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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shall we schedule our annual Party and Meeting? We usually do this in January and hope we choose a date without snow and ice…John and Carolyn, are you willing to host again?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On another note, the first NFBO State Board Meeting with Stephanie as our new President was held last night. Stephanie is energized and is looking for broad participation from everyone. Don’t hesitate to bring ideas and efforts to her attention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Save the Date: Salem Seminar will happening March 8-10 this year. Visits to the Capitol will occur on Monday the 10<sup>th</sup>. Affiliate Business and Seminar Prep will occur on the8th and 9th. The hotel is not yet negotiated, but will be announced when a contract is entered into.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you want to request assistance to National Convention, these requests are traditionally sent in prior to the Salem Seminar so that a committee can make recommendations for amounts to be awarded. Please start to think about attending another great convention in July now so that you can let the committee know in March what assistance you are seeking and why it should be provided to you. In addition, if you will be attending your first National Convention ever, you can apply for a Jernigan Award, which is a stipend which can reduce the cost of the Convention for you. You should apply for this at nfb.org.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, the State Board decided that Chapters will no longer need to send part of their dues to the Affiliate. This will reduce time consuming accounting and let our Chapters keep a few more dollars in their own treasuries. Please remember to bring your $5 to our Annual Party and Meeting so we can avoid processing charges for online payments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let us know about hosting, John and Carolyn!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Kristen Jocums<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>(706) 718-8055<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>