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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Federation family, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wish you warmth and a giving heart as we enter into the holiday season. Please remember that your Federation family is definitely a part of good things happening in the world. I encourage you to read the December issue of the Braille Monitor found here <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm1611tc.htm">https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm1611tc.htm</a>. It is filled with great information about blindness and how the National Federation of the Blind encourages blind people to live the lives that they want. It is my hope that we have done that for you and will continue to do so for others well into the future. Much of life for me as a blind woman has been greatly impacted and forever changed by the friends I have made within the Federation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If the Federation has contributed to your life please consider making and asking your friends and family to contribute to our local Oklahoma Affiliate at the donate link on our website, <a href="http://nfbok.org/ways-to-donate/">http://nfbok.org/ways-to-donate/</a> Or to our national organization at this link <a href="https://nfb.org/donate">https://nfb.org/donate</a>. Together with love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the great programs that we conduct annually is our National Federation of the Blind Scholarship for blind students. Applications are now live and will be accepted thru March 31 of 2017. Follow this link for details <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships">https://nfb.org/scholarships</a> Please note that students applying from Oklahoma must contact me to schedule an interview before the March 31<sup>st</sup> deadline. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want.! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Below my signature is a message from President Riccobono along with important announcements!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Warm wishes and love to you all, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>A message from our President, Mark Riccobono:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have just completed a couple of busy days of meetings by the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind. On Friday night, we had a donor appreciation dinner for those who have made significant financial contributions to our organization. It is sometimes overwhelming to examine the number of projects and the amount of work we get done in a year as an organization. When you think about it, the primary reason we are as effective as we are is that we have a strong committed corps of members who put in significant time and energy. It is these personal relationships we have with each other that allow us to tackle the big obstacles in our way. I encourage all leaders of the Federation to continue to take the time to build personal relationships with members, even as the pace of things we need to complete seems to increase. If we fail to know each other at a personal level, we will fail to continue to build the type of organization we want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wish that Melissa and I could make it to all the great Federation holiday parties that are being planned across the nation. It would be wonderful to share with each of you the great success we have had in 2016. Although we cannot be with you, please know that we appreciate the tremendous work and joyful energy you bring to our organization at all levels.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><h2>Critical Actions This Week:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Communications Survey:<br>As we close out 2016 and plan for 2017 and beyond, we are evaluating various aspects of how we accomplish our organizational goals. To help us plan, we would value your feedback on the NFB's organizational priorities, as well as which forms of communication are most useful and effective for you. This information will help us build a successful communications plan for the future. The survey is confidential and should take approximately five minutes to complete. Please distribute the link (<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9MR89H">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9MR89H</a>) far and wide. We encourage all willing participants to complete the survey by Monday, December 12.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>New Product in the Independence Market—KNFB Reader Enterprise: <br>We are happy to introduce a new license-based version of our award-winning app in a new model called KNFB Reader Enterprise, currently only available from the Independence Market. You can purchase a two-device license for $99.99, a three-device license for $139.99, or a four-device license for $169.99. To purchase an Enterprise license that you can use with multiple devices, including in combination with both iOS and Android devices for yourself, call the Independence Market at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216. You will still be able to purchase KNFB Reader for a single device in the App Store or Play Store. Soon, KNFB Reader Enterprise will also be available through approved distributors. If you are interested in becoming a distributor for KNFB Reader Enterprise, contact Scott White at <a href="mailto:swhite@nfb.org">swhite@nfb.org</a>, or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2231.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Slam That!:<br>Some say that blind students cannot learn science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The members of the National Federation of the Blind say “Slam that!” Dates and a location are now available for the 2017 NFB Youth Slam—a week-long, hands-on, STEM learning program for one hundred blind and low-vision high school students from across the country. This program of the NFB Jernigan Institute’s National Center for Blind Youth in Science will be held July 23-29, 2017, at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. Individuals who are interested in volunteering to help the members of the NFB “Slam that!” and are available July 21-29, 2017, should apply at <a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam-volunteer-page">http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam-volunteer-page</a>. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2017. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dates to Keep in Mind:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif'>December 16, 2016:<span style='color:#333333'> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/santa-letters" target="_blank" title="link to Braille letters from Santa"><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif'>Deadline for Braille Letters from Santa requests</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'>January 30-February 2, 2017: </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'>March 31, 2017: Deadline for </span></span><a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">scholarship applications</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>April 7-9, 2017 NFB Oklahoma Affiliate Convention - More information coming soon!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif'>July 10-15, 2017: </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm" target="_blank" title="Link to NFB Convention - Braille Monitor"><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif'>National Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Live the life you want!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want.!. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>