<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> April 23, 2023 at 4:35:49 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>, Rachel Kuntz <rachelrkuntz@gmail.com>, Tarik Williams <nfbtucsonpresident@gmail.com>, Mark Feliz <mafeliz0641@gmail.com>, Sharonda Goode <s.goode1013@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>NFBAZ News - April 23, 2023</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:14.0pt">Greetings Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">It is spring, and there is a lot of activity happening in Arizona and about. We have legislation, policy, and advocacy. We have conventions. We have organizational building. Because there is so much going on right now, this is going to be a lengthy email. Please read it through because it contains information that is important to the organized blind movement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#404040">Legislation, Policy, and Advocacy:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:2.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">HB2456 – Relating to ASDB and its Continuation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recently, the Arizona Senate passed HB2456, which reauthorizes the continuation of ASDB for another 4 years. Historically, the reauthorization has been for an 8 year period and some senators sought to reduce the authorization to as little as 2 years. Earlier this year, the House voted unanimously to reauthorize the school’s continuation for another 8 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">What is next? Since the bill passed the House and Senate with different time limits it is most likely going to go before a reconciliation committee comprised of members of the both the House and senate. The good news at this time is that the school should receive a reauthorization of no less than 4 years, and possibly more. Stay tuned as we continue to advocate on this issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:2.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">SB 1246 – Regarding Funding for Public Transportation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">This is a challenge we faced several weeks ago and thought the attempt to lower funding for public transit and the Regional Transit Authority had been defeated. However, a “striker bill” has now been introduced. The “striker bill,” SB 1102 increases the transit allocation to 39%, which is higher than previous legislation set it, but it includes provision unrelated to transit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">This a legislative call to action! Please write or call your members of the legislature and tell them how you use public transportation, urge them to increase the allocation to 40.4%,, and post to your social media and tag your legislators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#404040">Conventions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">#NFB2023.</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">The 2023 National Federation of the Blind national convention is fast approaching. The convention is July 1-6, 2023, in Houston, TX. Registration is open now, <a href="https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=mTCu8dGvOkl-2BXqaCK8sZ2XZsIV-2FIHwCJ1wu82RzQMT-2BYPFY1W898jzlXsLk2Gsfbu-2BYGKCQOS7YN1ddJfUmpZkyP0W2yKQdmEqEEkjOVnx0-3DS4FF_3MOXBGWqsp5M5Pgo5mO8CHrr9yr-2FW8oBlCjDtAxN2BcBMAWbAjSe10nw63Tk7BO0T9psqU8YNNbw0dwoMLKHv28N4iLz9SDHKzDLZqyPbj75tq19lk6AEWkwSITNdXeyir5ivBIQAKG-2BTWrqo3kkCMqRJuzYgRtr73bdQclEDdwCYl3bPKPj0Kic5L1YNhRyrF-2FtV3-2BLq8nv4n8miUqf1qcvKX26lpKPP5ydeoBVooQ-3D"><span style="color:#0563C1">Register for the 2023 National Convention now!</span></a> For more information and hotel details, visit <a href="https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=mTCu8dGvOkl-2BXqaCK8sZ2XZsIV-2FIHwCJ1wu82RzQMT-2BYPFY1W898jzlXsLk2GsfbgKWNxh8GRQIxAht5GkgDLcUYUhL-2BP98t59-2FDz1I0CYw-3Dd5Lc_3MOXBGWqsp5M5Pgo5mO8CHrr9yr-2FW8oBlCjDtAxN2BcBMAWbAjSe10nw63Tk7BO0T9psqU8YNNbw0dwoMLKHv159f3gLAQ9tmKtDV0usYE47wFFlrnPGgRUppMHrbNNQrYmtIMCfrez2rgF5szzRHwqPcflf3pvuSmcEaJTmGPDNzx-2F55FIOqXt01S5589Er6vGpDfWTb1hX9UHumzoaq0avNlaJoEQwZ1ORX36ybnk-3D"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://nfb.org/convention</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:2.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">#NFBAZ2023. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">The planning for the 2023 National Federation of the Blind of Arizona state convention is in full swing. Save the date for Thursday, August 24 through Sunday August 27, 2023. We are in final negotiations with our convention hotel and will make a formal announcement the NFBAZ quarterly board meeting in May..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">However, it is not too soon to begin planning the seminars for our convention. If you have a seminar idea, please submit an outline of the seminar you would like to present. Please, keep in mind, the average seminar length is one and a half hours, and the individuals submitting the seminar idea are responsible for the planning and execution of the seminar. Seminar ideas are due no later than July 21, 2023. Please send your ideas to <a href="mailto:nfb.az.president@gmail.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">nfb.az.president@gmail.com</span></a>, with “#NFBAZ23 Seminar” in the subject line.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#404040">Organizing:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">If you live in an area where there is not an active chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona, or know someone else who does, and are interested in actively participating, please join us for At Large Chapter meeting on April 29, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will take place over Zoom, a separate email will be sent out with the Zoom information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Quarterly Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">The next board meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2023, and will be from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. over Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Donald Porterfield, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">National Federation of the Blind of Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">520-850-2180<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">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><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Donald Porterfield, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">National Federation of the Blind of Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><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:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">520-850-2180<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">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></div></blockquote></body></html>