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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Cleveland Members,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For the last few days the weather has been quite nice, but on last night winter returned. As I understand, the ground hog saw his shadow and we have more winter to come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please keep Wilbert Turner in your prayers as he has surgery next week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congradulations to Gloria Conway, who completed the National Senior Retreet. As I understand it was quite informational.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Cleveland, our monthly Chapter meeting will be held at the Buffelo Wild Wings on Friday, February 17, 2023, from 5:30 to 8:00. The address is 12459 Cedar Road. Please share with members who do not have email or text. Also, we can not accommodate guests unless they are joining the Chapter. If someone is coming who is not wanting to join, they can sit in the restaurant until the meeting has concluded.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Once again, I am providing an opportunity for those who have not paid dues to bring them to the meeting or pay them no later than February 28<sup>th</sup>. After that, we will no longer accept them. You can mail them as well to our treasurer, Natassha Ricks, 3690 Ladd Lane, Maple Heights, Ohio 44137. Please alert her that they are on the way at 216-376-9863.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>On tomorrow, Super Bowl Day, I will be in the Ohio Zoom Room at 4:00 PM to assist those who want to apply for the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship and the Ohio National Convention Assistance Application. The link to join is below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Members and Friends, You are cordially invited to participate with an open discussion with OOD. Bring your questions and prepare to here from Director, Kevin Miller and his staff. This meeting is Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 4:00 PM EST. in the Ohio Zoom Room. The link is below. You can call or connect to:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>the Ohio Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee will present its black history program, celebrating Black History Month. this annual observance in the USA began as a way to remember important people and events in the African Diaspora. We have the distinct pleasure of acknowledging four African-American blind males in Ohio, who have chosen to give and be of service as leaders in the National Federation of the Blind. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>We will honor them virtually on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 7 PM until 8:30 PM. Join us in celebrating these awesome men who will tell their inspiring stories that will surely impact our future leaders. They are, the honorable Richard Payne, Ohio Affiliate President, William Turner, Vice President of the Cleveland Chapter, Masquenada Douglas, Vice President of the Greater Akron Chapter, and Walter Mitchell, President of the Ohio Diabetic Action Network Division. This event will be in the Ohio Zoom Room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NOBBL, Mentoring and Outreach Working Group And the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Sit down with the Honorable Peter Lawson Jones for a conversation on advocacy, public speaking and his acting career. Peter Lawson Jones is an attorney, business consultant, professional actor and master of ceremonies, dramatist and former elected official. From February 2002, through December 2010, Jones, a graduate of Harvard College (magna cum laude in Government) and Harvard Law School, was a member of the Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners, and its president for three of those years. He previously served two and one-half terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he was the ranking member of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and second vice president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. Jones was formerly the Vice Mayor and a Councilman in the City of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Jones, a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity as well as an acting instructor, has appeared in well over twenty films (in theaters now, <i>A Man Called </i>Otto, <i>White Boy Rick</i>, <i>Alex Cross</i>, <i>The Assassin’s Code</i>, <i>Starve</i>), on network television (NBC’s <i>Chicago Fire</i> and ABC’s <i>Detroit 1-8-7</i>), on stages throughout Northeast Ohio. He received the 2016 Indie Gathering International Film Festival Best Ohio Supporting Actor Award for his work in <i>How to Change the World</i>. Jones’s drama, <i>The Family Line</i>, has been successfully produced at Karamu House, Harvard University and Ohio University. His second play, <i>The Bloodless Jungle</i>, has enjoyed two full productions at Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. <i>Land of Cleve</i>, an arts and culture blog, ranked the second production as one of the best in Northeast Ohio in 2017. The play has enjoyed staged readings at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Dallas Convention Center, the National Black Theatre Festival, Duquesne University and in Harlem. His most recent work, <i>The Phoenix Society</i>, enjoyed a successful premiere at Playwrights Local in Cleveland earlier this year. The drama was commissioned by the Life Exchange Center, a Cleveland nonprofit that assists those in recovery from mental health and substance abuse challenges. Jones and his spouse Lisa are the proud parents of three children: Ryan Charles, Leah Danielle and Evan Cooke. This will be int the Ohio Zoom Room.</span><b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>CLEVELAND Rocks with TastefullySimple!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Cleveland Chapter is hosting a TastefullySimple fundraiser!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>February 1<sup>st</sup> to February 28<sup>th</sup>!<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=gmail-bodya style='color:black;margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Throw an incredible touchdown for your 2022 Superbowl party with savory and easy to make appetizers!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Bake a beautifully rich and moist, two-ingredient sweet treat for those special loved ones this Valentine’s day!<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=gmail-bodya style='color:black;margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Shoot a Lebron style three pointer with flavorful and simply delicious meal kits for the 2022 NBA All-Star game!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>We’ve got delicious yet simplistic products for every occasion! Natassha Ricks is our host. This fundraiser is to support our 2023 Cleveland Retreet. Please share and share!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=gmail-bodya style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><span class=gmail-none><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>And now it’s time to click on our party link:</span></b></span><span class=gmail-none><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Click or copy on our party link today!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.tastefullysimple.com">https://www.tastefullysimple.com</a>/p/11472736<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>For more information, contact Natassha Ricks at: </span><a href="mailto:n.lichells@gmail.com">n.lichells@gmail.com</a> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Cleveland, as you are aware, the Ohio Affiliate has been gracious to provide funding to various event, such as the State and National Conventions. Now it is time to give back into the Ohio treasury. Therefore, please share and highly consider purchasing a Pig. National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Presents: An opportunity to raise funds and win a cash prize. Just click on:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><a href="https://piggestraffleever.com/">https://piggestraffleever.com/</a><span class=xcontentpasted0>.</span></b><span style='color:#242424'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>And choose, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio as your charity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>You could be a winner by going online to purchase tickets !<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Where you as? The Piggest Raffle Ever: Brought to you by Stock Yards Bank<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>How’s it Work? Easy! Purchase a Raffle Entry for $5 each on behalf of the NFBOH from the drop-down menu. For each Pig purchased, you have a chance to win on Flying Pig Marathon Weekend, and will receive 100% of your donation!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>GRAND PRIZE: $10,000 Cash*<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>($5,000 to the charity and $5,000 to the winning ticket holder)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>SECOND PRIZE: $5,000 Cash*<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>($2,500 to the charity and $2,500 to the winning ticket holder<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>THIRD PRIZE: Cincinnati Get-Away Experience<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>($1,500 in Downtown Cincinnati, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Raffle Details: On MAY 7, 2023 during THE FLYING PIG MARATHON Weekend ("Event") a lucky winner will be drawn. You do not need to be present.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=xxmsonormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>All winners will be notified via email or phone and a list of winners will be viewable at http://piggestraffleever.com and </span></b></span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>www.flyingpigmarathon.com</span></b></a></span><span class=xcontentpasted0><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>,<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NLS has developed a BARD skill that can be used on the Amazon and Google Smart Speakers. We are currently seeking interested BARD patrons to assist in beta testing the skill. In order to participate, you must meet the following criteria:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* You must own either a Google or Amazon smart speaker; (NLS cannot provide the device) </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* You must be an active patron of NLS; ( if you want to participate and are not an active patron or do not have a BARD account, please contact your local network library)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* You must agree to access the skill at least 3 times per week; (this might include checking the recently added books, looking for a specific title, reading a book, accessing and manipulating your wish list, ETC.)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>For this round of testing, we are seeking five to six hundred users. If you are interested in participating, please send an email with the following information to </span><a href="mailto:NLSPES@loc.gov" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NLSPES@loc.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> or to <a href="mailto:dolson@loc.gov" target="_blank">dolson@loc.gov</a>:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* Name:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* Current BARD email address:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* type of smart speaker that you own:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* Telephone number for receiving confirmation phone calls or text messages:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>* Agree to be on a discussion listserv for the NLS Smart Speaker Beta.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>If you are already part of the smart speaker beta, you do not have to sign up again. As long as you are actively using the system, you will remain part of the smart speaker beta. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:12.7pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thank you, </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>