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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please email me with your name, address and availability on January 19.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>Please see below for details but don’t delay, commit to advocate with us .<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>***</p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here is the 3 step process:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=A><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>By Wednesday, January 6, Email <a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com">Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>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. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Attend the appointments that work for your schedule on Tuesday, January 19 focusing on the appointments with your Delegate and Senator.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our goal is to enable everyone to participate in advocacy in an easy way but we need you to tell us you are coming.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need you to ensure our voice is heard in the offices of the General Assembly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>We will put everyone on the team to work, sharing our issues and answering the questions of legislators and their staff.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The issues we will bring to Richmond are still under consideration but will most likely include:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>* Accessible absentee voting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>* Expanding resources for the Virginia Department for the Blind and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Vision Impaired; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>* Special Hiring Authority for Virginia State Government jobs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The final list of issues will be presented at the two training sessions scheduled for Saturday, January 16 and Monday, January 18.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>A virtual meeting in December with our elected legislators in their home districts will go a long way in establishing the recognition that is needed for our Zoom meetings. All Chapter members are encouraged to participate. If you intend on doing a meeting or need help setting one up, please contact Tracy Soforenko.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Our board meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM Saturday afternoon, January 16,. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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 or <a href="mailto:tracy.soforenko@gmail.com">tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com">Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>