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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Good Evening Cleveland,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I hope you are staying warm. Mother nature fooled us again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am so elated that the CAVS are in the play offs. Let’s support them by wearing gear if you have it at the upcoming meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Please keep Bernice and William mother in your prayers and good thoughts; as they are recuperating. Also, Billie Graham lost her brother, keep her as well close to your heart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cleveland, on Saturday, April 15, 2023, we will hold our annual monthly meeting. I know! This is not our regular date. However, we are still shopping for a home. So, please be patient as we discover a location.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The meeting will be held at the Garfield Heights Library, located at 5409 Turney Road from 12:30 to 2:15 PM EDT. There will be light refreshments. I am urging all to come out to the meeting. I will send a reminder on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On tomorrow, I will facilitate a meeting with blind parents to discuss forming a committee. If you know of a blind parent, have them attend at 7:00 PM on our zoom platform.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Thank you to all who participated in the Piggest Raffle Ever. Although, there are no more paper tickets. You still can go online to purchase yours. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="xxmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="color:black">Just click on:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="xxmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://piggestraffleever.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color:#0563C1">https://piggestraffleever.com/</span></b></a><span class="xcontentpasted0"><b>.</b></span></span><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="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As a reminder, Ohio will hold our Board meeting on April 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM EDT. I am urging all members to attend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The National and State Conventions are waiting on your reservation. If you have not already booked your room, please do so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For Ohio’s State Convention:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Hilton Columbus/Worthington Hotel, on </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">November 17<sup>th</sup>, 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th,</sup> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">where spacious rooms, double chocolate chip cookies, and Hilton points are waiting for you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The 2023 Ohio Convention theme is, “Stronger Together!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The hotel address is 175 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43235. You can make reservations by calling (614) 885-3334. The room rates are only $109.00, taxes are 17.5%, which includes breakfast for 2 occupants per room. </span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> For the National Convention:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The nightly rate at the Hilton Americas-Houston is $105 for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. In addition, the sales tax rate is 8.25 percent, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the hotel occupancy tax rate is 17 percent. To book your room for the 2023 convention, call 1-800-236-2905 after January 1 and ask for the “NFB Convention”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">block. For each room, the hotel will take a deposit of the first night’s room rate and taxes and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Monday, June 1, 2023, half of the deposit<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We have also secured overflow space at the wonderful Marriott Marquis Houston. The Marriott is only a three-block walk directly across Discovery Green,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">or attendees can walk entirely indoors through the George R. Brown convention center, connecting both hotels on the second level. You will find many of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the same amenities at the Marriott as well as a Texas-shaped lazy river pool. The room rate at the Marriott Marquis is a slightly higher $119 per night<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. To book a room, call 1-877-622-3056 after January 1. Again, ask for the “NFB Convention” block. Similarly, the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">same deposit and cancellation policies apply.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><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">Join Cleveland as we have room for you, you and you to travel with us to the Ohio Convention. We will reside at the DoubleTree by Hilton Columbus/Worthington at 175 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43235; where spacious rooms, double chocolate chip cookies, and Hilton points are waiting for you!. The cost of the rooms are $109.00 plus tax. Reserve your room at (614) 885-3334. Bring your relatives, friends and those who are affected by blindness; the youth, seniors, Social Workers, Teachers and others. The bus will leave Friday, November 17, 2023 at 6:30 A.M. from McDonald’s: located at 1540 East 55th Street. Prior to pulling out of McDonald’s, you can get breakfast and meet and greet fellow Ohio members. The restaurant will open at 6:00 A.M.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will stop at 1720 West Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio 44313, at 7:30 A.M. for members who wish to join the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">On Sunday, November 19, 2023 after we are “Stronger Together”, the bus will depart the hotel at 1:30 P.M. headed back to Cleveland. We will arrive at 4:30 P.M. at the McDonald’s. The cost for a round trip seat is $70.00 per person. If you are paying by check or money order, write it to NFB of Cleveland and send funds to,<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">Natassha Ricks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">6980 Ladd Lane<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Maple Heights, Ohio 44137<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Telephone: 216-376-9863<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">She is requesting a phone call when the funds are mailed; so she can keep a look out for it. The deadline to pay for a seat is Friday, October 6, 2023.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">April 15, 2023 is vastly approaching. If you are a first-timer attending the national convention, please get your application in for the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship Fund. Also, this date is final to apply for a state assistance to the national as well. President Payne sent out the form. If you need either of them, let me know!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for all you do for the blind. Cleveland your rock!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind (NFB)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Suzanne M. Turner, Ohio Executive Board Member<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Ohio Membership Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Ohio Senior Division President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Cleveland Chapter, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> (216) 990-6199<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please click on the links below to learn more about the organization<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The Ohio Affiliate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk18941617"></a><a name="_Hlk14090147"></a><a name="_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"></span></span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Live the life you want” featuring, National President, Mark Riccobono<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><a name="_Hlk18067489"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489">Visit and take a moment to like our Facebook Page!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"></span></span></span></span><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489">https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>