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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h3><b>Attn Alaska members, Notes from are President.<o:p></o:p></b></h3><h3><b><o:p> </o:p></b></h3><h3><b> Independence Market Holiday Hours:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please note that the Independence Market will be closed for calls on the days of December 24, 25, and 26. The market will also be closed starting at 12:00 noon, Eastern, on Wednesday, December 31 and all day on January 1 and 2. Our Independence Market ecommerce site will still be open during these times, but orders may take a little longer to process, so please be patient. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b> </b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3><b>Update on Recurring Donation Processing:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3>Several weeks ago, we announced a change to how we are processing recurring monthly donations. Though we thought we would be processing at this point, we are still working with our vendors to make sure there are no issues. As soon as we can, hopefully this week, we will start processing December contributions and then catch up on November PAC contributions. If you do not want us to process your November contribution, please send an email to <a href="mailto:PAC@nfb.org">PAC@nfb.org</a> with your name and direction to not process November's PAC transaction. We appreciate your patience as we work through unforeseen challenges. Please contact Bridgid Burke at <a href="mailto:bburke@nfb.org">bburke@nfb.org</a> or 410-659-9314, extension 2271, with any questions or concerns. <o:p></o:p></h3><h3><b> </b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3><b>From the President’s Desk: The Federation Shares Pressing Concerns with Vispero’s CEO:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>In </span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor/early-access-articles/presidents-desk-federation"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>an article in the upcoming <i>Braille Monitor</i></span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>, I released my recent correspondence with Vispero’s new CEO regarding urgent member concerns about changes to the company’s access technology products and policies.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Legislative Alert:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Just this past Sunday, December 14, we sent out a </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislative-alerts/pass-national-museum-blind"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>legislative alert regarding the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> (H.R. 6467/S. 3371). The purpose of this legislative alert is to create a surge in cosponsor support for the bill so that it can ultimately be passed and signed into law and our museum will have the national recognition that it deserves. Please be sure to contact your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act (H.R. 6467/S. 3371)!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Latest Podcast Episodes:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Tune into our </span><a href="https://podcasts7m.podbean.com/e/communicating-with-blind-people-what-sighted-people-should-know/"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>new episode of the <i>Nation’s Blind Podcast</i></span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> where Melissa and Anil are joined by board members Marilyn Green and Tracy Soforenko. They share interesting and sometimes surprising social interactions that they’ve had with sighted people while traveling, hanging out with friends, and even while spending time with family members, especially during the holidays. They also discuss the best ways that sighted people should communicate with blind people. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Listen to episode seven of our <i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i> podcast entitled “</span><a href="https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/e/episode-7-chapter-4-democracy-in-transition-the-second-generation-part-1/"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Episode 7: Chapter 4 - Democracy in Transition: The Second Generation, Part 1</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><a href="https://buff.ly/DnyeSos"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Episode 55 of <i>Access On</i></span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> is now available. Jonathan discusses Zoom’s accessibility journey with Samuel Greene, product manager for Zoom North America. He also talks to our new accessibility excellence advocate for home and independent living, Ron Miller. Ron outlines his history in access technology and discusses the difference we can all make together to improve accessibility.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2>Reminders:<o:p></o:p></h2><h3><span class=Heading3Char><b>Braille Readers Are Leaders:</b></span><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoListParagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest will last through the end of the contest on January 16. This year, we will have the youth, adult, and teachers of blind students contests. You will want to complete the first activity, as that will give us your address so that we can send any prizes you win along the way. Completing other activities will earn you badges of honor. Use the </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/LamkinSeth/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/PXN5EKPU/actionfund.beanstack.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Beanstack website</span></a><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>or the Beanstack app to log your reading minutes each day. Have fun and challenge your friends, family members, and colleagues who read Braille to join you. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><a name="_Hlk183426075">Dates to Keep in Mind:<o:p></o:p></a></h2><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk183426075'></span><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, February 4</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, May 6</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, August 5</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, November 4</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Chapter Presidents Calls</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday March 12 and Sunday March 15</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, June 14</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13 </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday, December 10 and Sunday, December 13</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal'>The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</span><o:p></o:p></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal'> </span><o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>National Federation of the Blind <br>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>410-659-9314 | <a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org"><span style='color:blue'>Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Please engage with me through <a href="https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile"><span style='color:blue'>Riccobono Personal AI</span></a><br>Mastodon: @President@nfb.social <br>Pronouns: he, him, his</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7916in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>