<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> nfb.az.president@gmail.com<br><b>Date:</b> January 18, 2023 at 7:45:02 PM MST<br><b>To:</b> nfbaz-news@az.nfb.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Jordan Moon <JMoon@saavi.us>, Bob Kresmer <krezguy@cox.net>, Donna Silba <dsilba@cox.net>, marc schmidt <nfbazwest@gmail.com>, Amy Porterfield <APorterfield@saavi.us>, Joanne Williams <JWilliams@saavi.us>, rachelrkuntz@gmail.com, Tarik Williams <TWilliams@saavi.us>, Mark Feliz <mafeliz0641@gmail.com>, Bear <s.goode1013@gmail.com>, "President, National Federation of the Blind" <OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org>, "Pare, John" <JPare@nfb.org><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Phoenix Seminar Update</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Greetings Friends and Fellow Advocates,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Yesterday was our official Phoenix Seminar and kicked off our legislative season with the 56<sup>th</sup> Arizona Legislature. We emailed a lot of letters to members of the Arizona House of Representatives and the Arizona Senate and had several in-person meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">I would like to thank those of you who have participated so far by emailing your representatives and senator. Thank you for copying Joanne Williams and myself so we can follow up. Thank you for personalizing your letters with your own story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Now, if you have not emailed your representatives and senator, it is not too late.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">We have experienced good success so far. In the in-person meetings we were able to meet with members of the Senate’s Elections Committee, and the Education Committee. We received commitments from two senators to open bill folders for Accessible Absentee/Mail in Voting and Ballot Returns for Blind and Visually Impaired voters, and for the Braille Education and Certifications for Teachers of the Blind and Visually impaired.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Opening a “bill folder” is the first step in getting a bill introduced. Senator T.J. Shope (LD 16) indicated he would open the bill folder for Accessible Absentee Voting and Ballot Returns for Blind and Visually Impaired Voters, and Senator Ken Bennett (LD 1)said he would open the bill folder for the Braille Certification and Certification for Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired Students initiative. Both asked us to send them additional information so they can get it to the Senate legislative staff to begin drafting bill language.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">If you reside in LD1 or LD 16, please email your senator and thank them for supporting issues that are important to blind Arizonans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Our third issue, Additional Funding for the Independent Living Blind (ILB) Program for Seniors, was positively received by the members of the legislature we spoke to. We are still intending to meet with the governor’s office and members of the appropriations committees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Stay tuned for additional information on how to continue participating in the legislative efforts of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Donald<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Donald Porterfield, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">National Federation of the Blind of Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="http://www.az.nfb.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.az.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="mailto:nfb.az.president@gmail.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">nfb.az.president@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">520-850-2180<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">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"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></blockquote></body></html>