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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Please consider joining us in Richmond for the 2026 Richmond Seminar. As described below, we have worked to support your hotel & transportation costs so everyone can engage in democracy in action.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Please be aware that deadlines for hotel reservations and transportation coordination require you to act fast. If you have questions and this is new to you, please reach out to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia will pay for transportation (coordinated through chapters or in discussion with me) and half of a hotel room night. So, if you share a room, your hotel is fully covered. If you coordinate your transport, we also cover these costs. Lastly, participating in legislative advocacy is a blast. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please read below and join us again or for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1>How it Works: <o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoPlainText>Please attend the NFBV Board Meeting on Monday (1/19) to learn about the issues. Plan to stay overnight at the Delta Marriott Richmond on Monday night and enjoy an evening of conviviality with your NFBV family. You will be assigned a team to meet with legislators on Tuesday (1/20), sharing our issues and answering the questions of legislators and their staff. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>On Tuesday morning, we will be going to the offices of the General Assembly in the General Assembly Building, 201 North Ninth Street. Our meetings are typically between 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM. 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=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The affiliate will reimburse transportation and hotel expenses as described above. 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=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The legislative priorities we will focus on this year are electronic absentee ballot return for blind voters, advancing accessible autonomous vehicles in Virginia and other items. </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>We hope you can join us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Mark your calendars: </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Monday, January 19, 2026 NFBV Board Meeting at the Delta Marriott Richmond Downtown starting at 1 PM. Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Meetings with Senators and Delegates at the General Assembly Building.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div style='border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>There are two steps:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Register for Richmond Seminar! <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please use this link to register:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://nfbv.org/richmond">Richmond Seminar registration</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We use this form to build our teams. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=A><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Book Your Hotel:<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please book your hotel at the </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown, 555 East Canal Street. Make your reservation by January 6, 2026 at the NFB rate of $157 plus taxes. Note: The Virginia affiliate will reimburse half the room cost so if find a roommate, you can be reimbursed for the full cost. If you choose to have your own room, we will cover half the costs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Reservations can be booked Online: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711477067453&key=GRP&app=resvlink&blockFull=true" target="_blank">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711477067453&key=GRP&app=resvlink&blockFull=true</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Or call the property at 804 788-0900 and ask for the NFB Rate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> If you need help finding a roommate, please contact Bob Hartt, no later than December 31. Bob can be reached at <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="mailto:bobmhartt@gmail.com">bobmhartt@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>(703) 845-3436<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Looking forward to meeting with everyone in Richmond!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Tracy Soforenko <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com">Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>202-285-4595<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>