<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Good Morning,</div><div>Ten years of hard work by the members of the NFB has </div>Resulted in the ratification of the Marrakech Treaty. Read more below.<div>Cathy <br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List" <<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> February 8, 2019 at 8:36:23 AM EST<br><b>To:</b> "Danielsen, Chris" <<a href="mailto:CDanielsen@nfb.org">CDanielsen@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> "Danielsen, Chris" <<a href="mailto:CDanielsen@nfb.org">CDanielsen@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[State-affiliate-leadership-list] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of Marrakesh Treaty</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership List <<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">NEWS BRIEF</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of Marrakesh Treaty</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Geneva, Switzerland (February 8, 2019):</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> Today, the United States government formalized its ratification
of the Marrakesh Treaty by depositing the US instrument of ratification with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This action begins a ninety-day waiting period, after which the treaty will officially be in force as US policy, throwing open
the doors to expanded literacy for the blind of America and the world.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“The National Federation of the Blind seeks the removal of all artificial or unnecessary barriers to access to knowledge by the blind,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. “That is why we championed the Marrakesh Treaty and fought for its signing and ratification by the United States. Today’s deposit of the US ratification instrument represents the culmination of that effort, but even more importantly,
it represents greater access to the world’s literature and knowledge for blind people in America and across the world. We are therefore pleased to celebrate this historic moment with our blind brothers and sisters everywhere.”</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Read more regarding the Marrakesh Treaty in the following articles:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/marrakesh-express-rolling-home">Marrakesh Express Rolling Home</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/us-house-representatives-passes-marrakesh-treaty-implementation-act"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">US House of Representatives Passes Marrakesh Treaty
Implementation Act</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/united-states-senate-greenlights-marrakesh-treaty-and-implementing-legislation"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">United States Senate Greenlights Marrakesh Treaty and Implementing
Legislation</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/senate-committee-votes-advance-marrakesh-treaty"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Senate Committee Votes to Advance Marrakesh Treaty</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-legislation-implementing"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind Applauds the
Introduction of Legislation Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">###</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">About the National Federation of the Blind
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates,
chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe
in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Chris Danielsen</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Director of Public Relations</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">National Federation of the Blind</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>State-Affiliate-Leadership-List mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:State-Affiliate-Leadership-List@nfbnet.org">State-Affiliate-Leadership-List@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for State-Affiliate-Leadership-List:</span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/cathyj1949%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/cathyj1949%40gmail.com</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>