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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Subject: 44<sup>th</sup> State Convention Rookie Roundup with our National Rep. Julie Deden (Bio below) on Wednesday, November 11 at 7 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>From the Desk of Linda Melendez, Chair, Convention Activities, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Submitted by Ellen Sullivan, Affiliate Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Greetings all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Have questions about our first virtual state convention? You are not alone! Join us on <a name="_Hlk55489805">Wednesday, November 11 at 7 pm </a>as we highlight and outline the agenda, zoom procedures, have the opportunity to answer your questions and participate in a practice vote. See Zoom meeting credentials after my signature block.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Please see below the Zoom instructions a wonderful bio of our National Representative Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Warmly,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>Linda Melendez<br>Chair, Convention Activities<br>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>732-421-7063<br></span><a href="mailto:lindamelendez220@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>lindamelendez220@gmail.com</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>****</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Topic: NFBNJ State Convention Rookie Roundup</span></b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Date: Wednesday, Nov 11, 2020</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Join Zoom Meeting</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://zoom.us/j/6477660103?pwd=MUl1dnZQU1JxMkhUemdCSHZUM21HUT09" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue'>https://zoom.us/j/6477660103?pwd=MUl1dnZQU1JxMkhUemdCSHZUM21HUT09</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Meeting ID: 647 766 0103</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Passcode: 460 994</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>One tap mobile</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+16468769923,,6477660103# US (New York)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+13017158592,,6477660103# US (Germantown)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Dial by your location</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Meeting ID: 647 766 0103</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#202124'>Passcode: 460 994</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>*******<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>Julie Deden</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>My Story</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>I am honored to be the national representative at our New Jersey convention and looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible in our new virtual space. I have always been blind but truly did not feel good about being a blind person until I became involved in the National Federation of the blind at age 18. Even when I joined the NFB it took a few years for me to feel proud of being a blind person. The National Federation of the Blind has given me the opportunity to participate in so many activities where I have met positive blind role models who have taken their time to mentor me.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>I have lived in Colorado for most of my life. Diane and Ray McGeorge are two of the first people I met through the NFB. They spent so much time with me teaching me about life and the NFB. Today, Diane serves as the chair of the Colorado Center Board of Directors and is still teaching me. She is not only a mentor but is like my mom as I feel that I grew up with her influence.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>I have a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Lesley University and always knew from a young age that I wanted to work with people. I enjoyed working as a rehabilitation counselor for 14 years, because I had an opportunity to provide support and mentor my clients. In 1997 I left the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to work at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Once again, Diane mentored me to prepare me to become the director of the center in March of 1999.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>I have held countless offices in the NFB. I currently serve as Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado. I am humbled to be the Vice President of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>I am married to Dan Burke and have a grown-up son named Robert. Every day is a gift and I wonder what I may learn from the day! I treasure my involvement in the NFB and know that we can do anything, with love hope and determination.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Julie Deden</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Executive Director</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Colorado Center for the Blind</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Phone: 303.778.1130 Ext: 210</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Fax: 303.778.1598</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>2233 W. Shepperd Ave.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Littleton, CO 80120</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>