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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a>Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary convention of the National Federation of the Blind is upon us, and the National Association of Blind students (NABS) is excited to celebrate this milestone!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NABS has three events at convention of which I would like to make all of you aware, and in which I would like to request your participation:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>#1 NABS Annual Business meeting<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On Monday July 6, NABS will be holding our annual business meeting in Junior Ballroom F, located on the first level of the Rosen Centre. Registration will open at 6:00pm, and the gavel will drop at 7:00pm sharp, kicking off what promises to be an informative and energizing meeting! But wait, before the meeting deets, didn’t somebody say something about an iPad? Yes, indeed we did. Thanks to the generosity of Learning Ally, NABS will be opening our meeting by giving away an iPad with use kit, including head phones and an external speaker. And, no. You don’t need to buy a raffle ticket. This is a door prize! That is correct. All you need to do to have your shot at this sweet piece of Apple tech is to be registered and in the ballroom when the meeting starts at 7:00. Want more good news? If you are through the line, registered, and in the ballroom by 6:30, your name will be double entered in the door prize pool. I wasn’t a math major, but those sound like favorable odds to me. So come early, beat the chaotic lines, and maximize your chances of walking away with the iPad, cash, or other great prizes. And, while we’re on the subject of beating chaotic lines, don’t forget that you can save yourself the trouble of providing your contact information by preregistering for the meeting right here:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://nabslink.org/events/2015-annual-meeting">http://nabslink.org/events/2015-annual-meeting</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lest you think that the iPad is the only reason to come out and spend your evening with NABS, let me provide a preview of the killer content at this year’s meeting. We’ll have students talking about studying and interning abroad, and building strong state student divisions. We’ll have presentations on legislative efforts to ensure that blind students have accessible instructional materials in higher education, and ongoing legal action to make the promise of laws that mandate equal access a reality. We’ll be hearing from true experts in the fields of accessible math and graphics and accessibility of collaboration software. And, of course, Mr. Mark Riccobono will be addressing and inspiring attendees for the first time as the President of the National Federation of the blind. There will be numerous additional presentations of interest to all Federationists. Check the agenda out, it’s attached and pasted below my signature! We’ll also be holding elections. So, come on out! And, in case you can’t make it to Orlando, stay tuned. Technology permitting, we will be streaming the meeting at the following link:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://kjscradio.com/classic/radio.php">http://kjscradio.com/classic/radio.php</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Big thanks to Jonathan Candler and Chris Nusbaum of KJSC Radio for providing the stream. More details will be distributed closer to the meeting date.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>#2 Monte Carlo Night<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You know it, you love it, and it is back again! From 8:00pm to 11:30pm on Wednesday July 8, NABS is giving you the chance to play blackjack, hold’em, and other card games to win cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 for the top three chip-holders at the end of the night. The action will be in Salon 9, on the second level of the hotel. There will be a cash bar available. So drop in before or after the ball, or come for the whole thing to play cards, chat with old friends, and meet some new ones.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>#3 Penny Wars and Exhibit Hall<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You won’t want to miss our first ever Penny Wars fundraiser! Get ready for some competition between five proud national divisions: the Lawyers, Merchants, Parents, Performing Arts, and Travelers. Stop by table B25 in the Exhibit Hall to throw some silver into the divisions you love most, while negatively contributing to those you want to see defeated by dropping the copper. Silver coins and dollars add lots of points to the buckets, while pennies subtract five points for each. The winning division will take home 50% of the total raised, while NABS takes the other half. Come by, bring your friends, and join us as we have exciting and competitive fun! And even if you don’t have cash to drop, we are always eager to speak with students and Federationists about issues impacting blind students and the work of NABS.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I look forward to meeting and reconnecting with many of you in Orlando! Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. You can reach me at 608 332-4147 or nabs.president@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sean Whalen<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Nabs.president@gmail.com">Nabs.president@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@NABSLink<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>Building Bridges and Breaking down Barriers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>A Division of the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>Annual Seminar and Business Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>July 6, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>7:00 Welcome and Call to Order – Sean Whalen, President, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>7:05 A Message from Our President – Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>7:20 Meet the Class of 2015 Part I - Patti Gregory-Chang, Chair, NFB Scholarship Committee <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>7:35 Blind abroad: The three most useful characteristics that helped me in Latin America – Justin Harford, Mobility International USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>7:45 An Introduction to Accessible Math and Graphics – John Gardner, President, ViewPlus<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:00 Visual Interpreter using Google Glass - Suman Kanuganti, CEO, Aira Tech Corp and Michael Hingson, President, Michael Hingson Group<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:05 Why I’m in NABS and Why Stepping up Matters – Karen Anderson, 1<sup>st</sup> Vice President, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:15 Meet the Class of 2015 Part II - Patti Gregory-Chang, Chair, NFB Scholarship Committee <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:25 Mentoring Matters – Mary Alexander, National Director, Initiatives for the Blind, Learning Ally<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:35 What Can I Do?: NABS Update – Sean Whalen, President, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>8:50 The Long Arm of the Law: NFB’s Work to Ensure an Equal Education for Blind Students – Mehgan Sidhu, General Counsel and Valerie Yingling, Paralegal, National Federation of the Blind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:00 TEACH to SMART: Our Journey toward Achieving Accessibility in Higher Education – Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; 2<sup>nd</sup> Vice President, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:10 How Diversifying Technology Proficiencies Can Ease Problem Solving and Collaborating – Cindy Bennett, 1st Year Ph.D. Student in Human Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:20 Have You Considered Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Randolph-Sheppard?: Maybe You Should – Jesse Hartle, Rehabilitation Services Administration, United States Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:25 The PAC Attack is Back – Scott LaBarre, Chair, PAC Committee; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:30 Revitalizing the Massachusetts Student Division – Derek Manners, 1<sup>st</sup> Vice President, Massachusetts Association of Blind Students; Board Member, National Association of Blind Students<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:40 Announcements<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>9:55 Elections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:APHont'>10:30 Adjourn<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>