<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h2
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;}
span.adr
{mso-style-name:adr;}
span.street-address
{mso-style-name:street-address;}
span.locality
{mso-style-name:locality;}
span.region
{mso-style-name:region;}
span.postal-code
{mso-style-name:postal-code;}
span.country-name
{mso-style-name:country-name;}
span.EmailStyle28
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Steve and Shannon Cook<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Today I married my best friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>The one that I laugh with, live for, love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>October 11, 2003<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind <IOF@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 13, 2019 6:40 AM<br><b>To:</b> Shannon Cook <cookcafe@sc.rr.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Year in Review–Membership and Collective Action<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=0 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:#FEFFFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#FEFFFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:18.75pt 18.75pt 18.75pt 18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15794&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind Logo - Go to NFB.org"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><h1><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>IMAGINEERING OUR FUTURE</span><o:p></o:p></h1><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;border-color:initial'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=0 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=1 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>President's Letter</span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. President Mark Riccobono with the NFB Board of Directors"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I invite you to explore membership and to join this dynamic organization of the blind. If you are already a member, I am proud to call you colleague and look forward to our continued work together. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15795&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>More from President Riccobono</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Reflect on Our Collective Action</span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. A large group of NFB members outside with the washington monument behind them"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The fact that most of our members are blind and that our leaders are blind people is what makes us different. The most important word in our name is “of.” <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15796&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Read about what collective action means to us</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Meet Samantha</span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Sam and Denise Avant at the state convention"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>“The people were all so friendly I just knew I wanted to take part.” Samantha wants to be a part of our movement because she appreciates the mentoring and networking that are integral to what we do every day. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15797&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Read about her first year with NFB</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Latest News at the NFB</span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. students at a rally in washington, DC"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>AIM High Act introduced. NFB’s legal initiatives help enforce equality in the workplace. Long-time leader Dr. Donald Capps passed and we offer condolences to his family and friends. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15798&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Read the latest news</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Take Action This Month</span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Shawn walking his daughter to school holding her hand and his white cane"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Stay involved in the National Federation of the Blind. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15799&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Support the mission with your dollars</span></a>. Spread the word about <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15800&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Santa Letters for blind boys and girls</span></a>. Read new stories in the blog or in the <em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em>. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15801&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>More about what you can do</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Important Dates </span><o:p></o:p></h2></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. wooden blocks with 2019 turning into 2020"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt'><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>2020 National Convention dates have changed. Washington Seminar, the tenBroek Law Symposium, and NABM BLAST will be here faster than you know. <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15802&qid=3214378"><span style='color:#002F6D'>Mark your calendars</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><div><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15803&qid=3214378"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#002F6D'>Read the complete issue online</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines blind people or their future. Every day we raise the expectations of and for blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. We can live the lives we want; blindness is not what holds us back. Please join us in our work by becoming a member, attending an event, sharing this newsletter, or supporting our programs.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=0 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=0 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15804&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1033" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Facebook Logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15805&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1034" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Twitter Logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15806&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1035" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Instagram Logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15807&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1036" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. YouTube Logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15808&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1037" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Email Icon Image"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=103 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15799&qid=3214378"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="_x0000_i1038" src="cid:~WRD000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=0 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=13368&qid=3214378&h=d5ada641bd922f9f" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe</span></a> | <a href="https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=13368&qid=3214378&h=d5ada641bd922f9f" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt Out</span></a> | <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15809&qid=3214378" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign Up for Our E-newsletter</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>200 E WELLS ST</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><span class=locality>BALTIMORE</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230-4850</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="_x0000_i1039" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D5B26A.9FF77590" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>