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</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 Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I look forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas. Our affiliate office is busy processing interviews and letters for national scholarship applications, Jernigan Fund travel grants and other logistics of the national convention. I’m sharing some important announcements below. Please circulate this information widely to your fellow chapter members and others in the community who don’t yet know about our amazing work for blind people. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3><b>National Convention Grants<o:p></o:p></b></h3><p class=MsoNormal>We are excited to announce that the California affiliate will be offering up to 20 grants of $200 to help people attend their first national convention. The deadline for these applications is April 15. You can apply online and learn more:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://ulwxastpyh.formstack.com/forms/2015_nfbc_national_convention_grants_copy">http://ulwxastpyh.formstack.com/forms/2015_nfbc_national_convention_grants_copy</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3><b>State Legislation<o:p></o:p></b></h3><p class=MsoNormal>We have also achieved progress with proposed state legislation that will codify certain requirements for teaching blind students orientation and mobility skills, which they will need to independently live the life they want. Thank you to those who wrote letters and appeared in Sacramento to support this work with the relevant education committee. More work needs to be done, but we should celebrate our partial success along the road.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3><b>State Convention<o:p></o:p></b></h3><p class=MsoNormal>Our state convention will be held November 7-10 at the Embassy Suites, 901 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035. Room rates and partial agenda items will be announced soon. Please mark your calendars now. November will be here in a flash. Also, send your ideas to <a href="mailto:president@nfbcal.org">president@nfbcal.org</a>. What should the board of directors be placing on the agenda? What do you want to learn about? Autonomous vehicles? Employment options? Government services and benefits administration? Who should we be inviting to the convention?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is a privilege to serve you. I look forward to engaging and meeting with folks as I and several other board members continue visiting local chapters between now and the state convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My Best,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tim Elder, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:president@nfbcal.org">president@nfbcal.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>P: 916.382.0372<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The Bakersfield Chapter will be having a fundraiser with snow Shack located at 10331 Rosedale Hwy., Bakersfield. The chapter members will be selling snow cones. they are a very big hit around here, and are very popular. The Snow Shack have very good reviews. The event will be Saturday, April 27, from 12 noon until 5 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Veronica Martinez, President, Bakersfield Chapter <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>P: 661.3682931<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Spring is here and the California Association of Blind Students (CABS) is proud to announce that we will be hosting our second annual spring reception in beautiful Los Angeles. The event will be held at Shakey’s Pizza, <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1">935 W. Arbor Vitae St., Inglewood, 90301</a> from 12 (noon) to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th. Please invite students you know in the Southern California area as we are looking to build more membership, since that is a big part of the Federation. Lunch will be provided, along with door prizes and surprises, and students will have the opportunity to learn about CABS and what we do. Whoever brings a fellow blind friend will have their name thrown in to a raffle, and the winner will receive a grand prize, which will be an Amazon Echo Dot! <span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></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>C: 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>The Pathfinder Chapter Los Angeles invites you to join them on their Viejas Casino and outlet mall trip on Saturday, April 13, from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. They will meet at the greenline park-and-ride at 11901 South Crenshaw Blvd., Hawthorne, CA. Cross street 120th St. Donation is $21. There will be no refunds. You must be 21 years of age and have a valid Government issued ID. For more information please contact Charlotte Caroll at c: 310.625.6558 <a href="mailto:charlottec916@gmail.com">charlottec916@gmail.com</a> or <span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jannette Stewart at c: 310.293.1053 <a href="mailto:Titostewart08@gmail.com">Titostewart08@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody'>The Pathfinder Chapter would like you to join them for a fundraising event at the Shakey’s Pizza on Friday, May 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 935 W Arbor Vitae, Inglewood. </span>If you have any questions, please contact Charlotte Carroll or Jannette Stewart. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rochelle Houston, <span style='font-size:13.0pt'>First Vice-President,</span> National Federation of the Blind of California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Pathfinder Chapter Los Angeles<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:rhouston58@gmail.com">rhouston58@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>C: 323.807.0300<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>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nations blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>