<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><!--
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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hey NFB Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Only one more week until National Convention! Looking forward to seeing everyone either in person or via zoom! Yeah!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kudos Corner…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s hear it for Michael Casey. Read below to learn how Michael is helping to educate and advance independent voting Michael did send a picture but it did not transfer well. The picture was of Michael with an independent voting machine used by blind and other print disabled people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>appearing in the Free Lance Star on June 22.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My name is Michael Kasey, a Blind leader in the NFB of Virginia. I presently serve as the President of the Fredericksburg Area Chapter NFBV. I have served as an election official for the city in Fredericksburg for over 20 years. My main responsibility has been to assist those that want to use the Voting device for those that are Blind or have other disabilities. The device allows people to mark their ballot privately and independently. This year, I served for the Republican 7<sup>th</sup> District Congressional Primary election on June 21. A local newspaper photographer visited the polling place and I offered to pose with the voting device for a picture. It was published the next day! I hope many of our Blind friends will be reached by this and be informed of this opportunity for themselves. Unfortunately, many Blind citizens may not exercise their right to vote because they do not want to let anyone know for whom they vote. There is an accessible voting machine In every voting precinct in Virginia. I encourage people to contact their Voter Registrar to learn about the devices if they do not already know. A discussion with the Registrar about working as an Election Official in the polls is also a great idea. You may contact me if you need advice on what to discuss with the Registrar. Please share your experiences with me too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lets go build the Federation and set examples for the others as Election Officials!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:michaelgkasey@verizon.net">michaelgkasey@verizon.net</a> mobile (540)760-388.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Spotlight On…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2022 Scholarship Program <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB of Virginia is pleased to announce the launch of its James F. Nelson merit scholarship program for the academic year 2022-2023. Up to three scholarships<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of $2500.00 will be awarded based on academic achievement, community engagement, and leadership potential. One of these three scholarships will be directly<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>pledged to a qualifying freshman or sophomore. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB of Virginia believes that all blind and vision-impaired students who apply for a James F. Nelson scholarship can benefit from the experience of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>attending the State Convention. The NFBV will cover the reasonable costs associated with attending the convention for all eligible applicants, including<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a room at the hotel shared with a fellow scholarship applicant, most meals, the cost of registration, and a banquet ticket. Scholarship applicants should<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>work with their local chapters to explore transportation options and should notify the scholarship committee if they encounter any difficulties. Convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>related expenses will be reimbursed or covered by the affiliate at the convention. Please notify the committee if you do not have access to a credit card<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or other means of covering pre-convention costs. Applicants are expected to pre-register for the gathering to signal their intentions to attend the state<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>convention, and to assist the scholarship committee in making hotel reservations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Eligibility - Applicants must: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Be legally blind or have a visual impairment that qualifies them to receive services under IDEA or from a state vocational rehabilitation program <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Be a resident of Virginia, or attending an accredited institution of higher education in Virginia full-time <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Plan to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in the 2022-23 academic year <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Participate in the entire NFB of Virginia in-person state convention at the Westin Tysons Corner in Falls Church, Virginia and participate in all scheduled<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>scholarship program activities to be held October 28 to October 30, 2022 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To submit an online application, please visit <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>https://www.nfbv.org/scholarship<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deadline: Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, September 26th, 2022 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For any questions, please contact Jimmy Morris. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>jimorris0116@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (434) 547-2720<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><br>Ladies Night is going on vacation this month. Please join the Ladies when they return in August.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>The best and most beautiful things can not be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart -Helen Keller <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<br><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>tel:(757)291-1789</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia<br>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>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></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>