<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail-gs" style="margin:0px;min-width:0px;padding:0px 0px 20px;width:initial;font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><div class="gmail-"><div id="gmail-:1ga" class="gmail-ii gmail-gt" style="direction:ltr;margin:8px 0px 0px;padding:0px;font-size:0.875rem;overflow-x:hidden"><div id="gmail-:1gb" class="gmail-a3s gmail-aiL msg-6206784266781793960" style="direction:initial;font-stretch:normal;font-size:small;line-height:1.5;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;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-feature-settings:normal;overflow:auto hidden"><div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="m_-6206784266781793960WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dear Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please see the attachment below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Let me be the first to send you the warmest summer greetings, especially considering how hot it is already in many parts of the nation. Fortunately, we are only two weeks away from the highly air-conditioned convention of the National Federation of the Blind. I look forward to joining all of you in Orlando very soon.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In the midst of the convention prep, I am asking each of you to take twenty-five minutes to share our Give $25 Drive as widely as possible. The fact that donors can win a Monarch device—worth $20K—means we should be able to get a whole new network of people to support our efforts. Remember that you can get people to give and to honor you with their contribution, which means you could win the device.  We all win when we raise money for the efforts of the Federation to promote equality, opportunity, and security for the blind!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Convention:</span><span style="color:black;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:normal"> </span></h2><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px">National Convention Virtual Experience Available:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">The NFB24 Virtual Experience Registration is still open. If members are not able to attend the convention in Orlando, please register early for the virtual experience to get access to the latest information. This virtual experience option offers access to the pre-convention activities that start June 24, exclusive virtual sessions during convention, the convention app, and the streamed sessions. There are over forty hours of content as part of the virtual experience. This year the registration cost for the virtual experience is $10. Details are available at<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">nfb.org/convention</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px">Convention Ally Network Session, June 20:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">The Convention Ally Network exists to help to facilitate participation in the convention and to ensure support for someone who is fearful of harassment or discrimination because of laws within the state of Florida. If you are attending the convention and are interested in learning about the Convention Ally Network, please join the training session on June 20, at 3:00 p.m., eastern. This session is focused on current laws impacting LGBTQ folks and how to be any ally.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/98335324500?pwd=sSPYoXKbF2SKKyjaPoWTQrN62NJm43.1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">Zoom ID: 983 3532 4500 Passcode: 881656</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px"><u></u> </span></b></h3><h3 style="line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-weight:normal">News:</span></h3><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px">Independence Market Hours:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;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, July 28.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><h2><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></h2><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px">Catch Up on Content and Share on Social Media:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">Highlights, news, and stories are available in the most recent<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Braille Monitor</i>,<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Future Reflections</i>,<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Nation’s Blind Podcast</i>, and<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog</i>. The following are National Federation of the Blind publications for you to access and share with Federationists. These articles and episodes are great to share on affiliate and division social media to create discussions on various topics.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in"><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2406/bm2406tc.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">June<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Braille Monitor</i></span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr43/2/fr4302tc.htm" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">Future Reflections, Special Issue on Cooking</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><u></u><u></u></span></i></li><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">Nation’s Blind Podcast, “</span></i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">Fighting for Our Rights in the Courts and Beyond</span></a><span class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box">”</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><u></u><u></u></span></i></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><u></u> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">Reminders:</span></p><h3 style="line-height:23px"><b><span style="line-height:23px">Give $25:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Remember, there are new elements to this year’s Give $25 fundraising. When you give $25 or more before July 6, you're entered into the Dream Big: Give $25 Drive Drawing. Each $25 increment is a chance to win! Why "Dream Big"? Because blindness doesn't hold you back. You could win prizes like roundtrip transportation for two to the 2025 NFB National Convention, hotel accommodations, registration, banquet tickets, or $2,000 cash! Thanks to our partners at APH and HumanWare, you could also win a Monarch—a dynamic tactile device! New this year, friends and family can make donations in your honor, and you'll get extra entries. The drive supports funds like the Kenneth Jernigan Fund and the White Cane Fund, and you can choose one when you donate. To enter, visit<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://nfb.org/Give25Donate" target="_blank">nfb.org/Give25Donate</a>; call 410-659-9314, extension 2430; or send a check to National Federation of the Blind and mention #Give25 and the fund in the memo. The winner will be announced July 8, 2024.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">Dates to Keep in Mind:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">(all times eastern)<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in"><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 3-8: National Convention; Orlando, Florida<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement</span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in"><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;color:black;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;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;color:black;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;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Chapter Presidents Calls</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:black">.</span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in"><li class="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;color:black;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;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="m_-6206784266781793960MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;color:black;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;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"><span style="font-size:12pt;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 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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><h2><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span></h2><h2><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-weight:normal">Mark A. Riccobono, President</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind <br>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>410-659-9314 |<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please engage with me through<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Riccobono Personal AI</span></a><br>Mastodon: @President@nfb.social <br>Pronouns: he, him, his<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"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="m_-6206784266781793960_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:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_-6206784266781793960_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><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_-6206784266781793960_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><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="m_-6206784266781793960_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-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 class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div class="gmail-yj6qo"></div><div class="gmail-adL"></div></div><div class="gmail-adL"></div></div><div class="gmail-adL"></div></div></div><div id="gmail-:1fy" class="gmail-hq gmail-gt" style="font-size:0.875rem;margin:15px 0px;clear:both"><div class="gmail-hp" style="width:1056px;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:dotted;border-top-color:rgb(216,216,216)"></div><div id="gmail-:1fw" class="gmail-ho" style="margin:12px 0px"><span class="gmail-aVW gmail-a5T" style="font-weight:bold;height:20px;line-height:20px;font-size:0.875rem;display:flex;white-space:pre-wrap"><span id="gmail-:1fv"> One attachment</span><span id="gmail-:1ft" class="gmail-a2H" style="font-weight:normal">  •  Scanned by Gmail</span><div class="gmail-a2b" style="height:30px"><div class="gmail-a2a gmail-a2a" role="img" tabindex="0" aria-haspopup="true" aria-labelledby="Nbrrqb" style="background-image:url("//ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/saferwithgoogle/info_outline_grey700_16px_1x.png");background-size:16px auto;height:16px;margin:2px 26px 24px 4px;width:16px"></div></div></span><div class="gmail-aZi gmail-J-J5-Ji" style="display:flex"></div></div><div id="gmail-:1fs"></div><div id="gmail-:1fx" class="gmail-aQH" style="margin-bottom: -16px;"><div class="gmail-aZK" style="height:0px;overflow:hidden;clear:both"></div></div></div></div></div><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>