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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>Hi Virginia Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are excited for the upcoming <a name="_Hlk176785248"><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Rideshare Rally in San Francisco. </span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>The National Federation of the Blind announced an upcoming Rideshare Rally at the Lyft and Uber headquarters on October 15 in San Francisco, California. Join our demonstration to protest rideshare discrimination against blind people using guide dogs and white canes. Please let us know if you are interested in attending this demonstration by submitting the </span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/rideshare-rally-interest"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><span style='color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>Rideshare Rally Interest Form</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>. We have secured a hotel block at the Crowne Plaza near the San Francisco airport, and you can book a room at $139, plus taxes and fees, per night. </span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'></span><a href="https://www.crowneplaza.com/redirect?path=asearch&brandCode=CP&localeCode=en®ionCode=1&hotelCode=URLCA&checkInDate=14&checkInMonthYear=092024&checkOutDate=16&checkOutMonthYear=092024&rateCode=6CBARC&_PMID=99801505&GPC=BLD&cn=no&viewfullsite=true"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><span style='color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>You can make your reservation on the Crowne Plaza website</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>. You can also call the hotel at 650-342-9200 and ask to reserve a room in the “National Federation” block. The exact location and rally route will be shared in the coming weeks. </span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk176785248'></span><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='line-height:115%;mso-ligatures:none'>The Virginia affiliate will be offering up to 2 partial fellowships to attend the rally to support participation. Preference will be provided to guide dog users. We recognize that attending a protest rally is an opportunity to experience our collective action in a special way and is another means to help our members find their voice. Attending the rally/protest should have a positive effect for both you and our movement. We outline the expectations below:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:6.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Apply for a partial fellowship (typically $250) via email to Tracy soforenko by September 15.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:6.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Include your name, whether you are a guide dog user, how attending will help you in your personal growth and help our movement in Virginia, and any other details.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:6.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Will you be attending the NFB of Virginia state convention to share the experience with our membership? Preference will be provided to those attending the convention in Portsmouth.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'>We recognize this is only a partial fellowship. You can research transportation costs and the hotel rates are provided earlier in this message.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'>In addition, you will want to complete the national rally interest form provided in the link above. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'>Decisions on the fellowship will be communicated by September 17.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'>I recognize this is a fast turnaround but we are hoping to get a few people to attend from Virginia at this important rally.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>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>