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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Bonnie O’Day, legislative Committee Chair <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Did the holidays distract you from signing up for Democracy in Action in Richmond? Have you booked your room at the Delta Hotel Richmond? Did you register online to join us so we can put you on a team? Fortunately, we extended the deadlines to 1/7 so you still have a chance to participate. We really need you. Join us so our combined presence can have maximum impact.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join us for our Richmond Seminar to ensure our voice is heard in the Virginia General Assembly. Dates to remember are below, followed by more details.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Dates to Remember<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The dates of our Richmond Seminar are <u>Monday January 20</u> (Martin Luther King Jr Day) and <u>Tuesday January 21, 2025</u>. Attend the board meeting <u>on January 20</u> at the Delta Mariott Hotel in downtown Richmond to hear about our legislative priorities. Meet with General Assembly members on the morning of <u>January 21.</u><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Please use the form at the link to let us know you are coming to either Richmond Seminar or the board meeting now extended to January 7. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoListParagraph style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><a href="http://archive.nfbv.org/richmond"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://archive.nfbv.org/richmond</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Also let your chapter president know, as they will be arranging transportation.<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>If you want to be a team leader, contact Bonnie O’Day at <a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>bonnoday@gmail.com</span></a> or <u><span style='color:#0563C1'>703 965-2501</span></u>. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Make your reservation at the Richmond Delta Hotel by <u>January 7.</u> You can make them on- line at <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711476754895&key=GRP&app=resvlink"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711476754895&key=GRP&app=resvlink</span></a>. or by calling <u><span style='color:#0563C1'>804 788-0900</span></u>. Please ask for the NFB rate. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Here are the details.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Whether you have attended many Richmond Seminars, or this will be your first one, we strongly encourage you to attend and participate in representative democracy in action. The Richmond Seminar will take place in-person. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><b>When:</b> <u>Monday, January 20</u>, Martin Luther King Day. We will hold an important NFBV Board Meeting to discuss legislative issues and get organized. <u>On Tuesday, January 21</u>, we will meet with our Senators and Delegates.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><b>How it Works:</b> Please attend the NFBV Board Meeting on Monday to learn about the issues. Plan to stay overnight at the Delta Marriott Richmond <u>on Monday night</u> and enjoy an evening of conviviality with your NFBV family. You will be assigned a team to meet with legislators on Tuesday, sharing our issues and answering the questions of legislators and their staff. The room rate at the Delta is $157 per night, but the affiliate will reimburse transportation and hotel expenses. The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia can reimburse these expenses through the generosity of the many donors to the Charlie Brown Memorial Fund. We are grateful for these contributions which honor Charlie’s commitment to ensuring we all have a voice in advocacy for the rights of blind people in Virginia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><b>Where it All Happens:</b> Our board meeting is scheduled for <u>1:00 PM Monday afternoon</u>, January 20. The meeting will be held at the Delta Mariott Hotel, <u>555 East Canal Street</u> in downtown Richmond. Note that this is a change in the board meeting location from past years. We will stay at the Delta Hotel <u>on Monday night</u>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><u>On Tuesday morning</u>, we will be going to the offices of the General Assembly in the new General Assembly Building, <u>201 North Ninth Street</u>. Our meetings are typically <u>between 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM</u>. Your team will likely have 10 appointments during this brief time window. Your team leader will facilitate the process, but everyone will play a role on the team. By Noon, we are gathering back up to return home. It is quick, exciting, and the legislators and their staff are happy we came to speak with them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><b>The Issues:</b> The issues we will bring to Richmond are still under consideration, but we know we will address the Information Technology Access Act, which will Improve the accessibility of technology used by K-12 students, college students, and users of Virginia State and local government resources. We are certain that other issues will arise as we get closer to our Richmond Seminar. We will present the final list of issues and distribute fact sheets at the board meeting <u>on Monday, January 20.</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><b>What You Need to Do:</b> We have bills being drafted that will need co-sponsors. Chapter Presidents should contact their General Assembly members in their local offices before the end of the year. All Chapter members are encouraged to participate in these meetings. A meeting with our elected legislators in their home districts will go a long way in establishing the recognition that is needed for our visit to Richmond. If you need assistance identifying your delegate, need help in setting up a meeting, or do secure a meeting and need additional information about our issues, please contact Bonnie O'Day at the email and phone number below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Please complete the on-line form at <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><a href="http://archive.nfbv.org/richmond"><span style='color:#0563C1'>http://archive.nfbv.org/richmond</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>to let us know that you will be attending the Richmond Seminar by <u>January 7.</u> This will give us adequate time to put together the teams. Also let your chapter president know you are coming, as chapter presidents will arrange cost effective transportation for their chapter members. Individuals are expected to share hotel rooms and must obtain hotel reservations themselves at the NFB of Virginia rate. We reimburse based on having two people share a room, so we ask you to plan for a roommate. If you need assistance finding a roommate, please call Bob Hartt at <u><span style='color:#0563C1'>703 851-8149</span></u>, no later than <u>Monday, December 30</u> to allow matches to make their reservation by the hotel deadline of <u>January 7.</u> You can also email Bob at <a href="mailto:bobmhartt@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>bobmhartt@gmail.com</span></a> but please put Richmond Seminar Roommate Request in the subject line<u>. </u>You may choose to reserve a room by yourself, but as has always been the case, the affiliate will reimburse only 50% of the room reservation. Please make your own reservation on-line at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1667932048046&key=GRP&app=resvlink"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1667932048046&key=GRP&app=resvlink</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>You may make your reservations at any time, but they must be made by <u>January 7.</u> If you have problems making reservations or have any other issues with the hotel, please contact our new Operations Coordinator, Stewart Prost via email at <a href="mailto:sprost82@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sprost82@gmail.com</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>A form requesting reimbursement for transportation and your hotel stay can be downloaded from the affiliate site: <a href="https://nfbv.org/treasurer"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://nfbv.org/treasurer</span></a> at the bottom of the page.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Finally, if you are interested in being a team leader, please reach out to Bonnie O'Day directly, in addition to completing the on-line form. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie O'Day at <u><span style='color:#0563C1'>703 965-2501</span></u> or email her at <a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>bonnoday@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>I look forward to seeing you in Richmond!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Bonnie O’Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>NFB of Virginia Legislative Committee Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>bonnoday@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><u><span style='color:#0563C1'>703 965-250</span></u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corresponding Secretary NFBV<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<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>STRONGER TOGETHER!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>