<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dear East Valley Chapter,</h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Below you will find information about our upcoming convention for quick contact information.<o:p></o:p></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">New Orleans Site of 2022 Convention<o:p></o:p></h2><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">by John Berggren</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The 2022 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, <span dir="ltr">July 5 to July 10</span>, at the New Orleans Marriott at <span dir="ltr">555 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130</span>. You can reserve a room now at the Marriott by calling <span dir="ltr">800-654-3990</span> ensuring you’ll be in our headquarters hotel. If you wish to stay in our overflow hotel directly across Canal Street, call <span dir="ltr">855-516-1090</span> to book a room at the Sheraton New Orleans.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The nightly rate for both the Marriott and the Sheraton is $109 for singles and doubles. Triples and quads can be booked for $119 per night. You should also anticipate the combined sales tax and tourism support rate of 16.2 percent, and note there is a hotel occupancy fee of $3.00 per night.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Both hotels will take a deposit of the first night’s room rate, taxes, and fees and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled <span dir="ltr">before Monday, June 1, 2022</span>, half of the deposit will be returned. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations made beyond that date.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The hotels sit astride the storied Canal Street at 555 and <span dir="ltr">500 Canal Street</span> respectively, only blocks from the mighty Mississippi River and even closer to the historic French Quarter. Both hotels offer a range of dining options as well as twenty-four-hour fitness centers. You’ll find a rooftop pool at the Marriott, while the Sheraton features a Starbucks in its atrium lobby.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The schedule for the 2022 convention is:<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">Tuesday, July 5</span> Seminar Day<br><span dir="ltr">Wednesday, July 6</span> Registration and Resolutions Day<br><span dir="ltr">Thursday, July 7</span> Board Meeting and Division Day<br><span dir="ltr">Friday, July 8</span> Opening Session<br><span dir="ltr">Saturday, July 9</span> Business Session<br><span dir="ltr">Sunday, July 10</span> Banquet Day and Adjournment<o:p></o:p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The health of our members is of paramount importance as we plan for our first in-person convention in three years. Both of our convention hotels are committed to ensuring the safety of guests and have implemented cleaning protocols and elevated practices to deliver on this commitment. The National Federation of the Blind will continually monitor masking policies, vaccination requirements, and other health guidelines that may apply to our convention. Updates will be shared with members throughout the months leading up to convention, so members can plan accordingly.</p><br><div dir="ltr">Sincerely,<div>Megan Homrighausen</div><div><br></div></div></body></html>