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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are gearing up for our legislative push at the 2020 Washington Seminar. Though many of you cannot join us in D.C., you can still play a critical role in our national legislative success. Please take five minutes to call or email your elected officials and urge them to support the following initiatives:<o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-technology-affordability"><span style='color:#005AA3'>Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/greater-access-independence-nonvisual-access-technology"><span style='color:#005AA3'>Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act (H.R. 3929)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/accessible-instructional-materials-higher-education"><span style='color:#005AA3'>Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (H.R. 5312/S. 3095)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can easily find your official’s phone number by calling (202) 224-3121 or checking the following website: <a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative"><span style='color:blue'>https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative</span></a> or <a href="https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm"><span style='color:blue'>https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Be sure to tell your representative that you and your fellow members support the work of the National Federation of the Blind and that you want them to co-sponsor the “S.” and “H.R.” bill numbers above. These initiatives will help us advance toward equal access to digital information in higher education, home appliances, medical equipment and the affordability of assistive technology. Also think about ways that you might connect with the local office for chapter activities. We depend on strong relationships with Congress throughout the entire year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The arrival of the new year means that many chapters will be collecting dues and updating membership lists. Be sure to renew your membership at the next chapter meeting and update your contact information. Chapter and division presidents will soon receive more information about the process of updating our membership information through activities at our February and March chapter and division meetings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I wish everyone a healthy and happy February as we continue living the life we want to live. Go 49ers!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tim Elder, President, 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>916.382.0372<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The Central Valley Chapter will be holding a health and fitness class on Saturday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m. Blake Searls, a local blind fitness instructor, will be teaching exercises which can be done either in a gym or at home, as well as discussing other ways to live a healthy lifestyle. The class will be held at Fitness Fanatics, 3540 Oakdale Rd, Suite B, Modesto. Please contact Rachel Grider if you are interested in attending.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rachel Grider, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Central Valley Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>209.602.1258<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Happy Valentine’s Day!</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>To show our community some love, the San Joaquin County Chapter is offering the public a free braille transcription service for Valentine’s Day cards on a first come, first served basis. Brailing services will be available Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Mountain Mike’s Restaurant, 1000 W. Robinhood Dr., Stockton, directly following our February chapter meeting . Meeting is from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. if you would like to join them!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'>Joga Singh, President, San Joaquin County Chapter <o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'>Phone: 209.203.2106<o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'>E-mail: <a href="mailto:nfb.ca.sj@gmail.com" target="_blank">nfb.ca.sj@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Riverside – San Bernardino chapter will be hosting their pre-Valentines fundraiser. At TGI Fridays at the Tyler Mall. February 12, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., it’s an all-day event! The address is 3487 Tyler St., Riverside, CA 92503<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For more information call Carmen 909. 486. 2004<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Come and join them!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Carmen M. Weatherly, president,</span> Riverside-San Bernardino Chapter <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>E: <a href="mailto:cweatherly101@gmail.com">cweatherly101@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'>The Pathfinder Chapter is pleased to announce their 9th annual Membership Reception and Resource Fair. This event will be held in conjunction with the WLCAC Senior Center on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be vendors, companies providing information and resources, chapter members demonstrating devices to help you become more independent, skits on mobility and much, much more. This event will take place at the WLCAC Senior Center, Bradley Center at <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://38">10957 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, 90059</a>. Food and door prizes will be provided.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'> Please contact: Michael Richardson, <a href="tel:323.898.3223">323.898.3223</a> or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:michaeljr66@yahoo.com"><span style='color:#954F72'>michaeljr66@yahoo.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></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>323.807.0300<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Parents of Blind Children of California now has a Facebook group. They encourage everyone that is a parent or guardian, educator, advocate or ally of blind children to join. The group is focused on providing relative information, advocacy, education and support to parents, educators and allies of blind youth with a focus on California. The group is intended to be a safe place where people can ask questions and provide support to one another. They all have experiences from which we can draw upon to help each other navigate the often complicated scenarios we encounter with our children.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/215060102852562">https://www.facebook.com/groups/215060102852562</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Jeanette Jones, President, Parents of Blind Children of California<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>C: 209.589.6058<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:blindwise.jj@gmail.com">blindwise.jj@gmail.com</a><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></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>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><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>