<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><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Good evening,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>If you asked me holding an annual meeting and a seminar now and then is not enough to justify continued membership in this organization. The Blindness Information and Technology Specialists, (BITS) the ACB’s equivalent can run circles around the NFBCS any day unless something changes. For starters unlike the NFBCS BITS has it’s own <a href="%0dWebsite:%20https:/bits-acb.org%0d"><o:p></o:p></a></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="%0dWebsite:%20https:/bits-acb.org%0d">Website: https://bits-acb.org<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> This is just for starters. They have numerous technology-related discussion groups, produce a number of technology-related podcasts, and conduct online classes teaching such subjects like learning Microsoft 365 a course that was very well-done. They’re preparing to offer a 6-month course on HTML, Markdown, Website design and management and the use of Word Press. They plan to offer a Python course later this year And they do all that for $10.00 annual membership dues. The rest comes from donations and funds raised via the BITS Store. Where’s the NFBCS Store? They do all of that with fewer resources than what the NFB and the NFBCS have at their disposal. .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> If the NFBCS wishes to grow it needs to increase its offerings to members and conduct activities making it worth one’s participation. It’s our hope that the NFBCS will elect leadership that will take serious actions to increase this organization’s footprint in the blind community and to make it an organization all can be proud to be a member of. All the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Peter Donahue<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>