<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">From John Halverson<div>President, Potomac Chapter<br><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The affiliate is assisting Kassahun Yibeltal Sahilu, A Potomac chapter member, in the collection of canes, Braille writing equipment, etc. for blind children in Ethiopia, his home country. If you are attending
the convention, please bring your donated items with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you are unable to attend the convention, call me at (703)283-2524 or by email: <a href="mailto:nancyyeager542@comcast.net">nancyyeager542@comcast.net</a>.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Please read Kassahun’s message below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Nancy Yeager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">(703) 283-2524<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:nancyyeager542@comcast.net"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;text-decoration:none">nancyyeager542@comcast.net</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">My name is</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Kassahun Sahilu, </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">a member of the Potomac Chapter.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I grew up as a blind child in Ethiopia. We had very limited access to Braille writing equipment, books, canes, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Unfortunately, life for blind children has not improved over the years. Many children have lost their sight due to preventable diseases. Most of their families live in the countryside where there are very
few services for them. Some families migrate from the rural part of the country to cities and towns. Even in urban areas, services are not that satisfactory.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Few blind children have had access to education. Even those who are at school barely get the equipment they need. They are not provided with textbooks in braille because schools and Associations do not have
braille embossers. Braillewriters. Slates, styluses and other educational items are in short supply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I am asking your help and support to improve the lives of blind children in Ethiopia so that they might have better opportunities to succeed at school and in life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Potomac Chapter is assisting me in the collection of items such as: canes, slates and styluses, talking and braille watches, Braille books, and anything else that may be used for schooling and daily living
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Kassahun Yibeltal Sahilu<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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