[NFBV-Announce] Spotlight On and Information

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

Hey NFB Family and Friends,

 

I  hope everyone had a  peaceful and relaxed holiday season; whatever that
may have looked like this year.

 

There are no zoom meetings set until January 5th.  However this email does
have important Spotlight On Information.  Please read and I'll see everyone
next week.  Happy New Year!

 

Spotlight On.

 

Join the diversity and inclusion committee on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 from
7 PM to 8:30 PM. We will have an open discussion to inform everybody of the
plans and subcommittees that have been created. The meeting is open to
everyone and we invite you to join us.

 

 

Democracy in Action, Richmond Seminar.

You can make a real difference by committing to attend a brief meeting with
your elected legislators to help us advance the rights of blind Virginians.
Richmond seminar has never been easier but we can only make appointments if
we know you can attend an appointment on Tuesday, January 19.

 

Given the virtual format of appointments, members of the Virginia House of
Delegates and State Senate only want to meet with us if we have a
constituent. We need to reach out really early to request appointments and
tell them the names and addresses of constituents who will attend. Will you
join us? Yes, the deadline is January 6 but frankly, we really need to know
sooner. 

Please email me with your name, address and availability on January 19.

 

Please see below for details but don't delay, commit to advocate with us .

 

***

The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia is a powerful force
advocating for blind Virginians. For 2021, we will be conducting our
legislative advocacy over the Zoom platform and we will need you to commit
to attending a few brief Zoom meetings with your legislators. Interestingly,
virtual appointments mean you are not required to make as large of a time
commitment to participate. However, it also means we need to tell
legislators that we have a constituent attending or they won't meet with us.

Here is the 3 step process:

 

A.	By Wednesday, January 6, Email Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
<mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>  with your name, address, and
availability on Tuesday, January 19. Most appointments will be in the
morning between 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM but some may be in the afternoon. We
need to start making appointments so we need to know who can participate.
Don't wait, tell us you are coming.
B.	Attend one of two Legislative prep sessions to be held over Zoom on
either Saturday, January  16 at 1:00 PM or Monday, January 18 at 7:00 PM.
During this training session, we will explain our issues, connect everyone
with their team leaders, and make certain all questions are answered. 
C.	Attend the appointments that work for your schedule on Tuesday,
January 19 focusing on the appointments with your Delegate and Senator.

 

The team leaders will be provided a Zoom account for their use and booking
appointments in advance.  This model allows each team to be booking
concurrent appointments.

 

Our goal is to enable everyone to participate in advocacy in an easy way but
we need you to tell us you are coming.

 

We need you to ensure our voice is heard in the offices of the General
Assembly.

 

If you have never attended a Richmond Seminar, we strongly encourage you to
attend and participate in representative democracy in action. Everyone is
assigned to a team with an experienced leader. The General Assembly members
and their staff are very receptive and welcoming. They know we are
organized, articulate, and well versed in the subject matter.

 

We will put everyone on the team to work, sharing our issues and answering
the questions of legislators and their staff.

 

The issues we will bring to Richmond are still under consideration but will
most likely include:

 

*             Accessible absentee voting

*            Expanding resources for the Virginia Department for the Blind
and Vision Impaired; and

*             Special Hiring Authority for Virginia State Government jobs.

 

The final list of issues will be presented at the two training sessions
scheduled for Saturday, January 16 and Monday, January 18.

We will also hold a virtual Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, January
16 starting at 2:00 PM. We have bills being drafted that will need
co-sponsors. Chapter Presidents should make contact with their General
Assembly members in their local offices before the end of the year. If you
need assistance in identifying them, contact Tracy Soforenko.

 

Our board meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM Saturday afternoon, January 16.  

Chapter presidents must provide an initial list of the names of the
individuals planning to attend from their chapter to Tracy Soforenko by
Sunday, January 3, 2021 and additional names as they are known so we can
establish and update teams in advance.

 

Finally, if anyone in your chapter is interested in being a team leader,
have them reach out to Tracy Soforenko directly. If you have any questions,
please contact Tracy Soforenko at 202 285-4595 <tel:202%20285-4595>  or
tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>  

 

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

 

Chapter Meetings.

 

All chapter meetings will be listed in this section on the first Sunday of
the month and will be deleted as the month progresses.  If your chapter will
be meeting at a  day, time or location other than your norm, please contact
me ASAP  so I  may update this list.  Thank you.

 

Until next year.


Peace,

Jacki Bruce

Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
 <mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com> mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com
 <tel:(757)291-1789> tel:(757)291-1789
 <http://www.nfb.org/> www.nfb.org
 <http://www.nfbv.org/> www.nfbv.org

Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia
Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia

Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want

 

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