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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>August 15, 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Friends of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is that time again for the annual White Cane Banquet of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico (NFBNM)—this year, hosted by the NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter. Although this will be a long day for some of you, it will be an event you will not want to miss. The Banquet will take place on Saturday, October 20, at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel located at 2600 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. It will start at noon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Each year at this time, we celebrate the advantages that we as blind people have achieved through the passage of civil rights laws such as our New Mexico White Cane law. This law affords blind people the right to travel freely throughout our state as well as the right to access public services without discrimination on the basis of blindness. At our annual White Cane banquet, we celebrate the progress we have made—as individuals who are blind and as an organization of the blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This year, we are fortunate to have a representative from Southwest Airlines to speak with us about their efforts to promote accessible air travel and equal access to their services for the blind. This summer, Southwest Airlines installed kiosks which are designed to be accessible to blind passengers. These kiosks should enable us to check in at the Albuquerque International Sunport without having to solicit the assistance of an airline employee. To date, Southwest is the only airline here in New Mexico to offer nonvisual access to their self-check-in kiosks. In the presentation at the White Cane Banquet, the Southwest representative will provide specific information about how the accessibility features of the Kiosk will work for blind passengers, hopefully giving us more confidence to operate these machines by ourselves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you are all aware, there are fewer and fewer human representatives behind the counters to offer assistance in every major airport in this country. More and more Kiosks for transportation, information, and check-ins at our airports are now self-service. We as blind people find ourselves in the position of having to search from desk to desk to find a live human airline representative to work with us. Sometimes, we have to ask a fellow passenger to help us which often forces us to give out information that should remain private.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will also hear from The Blind History Lady, Peggy Chong. Over the past several years, Peggy has presented at state conventions and chapter meetings—talking about the blind New Mexicans who have gone before us and how successful they became long before there was financial assistance from the rehabilitation system or proper blindness training in our state. This year, Peggy will tell the story of a blind mother who fought for years to adopt a child inNew Mexico. She was a successful woman, but she was forced to prove herself over and over again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peggy will also tell us the true story of a blind man who died one of the richest men in New Mexico. For more than 25 years as a person who was blind, he built his fortune. How did he do that? Come and find out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This will be the last opportunity to listen to Peggy Chong, The Blind History Lady, in person. She will be relocating to Colorado.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To make your reservations for the 2018 White Cane Banquet, send the registration form that accompanies this letter, along with your check payable to the NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter, to Tara Chaves, President, NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter, 4000 Hendrix Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Checks should be received no later than Friday, October 12, 2018. You can choose between a chicken plate and a vegetarian plate. Please indicate your preference on the form.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We look forward to seeing you on October 20.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peggy Chong<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>White Cane Banquet Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>2018 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF NEW MEXICO<br>ALBUQUERQUE CHAPTER<br>WHITE CANE BANQUET<br></span></b>Saturday, October 20<br>Noon to 2:00 PM<br>Sheraton Uptown Hotel<br>2600 Louisiana Blvd NE<br>Albuquerque, NM<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter will hold the annual White Cane banquet on Saturday, October 20, 2018 from noon to 2:00 PM at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel. Plan to arrive between 11:30 and 11:45 so we can start on time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please complete the information below legibly and return it to Tara Chavez along with your check, made payable to the NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter. You can enter the information electronically and then print it to be mailed. Or print this form and fill the information in by hand. Please include the names of ALL persons included in the reservation. No reservations will be confirmed without your check for $25 per person.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Name: 1.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 2.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 3.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 4.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Address:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Number of guests:_______ $25 each. Total amount enclosed:$______________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Make checks payable to the NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mail your registration form and checks before October 12, 2018, to:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tara Chavez<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>4000 Hendrix Rd. NE<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Albuquerque, NM 87110<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 505-328-3349<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: nfb.abqchapter@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Tonia Trapp, secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>nfbnewmexicosecretary@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>www.nfbnm.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>