<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr">Message from President Dana Ard. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">As a young blind high school graduate, I was impacted by our NFB message through articles in our flagship publication “The Braille Monitor.” I remember sitting in our living room and reading an article on the importance of having high expectations. I was so excited that I called to my mother and said, “these people think like we do. Through my parents, the NFB, and the excellent training I received at the Idaho Commission for the Blind, I have held high expectations for myself, and have lived a quality life as a blind person.</span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The NFB of Idaho is impacting the lives of many young blind people around the state. Through programs and relationships, activities and opportunities, our youth find self-confidence and independence – the ability to live the lives they want.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here are links to two such young people:</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Carver A. has been involved in the NFB BELL program for many years, when it was a day camp and now in it’s residential version. Here he talks at the 2023 “White Cane Banquet” about the impact this has made on him:</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8e6Mu6Fz-E" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Carver Anderson, Blind High School Student and NFB BELL and Beyond Residential Camp Mentor</a></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Storm S. was an NFB of Idaho scholarship winner in 2024 and in this short clip he talks about how he came to get an adaptive device he uses in his Chemistry course:</p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JKbRppGteLc" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Storm Discovers Benefits from the Idaho NFB Beyond a College Scholarship #nfbidaho #nfb2024</a></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoPlainText" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Contributions can be made either on our affiliate website, <<a href="http://www.nfbidaho.org/donate" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">http://www.nfbidaho.org/donate</a>> <a href="http://www.nfbidaho.org/donate" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">www.nfbidaho.org/donate</a>, or by mailing a check to our treasurer, Don Winiecki at <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">1422 E. Woodvine Ct, Boise, ID.</span></p><p class="x_MsoPlainText" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">83706. Let's give so that our state affiliate can continue our valuable programs to help Idaho's blind live the lives they want. Please call or email with questions.</p><p class="x_MsoPlainText" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </p><p class="x_MsoPlainText" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">*** Each individual who donates from now up until the end of our fundraiser meeting <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">on December 3</span> will be entered into a drawing to win a spot at our 2025 NFB of Idaho convention (includes registration, 3 nights lodging, and banquet ticket).***</p><p class="x_MsoPlainText" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There is no amount too large or too small!! We look forward to your participation!!</p></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><blockquote type="cite" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); min-height: 18px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>