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<DIV><SPAN class=279122714-26072010>Attached and in the body of this message is
our Blind Missourian for July, 2010.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=279122714-26072010></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=279122714-26072010></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=279122714-26072010></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=279122714-26072010>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face=Calibri>THE BLIND MISSOURIAN<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face=Calibri>July,
2010<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face=Calibri>National Federation of the Blind of
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Gary L. Wunder,
President<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT face=Calibri><st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">3910 Tropical
Lane</SPAN></B></st1:address></st1:Street><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT face=Calibri><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Columbia</SPAN></B></st1:City><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Phone:
573-874-1774<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT
face=Calibri>Table of Contents<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Baby
Taken From Blind Parents By Gary Wunder<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>1<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoTitle align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Presidential
Report March 2010 By Gary Wunder<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>2<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Member
Overpaid $132,379.60 by SSA?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>13<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">By
Eugene Coulter<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Letter
to Heidi Atkins Lieberman, Assistant Commissioner<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">regarding
Study Island By Gary Wunder<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>16</SPAN><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Resolutions
from 2010 State Convention<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>18<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Gary
Wunder, Mystery Solved By Carol Coulter <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>24<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BABY TAKEN FROM BLIND
PARENTS<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By Gary
Wunder<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">“I’ve seen this posting
about a blind child being taken from her parents and it has your name on it? Is
it really true, or is it one of those Internet Urban Legends which starts with a
grain of truth and grows until it is too spectacular to believe?” <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">“I heard about the baby
and really love learning about our history. In what year did that
happen?”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">These are the kinds of
questions I got on e-mail and all throughout the National Convention as word of
Blake Sinnett, Erika Johnson, and their baby Mikaela spread across the country.
“I just can’t believe something like this would happen in 2010,” was the first
response. “What can I do,” was the second.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As shocking as it is,
here are the facts as I understand them. Blake Sinnett and Erika Johnson went to
the hospital to have their baby. The baby was born on Friday, May 21. Soon after
the birth of the baby, Mikaela was given to Erika for feeding. Feeling that
something was not right, Erika called the nurse who observed that the baby was
beginning to turn blue, repositioned the baby, waited until the baby started to
take nourishment, and then calmed Erika by telling her that many new mothers
have problems when initially trying to feed their baby.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By 6 P.M. on the day of
Mikaela's birth, a representative from the Missouri Department of Social
Services was on the scene. Blake and Erika were asked if there would be a
sighted person at home to supervise the care of the infant. They reported that
they lived alone, and the social worker said that until she could be assured
that there would be sighted supervision, the baby would remain in the custody of
social services.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We first heard about
this couple from the Parents of Blind Children mailing list. No one wanted to
give the names of the couple. Everyone wanted to know if we could help! By the
time we were actually able to make contact with Blake and Erika, it was late on
Wednesday afternoon. They had a preliminary hearing set for Thursday, and when
we asked them whether they would like someone to accompany them, they politely
declined. Not only did they know very little about the National Federation of
the Blind, but they truly believed in their heart of hearts that what had
happened to them was an unfortunate oversight which most certainly would be
corrected in the hearing to follow. They were afraid that accepting our help
would "rock the boat," and would actually hurt their chances for a speedy
resolution.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When the hearing was
concluded on Wednesday, a decision was made to leave the child in foster care
until more information could be gathered. At this point Eric and Blake called us
back, and we immediately employed the services of an attorney who has worked
with us on two other cases.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Where do things stand
now? At the time of this writing, baby Mikaela and her parents are able to see
one another fewer than four times a week. No unsupervised visits have been
allowed. Never in Mikaela's life has she been allowed to spend a night with her
mother and father.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">About the time you read
this, there should be a hearing which we hope will <U>Bring Mikaela Home!
</U>While we certainly know that we could make tremendous use of traditional
media outlets and the power of the Internet to make this a very public case, we
have decided on a strategy which will leave this to the courts. We believe
justice will be done, and we believe that it is important to establish some
solid case law in this area. Even with our attempt to maintain a relatively low
profile and to preserve the privacy of Erika and Blake, news of this event has
spread far and wide, and we have good reason to believe that the United States
Department of Justice is interested in this case.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We will continue to
cover this issue in the pages of the Blind Missourian and through frequent
updates on our National Federation of the Blind of Missouri mailing
list.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Presidential
Report<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">March
2010<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By Gary Wunder
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Each year I try to think
of a new and novel way to begin these remarks.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Normally I tell you what a fine year we
have had, or give you a bit of history about how many times you have allowed me
to stand before you in an effort to summarize our
activities.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">This year let me try
something a bit different and give you the bad news first.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you can hang with me for just a few
minutes, everything else will be downhill or, as they say, easy
sledding.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We
have seen significant challenges this year, which aren't likely to go away.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of our major hitters have suffered
with long-term illness which has taken a great deal of their time and energy
which would otherwise have come to us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Our frequent traveler and First Vice-President has had back and shoulder
trouble, not to mention the headaches which come with such problems.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sitting at a computer for any length of
time has been excruciating.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So has
attending meetings, spending time in a car, or riding on the
train.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">My
wife Debbie has had three eye surgeries in an effort to stem her continual loss
of vision.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sight which was once
good enough for her to stand here at the podium and read with the best of us is
now so degraded that when she is asked if she can count fingers, her standard
reply is "Yes, if they're my own." Again there are problems with pain, balance,
and the general disorientation which comes when what your eyes send to your
brain is very different from what you're accustomed to
seeing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Our dear friend and
fellow traveler Tom Stevens has had somewhat fewer problems than last year, but
the effort he must expend to do the work we once took for granted has
significantly increased.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rita Lynch
is always on top of things she has been assigned, but her husband JW's health is
something she must seriously address and it takes a good deal of time and energy
she would otherwise willingly give to us.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Finally the officer
corps has suffered a resignation, the difficulty of transition, and the cost in
time of achieving what reconciliation we can.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And then there is yours truly who has
been wrestling for the last six months to figure out where or if I will be
employed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My job with the
University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics has been transferred to the Cerner
Corporation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I now have to decide
whether to attempt a transition to Cerner, seek a different job with the
University, or take early retirement and become a business partner with Debbie
in selling the KNFB Reader and other blindness products.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This latter option is appealing, but
having the structure of a full-time job still has some attraction for me, and I
know my temptation, were I to retire, would be to play the role of a full-time
advocate for the NFB both statewide and nationally.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As appealing as this is, I truly believe
I make a better advocate by holding down a job outside work with the blind where
I can demonstrate that while the climb is often up hill, blind people can
<I>get</I> and <I>perform</I> jobs alongside their sighted
colleagues.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">All of these things I
bring to your attention, not because we have nothing to share in terms of
successes, but to highlight the <I>absolute</I> <I>imperative</I> to find
leaders to replace those of us who have carried the banner for a long time now
and who, no matter how much we care, cannot defy the changing economy, or the
laws of aging and the physical problems which accompany
it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Last year in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Louis</st1:place></st1:City>, we held this
affiliate's first youth convention.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Because of a grant from our Imagination Fund and a matching grant from
the State Affiliate, we had eight families participate in a morning session
devoted exclusively to the concerns of young people.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That agenda featured a visit from the
St.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Louis zoo complete with both
live and stuffed animals, instruction in the reading and writing of Braille, a
mobility game in which the long white cane was used, and last but not least a
dancing lesson where students were taught the <I>Electric</I>
<I>Slide.<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Our youth session ran
simultaneously with our regular session, and in the afternoon we oriented our
agenda to issues of interest to parents and students.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Both were involved not only as
spectators but as presenters, and some of the speeches about the day's
activities and those which took place in our 2008 Mission Believe were the most
moving of our 2009 convention.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
June we conducted a Family Fun Day in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> which found 80 people in attendance,
the majority of whom were parents and their blind children.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While this is a fantastic start, and
represented for us a significant outreach, we have not, as in so many cases,
made the vital connection which makes these people adopt <I>our</I> organization
as <I>their</I> organization.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First
and foremost we are still seen as a service provider, just one among many, when
what we need to communicate is that our organization is only as vital and
energetic as the people who receive and contribute to our service will
allow.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The National Federation
of the Blind of Missouri is a vehicle for change, a canoe which can get us from
where we are now to where we want to be, but one which will only move forward if
people like you and I decide to take up the oars and row.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each of us in this room has the
responsibility to take up an ore, but equally, each of us has the responsibility
to look for other people to join us in the rowing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Although a snowstorm
delayed us by two weeks, the National Federation of the Blind went to the
hallowed halls of Jefferson City to once again make our case for retaining and
recruiting Blindness Skills Specialists, and for changing Missouri law to more
closely align with federal legislation which helps to bring textbooks from
publishers to the fingers and ears of blind students.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Currently revenue for the state of
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> is 7%
below projections and given this, you can imagine that a major thrust of our
visit was to preserve the gains we have made in staffing the blindness skills
specialists positions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It
appears that our efforts have been successful in that HB 3 which deals with
elementary and secondary education passed through the House committee with the
Blindness Skills Specialists line item intact.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course, this program must still
survive a vote by the House, a Senate Committee, a vote by the full Senate, any
reconciliation which must occur between the House and Senate, and eventually
must gain the signature of the Governor without a withholding which could
nullify all of our progress.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
will see this through one step at a time, and will do our best to see that blind
students in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> have a fighting chance for an
education as good as the one given to their sighted peers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
would like to thank everyone who came to the Jefferson City Seminar.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know how difficult it is to continue
supporting the same old issues year after year, wondering if we will ever fill
the open positions, and whether they will truly make a difference in the lives
of blind children.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">May I remind you how
long it took us to pass the Model White Cane Law which, for the first time,
granted blind people the right to be accompanied by their dog guides in any
place of public accommodation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Nothing we do which represents real change can happen without hard work
and the passage of time, but we couldn't be luckier to have the friends and
colleagues who turn out year after year to place their stamp on changing what it
means to be blind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Thank you to Brian
Wekamp and his Committee for once again coming up to the line and showing our
elected officials at the State Capitol that the blind have a voice, an opinion,
and a desire to succeed which will not be deterred.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Given the budget crisis
in the state, it isn't surprising that some real thought is being given to how
to reduce costs at the three residential schools: the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType> for the Blind, the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType> for the Deaf and the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Severely
Disabled.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The task force which was
created by the Commissioner for Special Education met three times during the
month of January, and its report has now been submitted to the Department of
elementary and Secondary Education.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>While there is no way to know what will be done with that document, it
does not include a recommendation either to close or combine the School for the
Blind or the School for the Deaf, and neither does it recommend mass transfers
of people to the public school system or to the School for the Severely
Disabled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It became clear to me in
my service as your representative on the task force that there is much we do not
know about the school for the blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We too easily rely on <I>how</I> <I>it</I> <I>was</I> when we were there,
or what someone last told us about it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We
sometimes refer to it as a dumping ground where only those with other
disabilities attend.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The reality is
that we should be much more involved in school programs and services, and must
come to understand that, even with the public school option open for many blind
students, the school for the blind still provides a much-needed educational
outlet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This task force experience
also convinces me just how far we have to go in making the public school
experience what it should be for students who are blind.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A number of children who elect to go to
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Blind do so
because in the public school environment their school day ends at 3:30.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They too often feel they have no
friends, engage in no extracurricular activities, and feel that participation in
competitive athletics is out of the question for them.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This anecdotal information is confirmed
by our own 2008 experience in hosting Mission Believe.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The school for the blind fills these
roles nicely.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The public schools could
do much better, but for that to happen will require a significant presence on
our part, and a great deal more involvement with the schoolchildren and their
parents as they go through the system.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">One of the exciting
things we did this year was participate in a summit between Rehabilitation
Services for the Blind, the Missouri Council of the Blind and the National
Federation of the Blind. The idea of a summit has been proposed before by RSB
and championed by our recently departed friend Mike Merrick.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While this was not the first of its
kind, what made it unique was the commitment that the two consumer organizations
made to an ongoing dialogue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
started by establishing some ground rules.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We would not try to resolve those areas where we have a difference of
opinion.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead, we would work
from the understanding that on 80% of the issues which concern both
organizations, we are in <I>absolute</I> <I>agreement.</I><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Both of us want to see Blindness Skills
Specialists deployed throughout the state.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Both are interested in
the issue of quiet cars and legislation to address the danger they pose to
pedestrians.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each is absolutely
committed to changing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State></st1:place> law so that it allows blind students
to fully participate in the Textbooks On Time initiative which we secured at the
federal level and now need to bring to our state statutes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All of us are interested in seeing that
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind continues to provide needed equipment and
training for the consumers it serves.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
important as all of these things on which we agree are, there is one other
reason to unite where we can: to combat those who would exploit our differences
to justify their own inaction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
are tired of the lame excuse that there are two organizations of the blind who
just can't agree, and that this makes understanding what the blind really want
and need next to impossible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Both
the Missouri Council of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind are
sick and tired of that kind of foolishness, and have determined no longer to let
such an argument stand between blind people and the services we
need.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
furtherance of an ongoing dialogue, we participated in a Missouri Council of the
Blind sponsored telephone call, were warmly welcomed, and were actively
encouraged to consider it our call as well you theirs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As an active part of the conference, we
discussed how to promote legislation, draft a joint letter of agreement on quiet
cars, and generally learn about the policies and programs of each
organization.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let there be no doubt
that these moves have nothing to do with trying to form one organization, to
gloss over our differences, or to subordinate one organization to the
other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will still be in
competition for members, for money, and for the different philosophies in which
we believe, but, for the reasons I have stated above, I think it serves all of
us to work together where we can in advancing the cause of blind
people.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Feeling we needed to
update our chapters on important policies and procedures, the Board of Directors
proposed a President-Treasurer seminar.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That motion was later expanded to include all chapter officers, and in
February of this year we met for a day long retreat, reviewing everything from
bookkeeping to the conduct of chapter meetings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This event provided a wonderful
opportunity for chapter leaders to interact with one another, to present their
good ideas, and to borrow liberally from the good ideas of others.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The packet handed to officers was
comprised of eight separate documents, one being the agenda and supporting
material which itself was 58 pages long.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If you have read the most recent issue of the <I>Blind</I>
<I>Missourian,</I> you will find one of the more moving presentations made at
the seminar by none other than Susan Ford.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I've been blessed to hear a number of presentations from the hearts of
Federationists whose lives have been changed by the organization, but seldom
have I been brought to tears by such moving words as Susan spoke that
day.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A
survey of participants indicated near unanimity that we should have more such
events and that they should be expanded to include additional members.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My pledge is that we will do more of
these if funding and time will allow.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The other clear message from the survey was that while all of the
contributions from presenters were helpful and appreciated, the efforts of one
person stood out in particular as extraordinary for organizing, publicizing, and
dealing with the myriad of problems which had to be overcome to make the seminar
a success.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please join me in
congratulating Eugene Coulter for his superb job as the Seminar
Coordinator.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Periodically the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in conjunction with
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind hosts the Children's Vision Summit.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This event, for blind children and their
parents, presents an opportunity for learning, networking, and drawing much
needed inspiration from those who are successfully living with blindness.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This year we participated in three ways:
hosting a session for the children, bringing Carol Castellano as the Keynote
Speaker, and sponsoring Christine Parsons, a young college student who can stand
shoulder to shoulder with anyone when it comes to giving an inspirational
speech.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I want to thank Carol and
Christine for the outstanding messages of hope they brought.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I also want to thank Debbie Wunder who
coordinated the children's activity and her assistants who were Dacia Luck, Rita
Lynch, and Susan Ford.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our
participation, whether through the games we played with the children or the
messages we sent to their parents, help to shape the future for blind people,
and that, my friends, is what we're all about.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
the last several years when I have talked with you about the blind Missourian,
it has been with the recognition that our longtime editor Dr.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Patricia Morrow wanted to step
down.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Grappling with how in the
world we would find a person to replace her has been one of my biggest
challenges.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At first we tried to
edit by committee, a noble endeavor, but one which just didn't work in
practice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When clearly we weren't
getting the results we needed, several people volunteered to be our editor, and
one of them was Carol Coulter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My
reservations about Carol and the others who volunteered were that they were
already deeply committed to other Federation activities, and my fear was that
adding one more would simply set them up for failure.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think it is clear that I was wrong,
and I couldn't be happier to admit it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Carol is doing her best to restore us to a quarterly publishing schedule,
has managed the mailing list, organized and edited the material, and gotten us
out several issues of which we can be very very proud.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">She has also gotten
submissions from several people whose articles reveal they should be regular
contributors to our newsletter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For
all of the work which has gone into the publication and the willingness to
venture taking on yet another job for the Federation, will you join me please in
expressing our appreciation to Carol Coulter.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">One of our major
initiatives statewide and nationally has been the job of increasing Braille
literacy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The goal this year was to
sell the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The coordinator of our effort was Fred Olver, and though he is not with
us today, he is no less deserving of the words I want to say about him.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He did a superb job in giving us the
materials to market and sell the coin.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He set a fine example by selling a number of coins himself.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If I had it to do over again, it would
be with pleasure that I would appoint Fred to be our
Coordinator.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Just how we did in our
sales is a matter of opinion, as is the age-old question of whether the glass is
half full or half empty.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We sold
just over half of the coins authorized by Congress.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will receive $2.2 million for our
efforts and must set about the task of raising an additional 2.2 million as
required for the government match.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All told, this will mean that we will have almost 4 and 1/2 million
dollars to place in the service of increasing the literacy of blind people, and
I, for one, feel very good about our accomplishments!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">At
last year's national convention, one of the Bolotin Awards went to the National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille and the National Organization of
Parents of Blind Children for their sponsorship of the Braille Readers are
Leaders Contest.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> has always been
an active participant in the program, and this year our effort was coordinated
by Bryan Schulz.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A celebration was
held at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Blind and the theme this
year was how to use Braille to play games.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Needless to say, the
event was a huge success with the students, and the team has already written an
article for the Blind Missourian and the Braille Monitor.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I extend my thanks to the Chairman and
all of his Committee for making Braille real and fun in the lives of blind
students at MSB and I ask that you join me in applauding their work and
creativity.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Before leaving the
subject of Braille, let me tell you there were three Missourians who got their
letters in a book we presented to President Obama through the good offices of
the Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Debbie Wunder had a letter published in that book where she describes the
pain in being expected to see, and the long-term consequences of not being
taught to read and write in a way which would last a lifetime.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sometimes Debbie is congratulated on her
presentations and letters, and then, much to her chagrin, is asked if I wrote
them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>May I tell you in confidence
that if anything can make Debbie growl, that's the question which can do
it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had nothing to do with
Debbie's letter, and I truly believe that the only reason Gary Wunder got a
letter there too was that no one wanted to tell me why hers made it and mine
didn't.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
our Saturday afternoon session last year, we spent a significant amount of time
reviewing Mission Believe which took place in 2008.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Board of Directors once again
decided we should approach the Imagination Fund with the request to do another
such event.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It will take place on
the last weekend in June, using the same fine facilities we did before.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I ask that all of you consider what you
can lend to the project by way of thoughts, volunteer time, and anything else
you might wish to donate to make this project a success.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mission Believe is one tangible way we
can reach out to young people and their parents with the message of hope and
opportunity which bring us all together in this room
today.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
we have done every year since 1979 when Tom Stevens first represented us at the
Washington Seminar, we again sent a delegation to our nation's capital.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This year I had the pleasure of being
one of those to attend, and I can tell you that our traditional Washington
Seminar crew represents one well oiled machine.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Shelia Wright is first-rate at making
appointments, even when that means call after call and letter after letter to
see that it gets done.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tom Stevens
has developed several key relationships which have proven very beneficial to us
in the past and his continuing presence representing the Federation is
priceless.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were fortunate this
year to have Dan Flasar as part of our delegation, and no person I know can give
a more sincere and articulate presentation than he.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I'm also extremely excited to tell you
that Gary Horchem joined us for the first time, and while he didn't try to
upstage any of the veterans who knew their lines ever so well, he did a fine job
of filling in the gaps and expressing the views which only a technically
inclined young person could do.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Thanks to the Parent
Leadership Program sponsored by the Affiliate Action Department at our national
headquarters, we were able to bring to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:State> and enlist the services of Richard
Willis, a man we first met at our Family Fun Day, and Richard is a real advocate
in his own right.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He did a
fantastic job in describing the difficulty his young wife finds in taking a job,
while at the same time striving to retain the Social Security disability
insurance benefits to which she is entitled.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Besides Shelia, Tom,
Dan, Gary, and Richard, we were fortunate to have Debbie Wunder in our
delegation, and though she often speaks very softly, when she spoke to the
congressmen about kitchen appliances blind people can't use, and washers we
can't run, she really got their attention.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
a result of our trip and the all-important follow-up to it, we now have
Congressman Russ Carnahan signed on to all three of our bills, and Congressman
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Blaine</st1:place></st1:City>
Luetkemeyer co-sponsoring two of the three.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As Patti Chang mentioned earlier in the
day, it is essential that we press Rep. Henry Waxman to give us a hearing on our
Quiet Car legislation, HR 734, which now has more than enough sponsors to pass
the House if only it is given a fair hearing by committee and sent for
consideration on the floor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let's
pickup our phones on Monday morning and let Rep. Waxman know that blind people
are as deserving of safety in our travel as are people who buy cars from the
Japanese manufacturer Toyota.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Let me turn for just a
moment to cases.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Last year I told
you about Carol Coulter and the allegation by SSA that she had been receiving
benefits to which she was not entitled for the last 24 years.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We never used an abacus or a pencil to
determine what figure that might be, but Carol definitely looked like she was
headed for debtor’s prison or at least the modern day equivalent of it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I also noted at the time what a unique
position she held in influencing the man in this room who knows the most about
advocacy when dealing with the Social Security Administration, SSA.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Carol's case has been resolved with two
major admissions on the part of SSA: 1) Carol is blind; and 2) she owes not one
red cent to the Social Security Trust Fund.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Brian Nash is a man who
lives in this part of the state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
July of last year he too got a notice from Social Security saying since he was
not disabled and had been receiving SSDI, he owed the SSA $6,000.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We worked with him to file an appeal,
and so obvious was the agency's mistake that in February, even without a
hearing, he was told he did not owe the money and was reinstated as a blind SSDI
recipient.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Cortney Glonka is a
young woman who lives in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St.
Louis</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Wanting to work, and being a recipient of Supplemental Security Income,
SSI, Cortney went to her local Social Security office to work out a Plan to
Achieve Self Support.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her concern
was that a new job would require she report and send in her own taxes, and her
fear was that holding this money would make it appear as an asset by the Social
Security Administration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The SSA
representative she met with agreed Cortney should establish a savings account
into which she would place money she thought she would owe the Internal Revenue
Service at the end of the year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This Cortney did, noting clearly in the documentation for the account
exactly what it was for, and even going so far as to throw away the passbook so
she wouldn't accidentally make a withdrawal.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Since I'm telling you
this story, you already know what's coming.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When the SSA found out about the savings
account, they wrote to Cortney saying she had too much money to be receiving
SSI, that her benefits would be discontinued, and that she should return the
$3,000 plus in overpayments she had received.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Complicating the situation even more,
Cortney moved during the process, went for a time to a closer SSA location, and
soon began receiving letters from two offices showing her owing different
amounts and demanding repayment.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When we first heard from
Cortney, we found her to be most sincere and articulate, but frankly we thought
she was in real trouble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The proper
way to withhold taxes is not to put them in a savings account but to send
estimated tax, on a quarterly basis, to the Internal Revenue Service.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We gently told her as much but agreed
we'd do what we could to help.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dan Flasar waded through
all of Cortney's records and accompanied her to the hearing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She impressed the Administrative Law
Judge as much as she did all of us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In his opinion, Cortney unquestionably acted in good faith, took
reasonable steps to avoid an overpayment, and documented and clearly articulated
those steps.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Accordingly, the judge
found that Cortney owed nothing to the Social Security Administration, and in
fact could keep the money she had saved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The stars were definitely aligned in her favor when she also learned she
had made so little that she owed nothing to the IRS.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I'd like to conclude my
report by talking with you about our last case, that being on behalf of Gary
Owens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You will remember <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:City> has been told he owes
$132,000 in back payments for receiving SSDI benefits to which he was not
entitled. Our best calculations reveal <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:City> possibly exceeded SGA for one month in
1998, so SSA's conclusion is that anything received after that date must be
repaid.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
we said we would, the NFB helped <st1:City w:st="on">Gary</st1:City> appeal, and
now, one year after that request for reconsideration, SSA has reached a
tentative decision which is being sent to the main office in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:place></st1:City> for
approval.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The finding which is
being sent forward is as follows: Gary will be reinstated for Social Security
Disability benefits, will receive back pay from the time he reapplied after
being terminated, and the $132,000 he allegedly owes to SSA will be removed from
his record and he will be free and clear of all alleged overpayment
obligations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A
moment ago I threw out the promise of concluding these remarks, and now I'll
make good on it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let me say what a
pleasure it is to serve this organization and to know and work with so many fine
people in a cause larger than ourselves.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">My
greatest hope and most humble request is that more of you who support as rank
and file members press to be more involved.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Seek out assignments, and if your
chapter presidents or I fail to give you something to do, beat us over the head
until we do.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Help us get new
people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Help us make those we have
feel more involved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Help us be the
kind of organization which will create a world worthy of the blind people who
will come after us, and help us all remember that the pettiness which can
sometimes separate us is far less important than the mission which unites us and
which causes us to carry with pride the banner which says "We are the National
Federation of the Blind."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Member Overpaid
$132,379.60 by SSA?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By
Eugene Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Nervously
the envelope from the Social Security Administration is opened as too often it
contains either bad news or forms to complete. Imagine the dismay of reading the
very first sentence, “We paid you $132,379.60 too much in
benefits.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Then
there is the shocking conclusion that the recipient should remit a check in the
full amount of the overpayment right away. If you must make partial payments you
must submit a check with a substantial payment and a complete explanation of why
the entire amount cannot be paid. Then the final horrible piece of news is that
once they have finished the review your benefits will be stopped as you are no
longer disabled.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary
Owens of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City>
<st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State></st1:place> chapter received just such
a letter dated January 20, 2009. Shock could not begin to describe his reaction.
In less than 24 hours he had contacted both State President Gary Wunder and me
to see what could be done. After what must have seemed like an interrogation to
Mr. Owens we decided that the NFB would take on his case. The first point that
seemed obvious was that Mr. Owens was still disabled as he was, and still is,
statutorily blind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A lot
of evidence had to be collected to proof our contention that not only is Gary
Owens still blind but that he had not met the threshold of Substantial Gainful
Activity that Social Security (SSA) uses in determining a person’s eligibility
for benefits. What made this case unusually difficult was the allegation that he
had been over paid for over ten years back to April of 1999 when he participated
in the vending program.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Because
of strict deadlines imposed by SSA Mr. Owens was forced to collect a mountain of
information in less than a week. This was difficult as some items that would
have been helpful could not be produced as the persons that could provide them
had passed away in the intervening decade. With most of the evidence<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>in hand Mr. Owens came to my house and
spent three hours going over the evidence and then I spent the next 11 hours
organizing it and making sense of it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Several
items seemed clear right from the beginning. First and foremost was that if Mr.
Owens was overpaid at all it was for maybe a couple of months and would not
exceed a couple of thousand dollars. The first error appeared to be that SSA did
not allow any of the customary unencumbered expenses allowed to blind vendors or
impairment work related expenses to the self employed. Secondarily, employment
information was incorrect or applied to incorrect time
periods.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">There
was no evidence that SSA had ever asked Mr. Owens to provide impairment work
related expenses from any of his subsequent jobs. They, apparently, counted a
small pension from a former employer as current employment. A strong letter was
prepared with a lot of help from Gary Wunder objecting in the strongest possible
terms to the decision.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Mr.
Owens took the letter to SSA along with the evidence we had collected and was
basically told not to hold his breath. Then six months later<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>in a letter dated July 14
SSA handed down their final decision stating that he still owed the $132,379.60
but that benefits had already been stopped with the July 3rd check. Immediately
both a request for reconsideration and a request for waiver were filed with SSA.
For the next ten months Gary Owens sat on pins and needles without any income
from Social Security. There were several meetings with local Social Security
offices. Finally on March 25, 2010 a local official confirmed that he was
sending the file for ‘development’ recommending that benefits be restored and
that there was absolutely no overpayment. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It took over two more months until the
decision became official. On May 28, not only was the $132,379.60 overpayment
wiped out, but a check for well over $10,000.00 was issued for the underpayment
for the eleven months <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:City> had to do without his income.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">How
did this happen? Since SSA never allowed the vending expenses for the year or
two he worked there, he was over the income limit. Once he used up the Trial
Work Period, SSA considered him no longer disabled, so regardless of income for
the next nine years he would not be eligible for any checks until he re-applied
and was once again determined to be disabled.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The
question that arises from all of this is, why does SSA have the right to go back
over a decade to determine eligibility when it is unlikely that beneficiaries
would keep records that long? I do not know the answer but we are sure glad that
Mr. Owens had some records and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind provided a
critical piece of vending information.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We
all need to learn some lessons from this. First, never throw away any records
pertaining to earnings or to Social Security until after you are dead. Second,
remember the first rule of dealing with any bureaucracy: Record, Reply, and
report. For example if you are a blind vendor, get a hold of verification of
your unencumbered expenses including unpaid rent each and every year.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Keep
all documents pertaining to any aspect of earnings or SSA in a safe place such
as a safe deposit box or fire proof box. And, if SSA comes a calling reply right
away and supply the information that you have already neatly gathered. Finally,
you are always at fault if you do not report changes in your circumstance. It is
better to report too much than not enough.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">This
case could have easily gone the other way as some of the records were thin.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Owens wants me to express his thanks
to everyone in the NFB as it made him feel great to have all of us behind him
and feels even better now that he has his life back.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Note:
There will be another Social Security Seminar on August 14, 2010 in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State></st1:place> at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">1500 Vandiver Drive</st1:address></st1:Street>, Conference Room A/B
from 10:00 to 3:00, all are invited. Details will be forthcoming on the website
or call Columbia Chapter President Debbie Wunder at 573-874-1774.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">April 26,
2010<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Heidi Atkins Lieberman,
Assistant Commissioner <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Division of Special
Education<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PO
Box</SPAN></st1:Street><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">
480</SPAN></st1:address><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jefferson
City</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">,
<st1:State w:st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">65102</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dear
Ms. Lieberman,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Last
Spring, we became aware of issues with <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Study</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType>,
an on-line test preparation site, being used by some school districts throughout
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>. At
that time, one of our leaders contacted Study Island through their “contact us”
link and expressed our concerns with their site not being accessible to blind
and visually impaired students who use screen readers. As a proactive
organization, we also suggested several sources that would be able to assist
them in addressing these issues. They responded to our message and our follow-up
calls thanking us for our comments and indicating they would take this into
consideration for future designs but seemed unwilling to look at the issue for
current online material. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As a
result, our concern was brought to the attention of the Missouri Taskforce on
Blind Students Academic and Vocational performance (AKA: The Blind Task Force).
This should have alerted the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of
the problem that blind and visually impaired students are facing. Since that
time, we have become aware of other web based preparation and testing sites that
are being used by school districts in Missouri which have similar
inaccessibility issues.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is moving toward
online testing for MAP and End of Course assessments, the time has come where
this issue must not be ignored. The Department needs to be actively involved in
assuring that any online test preparation and/or testing sites contracting with
the state of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> are accessible to all students.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We
understand that online testing is in the future of our youth and that there may
be advantages for Missouri Schools to move in this direction. With increased
awareness, planning, and a few extra steps during the construction phase of a
web site, web designers can and should build web sites that are accessible to
blind and visually impaired students. All areas of the web page should be
accessible as our blind students need the same opportunities as their peers to
utilize the study materials and pretests which allow them practice navigating
the web site prior to statewide testing. It is also important that these
companies construct test questions in a manner to ensure the question can be
correctly completed without reliance on vision.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A
resolution adopted by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri during
our 2010 annual state convention accompanies this letter. We are also including
a listing of a few problems that we have noticed with <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Study</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. This list is in no way a complete
listing but demonstrates common problems that can easily be addressed when
considered by publishers and web designers at the time of construction.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
addition, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the department to
assure that Braille and large print test copies continue to be available for
students during this transition. How tragic it would be if, after all of our
work to give a blind person an education worthy of his or her aptitude and
interest, future educational opportunities and career goals would be forfeited
because the testing instrument turned out to evaluate the technical skills of
the test taker more than the knowledge the test was designed to
measure.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><IMG
src="cid:279122714@26072010-1A11" width=304 height=66
v:shapes="_x0000_i1025"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=12><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary Wunder,
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=12><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">RESOLUTION
2010-01<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A RESOLUTION URGING
SUPPORT FOR THE<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">TECHNOLOGY BILL OF
RIGHTS FOR THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS, access to technology by people
who are blind is essential if we are to live independently;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS, recent trends in the development
of everything from home appliances to office equipment has focused on the use of
touch screens we cannot see and flat panels in place of buttons we can feel;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS, there are ways in which touch
screens and other displays can be made accessible and controls for manipulating
devices can be made useable by people with little or no vision;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS, HR 4533 has been written to
address the problem of providing nonvisual access, first by conducting a study
to explore state-of-the-art technology for the alternative ways it can be made
accessible, and then by putting standards for accessibility in law, Now,
therefore:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE
IT RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri call on
Representative<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Blunt to
cosponsor HR 4533 and use his good offices to see that it is advanced and is
affirmatively adopted by the United States House of
Representatives.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">To
be specific, Resolution 2010-01 Regarding The Technology Bill of Rights was sent
to Congressman Clay, Akin, Skelton, <st1:place w:st="on">Graves</st1:place>,
Emerson, and Luetkemeyer . A similar resolution was also sent to both Missouri
Senators Bond and McCaskill. Representatives Carnahan and Cleaver were the only
two co-sponsors . <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">RESOLUTION
2010-02<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A RESOLUTION
COMMENDING<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">REPRESENTATIVE BLAINE
LUETKEMEYER<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, securing
remunerative employment without penalty by Social Security laws and regulations
is an important ingredient in maximizing the independence of the blind;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, the ability to
travel safely in an environment where vehicles make enough sound that they are
detectible by the human ear is fundamental to full participation by the blind
and is crucial to the safety of all pedestrians, and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Representative
Blaine Luetkemeyer has lent his name to HR 886 and HR 734 by becoming a
supporter and cosponsor of these much needed changes in federal law, Now,
therefore<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE
IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention
assembled this 27<SUP>th</SUP> day of March, 2010, in the City of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City> that we
commend Representative Luetkemeyer for his championing of legislation so
important to the integration and independence of the
blind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">RESOLUTION
2010-03<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A RESOLUTION COMMENDING
REPRESENTATIVE RUSS CARNAHAN<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, the legislative
priorities for blind Americans address our need to travel safely, to become
employed, and to have access to the technology of the 21st century;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Rep.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Russ Carnahan has championed our needs
by signing on as a cosponsor to the three bills which have been written to
address these issues, Now, therefore<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE
IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention
assembled this 27<SUP>th</SUP> day of March, 2010, in the City of Springfield
that we commend Congressman Carnahan for his belief in the ability of blind
people to participate fully in our society and his commitment to help our dream
of full integration on the basis of equality become a
reality.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Resolution
2010-04<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A Resolution Regarding
On-Line Testing<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Many school
districts in Missouri are now using on-line test preparation sites such as Study
Island by CTB/McGraw-Hill to aid their students in readying themselves for the
Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and End of Course (EOC) testing;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Study Island
and other preparation and testing sites utilized in Missouri schools have not
built in adequate accessibility features which allow blind or visually impaired
students to access all of the needed information to prepare for and take the
pretests; and <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, this is
evidenced in the designs that convey information to the student by using color,
strike throughs, unlabeled graphics and split frames that create barriers for
the blind or visually impaired student; and <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS, the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE) is now moving toward actual MAP and EOC testing being
conducted on-line and is in the process of seeking bids from such companies to
construct MAP and EOC tests materials for Missouri; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, there are
design standards that could be implemented to eliminate the problem of test
takers being evaluated on the accessibility of the computer programs used to
administer the test, rather than on the content the test is intended to
measure,: Now, therefore<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE IT RESOLVED by the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled in
Springfield, Missouri this 27<SUP>th</SUP> day of March, 2010, that we call upon
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure that any test
preparation company receiving a contract to produce statewide tests must build
in accessibility features and that their site be certifiable as to its
accessibility; and <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that school districts will be provided hard copy Braille and large print test
copies for students who qualify under an IEP until such issues are resolved.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">RESOLUTION
2010-05<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A RESOLUTION
REGARDING<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BLIND PERSONS RETURN TO
WORK ACT<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, many people who
are blind receive Social Security Disability benefits but would like to return
to work; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, current law
sets a threshold for the receipt of benefits such that a blind person can make
$1640 in earned income and receive benefits, but if $1640.01 is the amount
earned, all income from the SSDI program ceases; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, current law
requires that blind people act in opposition to their own economic self-interest
if they take a job worthy of their talent and interest,
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, S 2962 will, if
passed, eliminate this disincentive to work by replacing the strict cut-off of
benefits with a formula which reduces benefits by one dollar for every three
dollars of earned income, Now, therefore:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE
IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention
assembled this 27th day of March, 2010, in the city of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City> that we call
on Senator Bond to co-sponsor and fully support this most needed legislation and
help blind people return to work.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">To
be specific, Resolution 2010-05 regarding The Return to Work Act was sent to
Congressmen Clay, Akin, Skelton, Cleaver, <st1:place
w:st="on">Graves</st1:place>, Blunt, and Emerson as well as Senator McCaskill.
Representatives Carnahan and Luetkemeyer were the only co-sponsors from
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> on
the bill at the time of the convention. Let’s say thank you where they deserve
it and be firmer where they do not support—Let’s hold them
accountable.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Resolution 2010-06
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A resolution Commending
Brian Wekamp<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS; this affiliate annually conducts
an exceptional information seminar in <st1:City w:st="on">Jefferson
City</st1:City> on behalf of the blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS the positive effect of such
seminars cannot be overrated; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS; arranging for
such seminars and following the progress of various projects requires much time,
dedication to detail, and knowledge of the overall process;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS; the work of
Brian Wekamp greatly enhances the outcome of these seminars, Now,
therefore:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE IT RESOLVED by the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled, this
27<SUP>th</SUP> day of March, 2010 in the city of <st1:City
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State> that
this affiliate strongly commends Brian Wekamp for his exceptional efforts on
behalf of the blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Resolution
2010-07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A Resolution Commending
Eugene Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS each affiliate
of the National Federation of the Blind faces the annual challenge of conducting
a convention; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEREAS Eugene S. Coulter has completed
the daunting task of coordinating such conventions for several years;
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS such
coordination requires the exercise of skills of negotiation, attention to
detail, great patience, and careful planning; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS His exceptional
work has led to the successful conduct of a series of well arranged conventions
reflecting great credit on his work: Now, therefore, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE IT RESOLVED by the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in convention assembled this
27<SUP>th</SUP> day of March, 2010 in the city of <st1:City
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State> that
this affiliate highly commends Eugene S. Coulter for his successful efforts on
behalf of the blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Resolution
2010-08<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A RESOLUTION
COMMENDING<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">DAN AND LESLIE
KELLER<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS the Affiliate
provision for a member at large is intended for persons who are too distant from
an active chapter to attend regular meetings and activities,
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Dan and Leslie
Keller of Nevada Missouri have been active members at large for more than thirty
years and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, they have
represented the Federation at various activities in <st1:State
w:st="on">Nevada</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State>
regarding blindness, and have visited with and encouraged newly blinded persons
in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nevada</st1:place></st1:State>,
and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, Dan and Leslie
are frequent attendees at our National Conventions and participate in numerous
activities while attending these Conventions, and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">WHEREAS, the Keller team
has presented an extremely positive and effective representation of our
Federation team in the area where they reside, Now,
therefore:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BE
IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri in Convention
assembled this 27th day of March, 2010 in the city of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City>, that Dan and
Leslie Keller are highly commended for their splendid work on behalf of the
National Federation of the Blind during these thirty plus
years.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary Wunder, Mystery
Solved<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By Carol
Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary Wunder, state
president and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> chapter member, has been struggling
for several months with what to do since Cerner Corporation took over his job
with the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics. He kept telling us he had
three options: transition to Cerner, seek a different job with the University or
retire but were these “really” his only options? When did the deception begin?
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">At the Columbia
Chapter’s June meeting, Gary informed us he would be starting a new job but he
could not tell us what it was until after the president of the company made the
announcement. Of course we had to pump him for as much information as we could.
We found out it was something very different from his previous work but he would
still be using some of his previous job skills.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He would be working from home and
therefore be able to remain in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> which made the chapter extremely
happy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He told us he would be able
to tell us about his new job in mid July.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We came up with several
possible job offerings from being hired by one of the auto companies to help
with the design of the fix for the quiet cars, to working for IBM to ensure
accessibility of their products.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The Mystery was solved at this year’s National Convention. President
Maurer announced that Gary Wunder was going to be the new editor of the Braille
Monitor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Congratulations <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:City>. While this position
never crossed our minds, we can’t think of a better person for the job.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We know you will do a fantastic job and
can’t wait for that first issue that says Gary Wunder Editor. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: center 5.25in 406.0pt"
class=Zaddresstab><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Board
of Directors<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: center 5.25in 406.0pt"
class=Zaddresstab align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">National Federation of
the Blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State></SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Gary Wunder,
President<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Shelia Wright,
First Vice President<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Tom Stevens,
Second Vice President<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Debbie Wunder,
Recording Secretary<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dacia</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> Luck, Corresponding
Secretary<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Carol Coulter,
Treasurer<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Susan Ford, Lois
Ulmer, Jim Moynihan, Jeremiah Wells, Bill Neal, Bob Williams, Gene
Fleeman<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Chapter
Presidents<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Debbie Wunder,
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Helen Parker, South Central<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Rita Lynch,
<st1:City w:st="on">Jefferson City</st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Gary
Horchem, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Shelia Wright,
<st1:City w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Carol Henderson, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St.
Joseph</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Susan Ford, Lewis
and Clark<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Bryan Schulz, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St.
Louis</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR
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clear=all></SPAN>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8"
height=15 width=407><FONT face=Calibri></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8"><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT></TD>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 0.75pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 0.75pt solid; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-TOP: black 0.75pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: black 0.75pt solid"
bgColor=white height=150 width=270><SPAN
style="Z-INDEX: 1; POSITION: absolute; mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8">
<DIV
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.35pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.95pt; PADDING-TOP: 4.35pt"
class=shape v:shape="_x0000_s1026">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>FREE MATTER FOR
THE</FONT></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>BLIND AND
PHYSICALLY</FONT></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT
face=Arial>HANDICAPPED</FONT></H3></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></B></SPAN></P><BR style="mso-ignore: vglayout"
clear=all>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">NFB of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">1613 Blue Ridge
Rd.</SPAN></B></st1:address></st1:Street><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Columbia</SPAN></B></st1:City><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break; mso-column-break-before: always"
clear=all></SPAN>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>