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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Amy,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Do you know how or when are the HKS board members are selected?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Delcenia<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>Amy Rowson via NFB-DB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 15, 2024 5:00 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Amy Rowson <amyrowson@att.net><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFB-DB] HKNC letter, on behalf of nfbdb, and Nfb<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Amy Rowson here,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>While I agree with the statements in this letter, I also would like to see added that HKNC is separated from the parent group HKS. Ultimately, it is the HKS board that makes the decisions for HKNC. So, even if we had a DeafBlind executive Director if the HKS board Does not agree with the way the executive Director wishes to run the program, it will not occur.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>There have been many HKNC staff both those who are DB and those who have vision/hearing that would like to see HKNC be it's own entity and not a division or under the parent HKS organization.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>While HKS is working on severing it's ties with HKNC, the HKS board needs to be comprised of a majority of DB board members. Currently, we only have one DB member and that is not enough representation.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>eom - end of message <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 Aug 15, 2024, at 2:29 PM, Maurice A. Mines 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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:13.8pt'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind DeafBlind Division understands that the work that the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) does is important for DeafBlind persons who are in need of adjustment training. We strongly urge this institution to implement the changes listed below.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.8pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>The HKNC should actively engage in finding and employing more blind and/or DeafBlind staff members. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.8pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>The HKNC should strive to have a majority of its board of directors be DeafBlind people. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.8pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>The HKNC should recruit and employ a DeafBlind director in order to instill community support among current students, consumer organizations, and the DeafBlind, ourselves.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.8pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>We believe that it is critical for students to seek competent role models in teaching positions. This shows students that after their training is completed, they too can live the lives they want.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>We urge the Helen Keller National Center to work closely with the NFB DeafBlind Division and the National Federation of the Blind on these matters.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> Copy division board, and interested persons.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>Maurice A. Mines, President <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>Email: <a href="mailto:nfbdbpresident@mmines.org">nfbdbpresident@mmines.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>Website: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a> <<a href="http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org/">http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org</a>> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>Live the life you want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.75pt'>we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></p><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/amyrowson%40att.net">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/amyrowson%40att.net</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>