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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>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With ice and snow finally behind us and spring and summer bringing warmth and sunshine, things are happening with our NB Affiliate. Our May All-State meeting will happen on Saturday May 14 beginning at 1:00, to be held Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 3903 Taft Street in Anchorage. You and your family are invited to attend and learn more about this vibrant and life-changing organization! We will have a guest speaker, Julie Husmann, who will introduce us to Rank choice voting. We will also share some important State-wide NFB information. You won’t want to miss this meeting! The Zoom link will be shared in a later note. (Please keep reading to learn more about our national organized blind movement!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='line-height:115%'>Upcoming May Presidential Release:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%;background:white'><span style='line-height:115%;color:#201F1E'>The next Presidential Release will take place Monday, May 2, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. The monthly Presidential Release provides important updates and perspectives of the organized blind movement, and the live event includes a Q&A session. Submit questions in advance to </span><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='line-height:115%;color:#201F1E'> and put PR516 in the subject line, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473. The Zoom Meeting ID is 915 8304 3260 or use the following link: </span><span style='color:black'><a href="https://zoom.us/j/91583043260"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>https://zoom.us/j/91583043260</span></a></span><span style='line-height:115%;color:#201F1E'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>News:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='line-height:115%'>Volunteers Needed!</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>Are you interested in helping to make the 2022 National Convention a huge success? You can help by volunteering in the Independence Market at national convention. We are currently looking for volunteers to serve as demonstrators, storekeepers, pay-station representatives, and line marshals during all four days the market is open. The dates for the market are Wednesday, July 6, through Saturday, July 9. We will be open on July 6 and 7 for the entire day and July 8 and 9 during the lunch period only. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Independence Market at national convention would not be possible without the support, dedication, and hard work of our numerous volunteers. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jen White at 410-659-9314, extension 2236, or email her at <a href="mailto:jwhite@nfb.org"><span style='color:blue'>jwhite@nfb.org</span></a> today.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='line-height:115%'>Letter to House Appropriations Committee Regarding Older Blind and Randolph-Sheppard Programs:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>On Monday, April 25 we sent a </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-chair-and-ranking-member-house-appropriations"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>letter to the chair and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee</span></a><span style='line-height:115%'> to request an increase in funding for the Independent Living Services for Older Blind Individuals (OIB) program, and an appropriation to commission a study on how to revitalize the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility program. Currently the OIB program is woefully underfunded and we have asked to increase the appropriation to that program so that it can help provide the training and tools needed for older blind Americans to live the life they want. The funding for the Randolph-Sheppard study would be a reassignment of funds previously allocated for training and assistance. This money would fund a study to identify deficiencies and areas for improvement that states can use to create new opportunities for blind merchants. This letter and all of our other policy responses can be read on the </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>Policy Statements page</span></a><span style='line-height:115%'> of our website. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='line-height:115%'>Legislative Alert for the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853):</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>Last week we sent out a legislative alert urging Federationists to contact their member of the US House of Representatives and ask them to cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act. The House is now back in session, so we need you to contact your representative and ask them to sign on to this critical piece of accessibility legislation that will give blind Americans the ability to safely and independently care for themselves. It is especially important that you contact your representative if they are a </span><a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/about-ec/membership"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee</span></a><span style='line-height:115%'>, to where the bill has been assigned. You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>Calendar notes: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='line-height:115%'>May 1: Give20 Convention Drawing Opens</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='line-height:115%'>May 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='line-height:115%'>May 14, All-State Meeting in Anchorage and on Zoom, 1:00 PM</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='line-height:115%'>May 31: </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=479"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>Convention registration</span></a><span style='line-height:115%'> closes</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>July 5-10: </span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention"><span style='line-height:115%;color:blue'>National Convention</span></a><span style='line-height:115%'>, New Orleans<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>Have a great month and please stay tuned for more exciting information to come!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%'>Warmly, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bonnie Lucas<br>President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Alaska<br>Cell: 907-301-6808<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:lucas.bonnie@gmail.com">lucas.bonnie@gmail.com</a><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Web: <a href="https://alaskanfb.org/">alaskanfb.org</a><a name="_Hlk16627103"><br></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk16627103'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk16627103'></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#BFBFBF'>[Delegate-BML]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>