<div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Hello NFBGA, I apologize that this is 1 day late.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dear Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We are exactly thirty days from the start of our 2024 National Convention. As you all know well, the convention works because of the leaders that help to run aspects of the convention and the hundreds of members who help with the effort. This is my thank you in advance for encouraging people to volunteer to be part of the convention operations. I am excited to return to the Rosen Centre where we set the<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/7/nfb-members-refuse-to-let-blindness-define-them-by-seizing-their-umbrellas-and-a-387529" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Guinness World Record</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>in 2015 for the largest umbrella mosaic. The other day I was on a virtual meeting, and I had the image from that event as my background, which always gets a good conversation going.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">This past weekend we hosted our first IEP Advocacy Academy, which was a great success. Teaching self-advocacy and then bringing together a corps of advocates to help raise expectations for others is central to our work in the organized blind movement. I hope that you will continue to seek potential advocates from among our affiliate members. There will be future seminars as we never have enough Federation advocates to cover all of the concerns we have throughout society. Let’s keep building.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Finally, a special note regarding our Immediate Past President, Marc Maurer, whose birthday was yesterday.  Not to mention, yesterday also happened to be Elizabeth Riccobono’s twelfth birthday. If you missed the opportunity to have ice cream for breakfast, like Elizabeth, find another fun way to celebrate.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Critical Actions:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">June Presidential Release:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The June<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Presidential Release #539 chapter version</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>is available for chapter meetings. There will not be a presidential release in July. The next live presidential release is scheduled for Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom TBD.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Convention<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">NFB24 Registration and Virtual Experience:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The early registration for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention is now closed. Onsite registration in Orlando will be available. The<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2024-national-convention-virtual-experience" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">NFB24 Virtual Experience registration</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>remains open now through convention. Learn more about convention at<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/convention" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">nfb.org/convention</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Volunteers Needed:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Are you interested in helping to make the 2024 National Convention a huge success? You can help by volunteering in the Independence Market at the National Convention! We are currently looking for volunteers to serve as demonstrators, storekeepers, and marshals. The Independence Market will be open Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7. The hours for Thursday and Friday are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We split this day into two shifts. Saturday and Sunday, we are open from 12:00 to 1:45 p.m. only. We usually ask folks to volunteer one long shift and one short shift if they are able. We certainly understand if you can only volunteer for a certain day or days.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thank you to everyone who has signed up thus far!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Independence Market at national convention would not be possible without the support, dedication, and hard work of our numerous volunteers. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jen White at 410-659-9314, extension 2236, or email her at<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:jwhite@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">jwhite@nfb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>today.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Independence Market Hours:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The Independence Market will be closed starting Monday, July 1, through Friday, July 12. The last day to order items before the convention will be Friday, June 28.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Calling All Door Prizes:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The NFB door prize team is hard at work planning for this year’s convention. If your affiliate or division wants to donate to the in-person door prizes, you can deliver it to Bennett Prows or Kenia Flores on the stage before or during breaks of the general session. Please label the prize in Braille and print, so our team knows what it is and who donated it. If you are donating cash, put it in an envelope labeled with the amount and who it is from—our team wants to acknowledge your generosity.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Our registered virtual attendees are also eligible to win Visa gift cards or Independence Market gift certificates. You can help the NFB with virtual door prizes by writing a check payable to National Federation of the Blind and mailing it to 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, Attention: Fiscal Services – Virtual DP, and write Virtual Door Prizes in the check memo.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">News:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act Joint Letter:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">On May 20, we sent a joint letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Labor Committees, from me and Richard Belden, the president of SourceAmerica. The letter was to express our support for the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S. 533). The full letter can be read on our<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Policy Statements</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>page.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Comments on the Department of Transportation Air Travel Service Animal Attestation Form Renewal:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">On May 23, we submitted<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-regarding-department-transportations-renewal" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">comments to the Department of Transportation regarding the department’s renewal of the air travel service animal attestation forms</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">. Our comments made it clear that we oppose these forms. Our full comments can be read on our<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Policy Statements</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>page.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dates to Keep in Mind:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">(all times eastern)<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;line-height:23px"><a name="m_8401255641105568608__Hlk150162423"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">June 4: Deadline to submit proposed resolutions<u></u><u></u></span></a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 3-8: National Convention; Orlando, Florida<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, February 7,8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Chapter Presidents Calls<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, December 7, and Sunday, December 10, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, March 14, and Sunday, March 17, at 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, June 13, and Sunday, June 16, at 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, September 12, and Sunday, September 15, at 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:23px;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, December 19, and Sunday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">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><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Beth Braun<br>Chief of Staff<br>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>410-659-9314, extension 2369  |<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:bbraun@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">bbraun@nfb.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="m_8401255641105568608_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="width: 2.1875in; height: 0.7916in;"></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">                        <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_8401255641105568608_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">   <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_8401255641105568608_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">   <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_8401255641105568608_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">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.</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Dorothy Griffin - President <div>National Federation of the Blind of Georgia</div><div><a href="mailto:dgriffin@nfbga.org" target="_blank">dgriffin@nfbga.org</a></div><div>770-374-4832</div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><span>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></p></div><div><span><br></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>