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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Federation Family: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am excited to announce that the NLS Talking Book Library have titles for download as a result of the Marrakesh Treaty. For those who were unaware or are new to the National Federation of the Blind, for over ten years, we have advocated to pass the Marrakesh Treaty, an action that would open the 95% of the world’s print materials that have been closed to the blind and print disabled. On October 9, 2018, President Donald Trump signed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act and on January 30, 2019, he signed the ratification documents. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What does the Marrakesh Treaty do? For too long, print materials from foreign countries were not available to the blind and print disabled in the United States. Statistically, only 5% of the world’s print materials were available in alternative formats to the blind and print disabled. The treaty called for revisions to U. S. Copyright laws and now those titles can be made available to readers, researchers and students with print disabilities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What is the point? The point, besides the fact that the world has opened to us for print materials, is that sometimes legislative work takes time to come to fruition. One of the four “P’s” shared during Washington Seminar is persistence. We do not give up. Our persistence will pay off in the end. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For our brand-new Washington Seminarians, do not be discouraged if the fruits of your labor have not born instant results. We continue to work on our priorities, even if it takes years. Legislation is a process, like keeping a bonsai tree. The tree may grow slowly and you can only clip a little here and a little there, but over time, your tree will thrive. You keep working on it, nurturing your tree, feeding and trimming and, before you know it, the tree is strong and healthy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Camille Tate <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind, FL <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind, FL <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:ctate2076@att.net">ctate2076@att.net</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 321 372 4899 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>