistance for even bringing this up. Still, I do hope at least this idea reaches the national level. I know it is a small step, but it may also encourage all within the organization to live up to this ideal.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Just some thoughts from an ally.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="p1"><span class="s1">—</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ms. Misty D. Kienzynski</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Treasurer </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Membership Chair</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Historian</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">National Federation of the Blind—Indiana Affiliate</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Phone: 812-381-0073</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">E-mail: <a href="mailto:mkienzyn@alumni.iu.edu">mkienzyn@alumni.iu.edu</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: @AuroraNebulosa</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p2"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem. — L. Annaeus Seneca</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jan 29, 2024, at 3:11 PM, Michael Forzano via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal">I'm currently in the legislative session at Washington seminar. There is no mic being used for questions from the audience. The only way to ask a question is to shout out and hope you're heard. The presenters try to repeat the questions but sometimes they are long and sometimes even they can't hear the question being asked. This has been a problem at every NFB national event I have attended, including some division meetings at national convention. I think we should take this issue on as a division and advocate for more inclusive meetings for those of us who are deaf blind. It's truly frustrating that we can't get such a basic thing right.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Curious to hear others' thoughts on this.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">-Mike<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/mkienzyn%40alumni.iu.edu">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/mkienzyn%40alumni.iu.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/kat.bottner%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/kat.bottner%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/mmines%40mauricemines.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/mmines%40mauricemines.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/rockyhart1221%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/rockyhart1221%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/rockyhart1221%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/michaeldforzano%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/kat.bottner%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>