<html 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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--></style></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'><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><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> NFBF-Melbourne <nfbf-melbourne-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>russell--- via NFBF-Melbourne<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 21, 2025 8:18 AM<br><b>Cc:</b> russell@radiorusty.com; 'NFB of Florida Jacksonville List' <nfbf-jacksonville@nfbnet.org>; 'NFBF-Statewide' <NFBF-Statewide@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Florida Greater Daytona Beach Chapter List' <nfbf-daytona@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Florida Melbourne Space Coast Chapter List'' <nfbf-melbourne@nfbnet.org>; nfbf-miami-dade@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-Melbourne] NFB of Florida - two very important legislative meetings to be held - Wednesday, October 22nd and Tuesday, October 28th...your attendance is needed at both...please open and read...<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Good morning, Federation family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>October is turning out to be an extremely busy month in terms of legislative advocacy. We met in person during our NFB of Florida Affiliate convention in Altamonte Springs on October 5<sup>th</sup> and had a terrific discussion with one another. Wee had over 30 convention attendees present for the meeting and to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to attend, I am truly grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Some extremely important issues have developed since convention, and we all need to work together to address them immediately. This email will provide information about an urgent legislative concerns and advocacy meeting that we will hold tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM and about a follow-up meeting to be held on Zoom on Tuesday, October 28<sup>th</sup> at 8:00 PM. Please try and make time for both meetings if you can.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Last evening President Riccobono convened a meeting of Legislative Directors and Affiliate Presidents. Both Camille Tate and I were in attendance. I noted that nearly 90 Federationists from around the country were also present. To lessen my tendency of being redundant, below I’m going to paste an excerpt from a legislative/news alert released by the National Federation of the Blind on October 14<sup>th</sup>. This alert was sent out via our national email list serve last week and so, perhaps you have seen it recently. The message contained in the alert will highlight the reason why President Riccobono felt compelled to gather with Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors last night. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>“</span>News alert affecting blind people: Most federal employees within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services received Reduction in Force notices last Friday.<br><br>If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of Education’s ability to carry out its legal responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act. These laws ensure that blind children receive Braille and other essential educational services, that blind adults receive the training necessary for competitive employment, and that blind entrepreneurs have opportunities to operate businesses on federal properties.<br><br>We call upon the Department of Education to immediately rescind this reduction in force.<span style='font-size:11.0pt'>”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We believe that simply calling on the Department of Education to resend the RIF will not be enough. We believe that our elected officials in the US House of Representatives and in the US senate need to be urged to put pressure on the Department of Education to resend its reduction in force order before harm is done to the critical programs mentioned above. Florida has 28 US House members and 2 Senators, and we will need your help in trying to hold in person meetings with all of them by November 7<sup>th</sup>. Fortunately, at this time, the US House is not in session and so most Representatives are back home in district.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>So now, you are probably getting a good idea of why we are asking you to join us on such short notice. Some serious work needs to be done, and we know we are making a big, “ask”, of all of you. This is a time when we as Federationists come together, develop a plan and tackle an extremely important issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please see below the Zoom link for the meetings being held. The link will be the same for both meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>President Tate and I are looking forward to gathering with you all soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Russ Davis, Legislative Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Ph. 904-993-8433<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Email: <a href="mailto:russell@radiorusty.com">russell@radiorusty.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Zoom information for calls to be held:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Wednesday, October 22<sup>nd</sup> at 7:00 PM EST<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>And<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tuesday, October 28<sup>th</sup> at 8:00 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBFL President Tate is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Topic: Legislative committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join Zoom Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/94416346364">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/94416346364</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meeting ID: 944 1634 6364<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>---<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One tap mobile<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+16468769923,,94416346364#<span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>