<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=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><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;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@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="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Afternoon Cleveland Members and Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope that you are well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Are you interested in Sunday’s event? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, the Academy Awards are Sunday, and I am looking forward to seeing who is awarded for their acting in 2024. Have you seen Barbi, The Color Purple or Origin? If not, you can go to Caremark Theater to see them all for $40.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please keep Cecil, Norma, Henry and Sara in your prayers. They all are vulnerable and in health facilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today, Robert, Tracy, Stats, Theresa, Danielle, Stats sister Shante and I volunteered at the Greater Food Bank. We helped to pack 9,028 pounds of sweet peas. We labeled and packed for two hours. It was a great feeling to give back to the community. Please in the future join us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have a few announcements.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dates to remember:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>March 16, 2024: Cleveland Chapter meeting at 2:30 to 4:15 at the Garfield Heights Library. Location is 5401 Turney Road.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>March 31: The last date of the Shoe Drive. Please continue to gather them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>April 6, 2024: Gospel and Praise Fest, we are still seeking choirs, singers and praise dancers. The location of the event is located at, <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Central Christian Church, 697 E. 105 Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44108. Please invite friends, family and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 4, 2024: Casino Trip, if you would like to have a seat on the bus to the casino, bring your $80 to the Chapter meeting or pay on zelle. if you attend you will get $25 playing money and $5 for the buffet. Please Even if you are not attending, spread the word. Call me or Natassha for assistance. The zelle email is, <a href="mailto:nfb.cle.treasurer@gmail.com">nfb.cle.treasurer@gmail.com</a>. Put Cleveland trip in the memo. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 11, 2024: Envision Walk and Vendor Booth, we will have a booth at this event. <span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The event goes from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>During this time there will be an optional 5k walk for people to participate in but not obligated. We will discuss this at the meeting. </span>Members are highly encouraged to attend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>July3-8, 2024: National Convention, you can now go online to preregister. The website is NFB.Org and click on National Convention. Preregistration is $25 and the banquet is $75. Additionally, you can contact the hotel to make your reservation. The number is (800) 204-7234. The first night will be deducted immediately. Rooms are $129 for single and doubles, $139 for triple and quads.<span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>United Airlines has airline tickets for $280 round trip and nonstop. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>November 14-17, 2024: State of Ohio Convention. You can now make your reservation at the Westlake Doubletree Hotel. <span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>The DoubleTree by Hilton Cleveland Westlake Hotel address is 1100 Crocker Road, Cleveland Westlake, Ohio 44145. You can make reservations by calling (800) 445-8667. Individuals must identify themselves as being with the group, The National Federation of the Blind, at the time the reservation is made in order to receive the special group rate. The room rates are only $105.00, taxes are 17.5%, which includes breakfast for 2 occupants per room. </span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please note that these dates are for the Cleveland Chapter to promote and attend. We need everyone to participate in getting the word out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are a first timer going to the National Convention, I need to know this. You must have a letter of recommendation, or your application will not be valid. Going to the website and completing the form is great. However, the Affiliate President, Richard Payne and I must complete the process for you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All new members, welcome to the Cleveland Chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We do look forward to you being an integral part of this organization. The work we do is vital and necessary for the blind to process and thrive in and outside of Cleveland.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Seasoned Members, please send in your dues to the Treasurer, Natassha Ricks. Her address is 6980 Ladd Lane, Maple Heights, Ohio 44137. You can also pay through our zelle account: <a href="mailto:NFB.CLE.Treasurer@gmail.com">NFB.CLE.Treasurer@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Have a wonderful and fruitful day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Suzanne <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Suzanne M. Hartfield Turner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Executive Board of Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Ohio Legislative Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cleveland Chapter, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(216P: ) 990-6199<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>W: NFBOhio.ORG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Together, with love, hope, and determination, the members of the National Federation of the Blind transform dreams into reality. You can live the life you want, blindness does not hold you back.<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>