<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Plain Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.PlainTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Plain Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Plain Text";
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As a new year begins I consider how we can all work together to empower blind Californians to live the life they want. Our first action of 2019 is to <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>converge on Washington D. C. </span> on January 28-31, 2019. in support of our legislative priorities before the U.S. Congress. We have a fabulous delegation from California leading the way. If you are interested in joining the group, then please contact me as soon as possible at <a href="mailto:president@nfbcal.org">president@nfbcal.org</a> or 916.382.0372. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our <a href="https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program?gclid=Cj0KCQiAmafhBRDUARIsACOKERNFdpek7yiLDeGRcoXwy5YIGsobT9xXGDmTrXKWhguLbR4HKKQMHisaAiQuEALw_wcB">national scholarship application</a> is available. Please encourage qualified blind students to apply and forward the information to your networks. Students seeking letters of support from the California affiliate are strongly advised to seek their letters early. Affiliate letters requested near the application deadline are not guaranteed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are working on state legislation in California to amend the education code so that blind students are no longer unreasonably restricted in the environments in which they receive orientation and mobility training. Shannon Dillon is leading our efforts and you will hear more from her once a bill is formally introduced.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I and our affiliate Board of Directors are planning for a successful and productive 2019. We look forward to working with you to make this a fabulous year for blind people in California.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tim Elder<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of <a name=Start></a><a name=Complete></a>California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:president@nfbcal.org">president@nfbcal.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>***<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The Inland Empire Chapter will start this year off by hosting a Health and Wellness Seminar. Each year most of us make a New Year’s Resolution that consist of dieting, exercising and eating healthy. Some of us can stick to the commitment and others fall off the wagon. On Friday January 4, 2019. Time 12:30p.m. to 2:00p.m. Held at the Service Center For Independent Living. 107 Spring Street<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Claremont, California 91711, cross street is Green. Everyone is welcome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Cheryl Thurston, President Inland Empire Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Board Member National Federation of the Blind of California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>P: 909.821.9589<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><a href="mailto:cthurston74@gmail.com">cthurston74@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>California Association of Blind Students (CABS) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>CABS will kick off 2019 with a Membership Call on Sunday, January 20th at 7 p.m., pacific time. The topic of discussion will be on the NFB National Scholarship. We will have four past scholarship recipients on the panel and they will share their experience as scholarship winners and encourage students to apply for this amazing opportunity. Every year, the National Federation of the Blind offers more than $120,000 in scholarships to blind students across the country and students will have an opportunity to attend the 2019 national convention in Las Vegas for a magical experience. Call 712.770.4130 followed by access code 868746 and we would love for you to join them! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Matthew Gip, President California Association of Blind Students <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member National Federation of the Blind of California <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Co-chair | National Association of Blind Students Outreach Committee <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>P: 559.375.2068<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:matthewhgip@gmail.com">matthewhgip@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Joy Stigile, Editor<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>