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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>In behalf of president Martinez:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Florida Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our 2022 State Convention has ended; however, I am still wearing my construction hard hat. As I contemplate on the three marvelous days we were together in the beautiful city of Jacksonville, my focus turns to our 2023 convention in Tampa, Florida. Before the Florida Affiliate starts preparing for our next convention. I would like to take a moment to reminisce on our past convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks goes to the hosting chapters of Jacksonville and Daytona for preparing such a welcoming environment to our members. Their hard work and dedication to the federation was demonstrated on how well our exhibit hall was represented. The hospitality suite was greatly attended by our members. The breakout sessions were informative and we had a breaking number of titled sponsors this year. I would like to thank our National Representative, John paire for his national report and a wonderful banquet speech.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had great fun during the auction and raised over five thousand dollars to support programs of the Florida Affiliate. The student division were greatly represented and four student scholarships were awarded during the banquet on Sunday night. Speaking of the banquet. We express our gratitude to the staff at the South Bank hotel for such a wonderful dinner, but most of all, for such a wonderful stay. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would like to take time to thank the Affiliate Board for their hard work during the last three days and making the 2022 state convention such a success. but the convention would not be possible without you, the members of the Florida Affiliate. We were challenged by hurricane Ian a few days before the convention kicked off, but you were resilient in challenging times with transportation and you found ways to ensure you were present at our convention. As we look towards the 2023 convention in Tampa, I urge you to ware your construction hard hat and start building your chapters, divisions, and groups plans to attend and make this upcoming convention bigger and better than this years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Like I said during general session, all together and as loud as we can, Lets 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>Paul Martinez, President <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>