<div dir="ltr">hello dorothy check this out, let me know what you think<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail-container"><span id="gmail-message-content-id-r_63a06210cedd5fe6" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted"><div class="gmail-markdown gmail-markdown-main-panel gmail-tutor-markdown-rendering enable-updated-hr-color" id="gmail-model-response-message-contentr_63a06210cedd5fe6" dir="ltr"><p>al: NFB of Georgia Community Help Desk</p><p>Dear Board Members,</p><p>I would like to present an idea that I believe can make a real difference in the lives of our members across Georgia. I am proposing the creation of an <b>NFB of Georgia Community Help Desk</b>. This initiative would operate twice each month to provide direct support for blind and visually impaired members as they navigate resources, paperwork, and transportation.</p><p>Many in our community face significant hurdles when dealing with complex online applications, locating local services, or managing transportation systems. Sometimes, what a member needs most is simply guidance from someone who truly understands their situation. This Help Desk would provide that practical assistance while strengthening the sense of community and mutual support that defines our organization.</p><p><b>The Help Desk would focus on:</b></p><ul><li><p><b>Form & Application Assistance:</b> Helping members complete necessary paperwork and online forms.</p></li><li><p><b>Resource Connections:</b> Linking members with housing, healthcare, food, utility, and disability resources.</p></li><li><p><b>Transportation Guidance:</b> Providing information on local paratransit and other transit services.</p></li><li><p><b>Technology Navigation:</b> Assisting with the digital hurdles of modern applications.</p></li><li><p><b>Senior & Community Support:</b> Helping members locate specific programs tailored to seniors and community needs.</p></li></ul><p>I envision this operating twice a month through phone support, virtual appointments, and limited in-person assistance where possible. The team could consist of NFB members, college interns, retired professionals, and community supporters dedicated to our mission.</p><p>My goal is to keep this program simple, effective, and community-driven. Funding could be handled primarily through voluntary donations from members and supporters. Even small monthly contributions would go a long way in covering basic operational costs like outreach materials, phone services, and printing.</p><p><b>I believe this program will:</b></p><ul><li><p>Increase member engagement and outreach.</p></li><li><p>Provide vital support to seniors and the newly blind.</p></li><li><p>Promote independence, dignity, and opportunity.</p></li><li><p>Expand the visibility and impact of the NFB of Georgia.</p></li></ul><p>This Help Desk reflects the heart of what we do: helping blind individuals live fuller, more independent lives. Thank you for your time and for considering this proposal. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further and perhaps develop a pilot program for implementation.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Richard Miller</p></div></span></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Mar 17, 2026 at 10:59\u202fPM Dorothy Griffin via NFB_of_Georgia <<a href="mailto:nfb_of_georgia@nfbnet.org">nfb_of_georgia@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="margin:0px;min-width:0px;padding:0px 0px 20px;width:auto"><div><div id="m_-7303862734409653452gmail-:19d" style="direction:ltr;margin:8px 0px 0px;padding:0px;font-size:0.875rem;overflow-x:hidden"><div id="m_-7303862734409653452gmail-:19c" style="direction:ltr;font-size:small;line-height:1.5;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 id="m_-7303862734409653452gmail-avWBGd-17"><div lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dear Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Happy St. Patrick's Day!</font></p><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Main Convention Hotel Booked: Overflow Hotels Available:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Our national convention in Austin is clearly going to be popular. Our room block at the JW Marriott Austin is already completely booked. The good news is that there are room blocks with plenty of space at several nearby hotels, including the nearby, and recently opened, Austin Marriott Downtown. The hotels are all within a couple blocks\u2019 walk to the JW Marriott. Visit our<span> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention-prep" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Prepare for National Convention webpage</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span>to explore your options. Our 2026 Convention hotel rate is $139 per night for singles and doubles. Triples and quads are available for $155 per night. Sales tax and a tourism fee total a combined 19.7 percent. You may call 800-627-7468 to book your room at the Austin Marriott Downtown. Specify our room block code, BL1, to ensure you receive our convention room rate.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h2 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">News and Events:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h2><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">March<span> </span><span><span><span>Presidential</span></span></span><span> </span>Release Is Available:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The<span> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">March<span> </span><span><span><span>Presidential</span></span></span><span> </span>Release Live, chapter recording, and transcripts</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span>are available. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter meeting agenda and discuss it among members. The next chapter release will be available by March 29.<u></u><u></u></span></p><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">New NFB Song Available for Download:</span></b><br></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind song, \u201cWho Are We? NFB,\u201d by The Litigators is now available to listen to or download on the<span> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/jacobus-tenbroek-library/collections/nfb-songs" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">NFB songs webpage</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span>or on your favorite music platform.<span> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">March<span> </span><i>Braille Monitor</i>:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Read the March issue of the<span> </span><i>Braille Monitor</i>, our flagship publication and the magazine of the organized blind movement. Access<span> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2603/bm2603tc.htm" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Braille Monitor</span></i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue"><span> </span>Vol 69 No 3 March 2026</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Future Reflections</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">:<u></u><u></u></span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Read the latest<span> </span><i>Future Reflections</i>, a quarterly magazine for parents and teachers of blind children that offers stories, resources, and information. Access<span> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr45/1/fr4501tc.htm" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Future Reflections</span></i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue"><span> </span>Volume 45 Number 1 Winter 2026</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><h3 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Nation\u2019s Blind Podcast: <u></u><u></u></span></i></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Listen to the latest episode of the<span> </span><i>Nation's Blind Podcast</i><span> </span>titled, "We Can Have Our Pi and STEM, Too." In this episode, Melissa and Anil are joined by Ashleigh Moon, our STEM2U coordinator. They celebrate Pi Day and discuss accessible ways for blind students and blind adults to practice STEM. Subscribe to the<span> </span><i>Nation\u2019s Blind Podcast</i><span> </span>wherever you get podcasts, or download this episode at</span><a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x8k92ksm9xt8vj4b/STEM_episode_Edited60zhc.m4a." title="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x8k92ksm9xt8vj4b/stem_episode_edited60zhc.m4a." target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x8k92ksm9xt8vj4b/STEM_episode_Edited60zhc.m4a.</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Access On<span> </span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Podcast<i>:<u></u><u></u></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Tune into episode 66 of<span> </span><i>Access On</i>, which is devoted to NVDA, the open-source screen reader for Windows from NV Access. We welcome Mick Curran, who came up with the idea of NVDA and started developing it twenty years ago. We\u2019re also joined by Gerald Hartig and Quentin Christensen for a wide-ranging discussion about NVDA\u2019s past, present, future, philosophy, and user experience.<br>Subscribe to<span> </span><i>Access On</i><span> </span>wherever you get podcasts, or download the MP3 of this week\u2019s episode at<span> </span></span><a href="https://buff.ly/y9Se1rQ" title="https://buff.ly/y9se1rq" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://buff.ly/y9Se1rQ</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Walking Alone and Marching Together<span> </span></span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Podcast<i>:<u></u><u></u></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Tune into episode twenty of our<span> </span><i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i><span> </span>podcast entitled, "Episode 20: Chapter 6 - Restoration, The Beginning Years of the Second Jernigan Presidency, Part 3." Listen at</span><a href="https://buff.ly/cCJGZgg?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyN3AxakJTR1A2NGlVaDRGeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6HlrJbA-qCXtAgbMT62yKICPLKYs5KYi_GIjUGM65h_jfhrky56uM5MTf_Ww_aem_FDiA2p03NfLLxTkveC9qYQ" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://buff.ly/cCJGZgg</span></b></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span>or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Amazon Music.<u></u><u></u></span></p><h2 style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a name="m_-7303862734409653452_m_5878061760867234062__Hlk216694561" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a><a name="m_-7303862734409653452_m_5878061760867234062__Hlk183426075" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:windowtext">Dates to Keep in Mind:<u></u><u></u></span></b></a></h2><ul type="disc" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;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-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.5in;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-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-bottom:10pt;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-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, May 6<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, August 5<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wednesday, November 4<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:0.25in;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-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;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-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Chapter<span> </span><span><span><span>Presidents</span></span></span><span> </span>Calls<u></u><u></u></span></p><ul type="disc" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, June 14<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13<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-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thursday, December 10 and Sunday, December 13<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></div></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></div></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></div></div></div></div><div id="m_-7303862734409653452gmail-avWBGd-18" style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;clear:both"></div></div></div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="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><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Lato,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-repeat:repeat">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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</span><u></u><u></u></p><div><span style="font-family:Lato,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-repeat:repeat"><br></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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