<div>FYI,</div><div><br></div><div>Richmond seminar is now hybrid. Read this email to find out more.</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">tracy.soforenko--- via NFBV-Announce</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org">nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 1:49 PM<br>Subject: [NFBV-Announce] Participate Virtually or In Person - Please let us know by Sunday January 3 if you can join us for the Richmond Seminar<br>To: Sarah Patnaude via NFBV-Announce <<a href="mailto:nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org">nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org</a>><br></div><br><br><div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div class="m_-4967354781685474501WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Some of you will be receiving this message twice. I apologize for any inconvenience.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are having both virtual and in person teams for this year’s Richmond Seminar. We want you to be able to participate in Democracy in Action.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are still seeking participants for the 2022 Richmond Seminar, to take place Monday, January 17 and Tuesday, January 18. Please let Stewart Prost know by Sunday, January 3 if you are able to participate this year and tell him whether you can participate in-person or virtually. Stewart will be matching participants with legislators, so please provide your mailing address so we can confirm your legislators. Stewart can be reached at <a href="mailto:sprost82@gmail.com" target="_blank">sprost82@gmail.com</a>, or on his mobile at (757)572-6891. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">For those attending in person, chapter presidents will arrange cost effective transportation for their chapter members, so please also let your chapter president know you are coming, if you plan to attend in-person. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">If you are attending in-person, you must make your reservations at the Delta Hotel by Marriott, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/555+East+Canal+Street,+Richmond,+VA+23219?entry=gmail&source=g">555 East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219</a> for Monday January 17.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Please make your reservation by the hotel deadline of January 3. You can make your own reservation on-line at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown at <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1637267574074&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1637267574074&key=GRP&app=resvlink</a>. If you have problems making reservations or have any other issues with the hotel, please contact our Operations Coordinator, Joe Orozco via email at <a href="mailto:jsorozco@gmail.com" target="_blank">jsorozco@gmail.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Below is revised instructions with clarification on virtual participation which describes the Richmond Seminar. It provides all the information you need to participate.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">We look forward to seeing you in Richmond, either virtually or in-person.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Please join us for Richmond Seminar to ensure our voice is heard in the Virginia General Assembly. As discussed below, you have the opportunity to participate either in person or virtually via Zoom.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">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. We are planning for both an in-person and virtual Richmond Seminar because the General Assembly will be conducting both in-person and virtual appointments. For legislators conducting virtual appointments with constituents, we will create virtual teams to accommodate Federationists who want to participate virtually in our legislative action.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><h1>When: <u></u><u></u></h1><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Monday, January 17, Martin Luther King Day. We will hold an important NFBV Board Meeting to discuss legislative issues and get organized. On Tuesday, January 18, we will meet with our Senators and Delegates.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><h1>How it Works: <u></u><u></u></h1><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Please attend the NFBV Board Meeting on Monday to learn about the issues. This meeting will be available in person and will also be available over Zoom. If you are attending in person, 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, sharing our issues and answering the questions of legislators and their staff. 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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><h1>Where it All Happens: <u></u><u></u></h1><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Our board meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM Monday afternoon, January 17 at the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired Campus, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/395+Azalea+Avenue,+Richmond?entry=gmail&source=g">395 Azalea Avenue, Richmond</a>. We will meet in the Library & Resource Center (LRC). This meeting will also be available for participation over Zoom. On Monday night, we will stay at the Delta Hotel by Marriott, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/555+East+Canal+Street,+Richmond,+VA+23219?entry=gmail&source=g">555 East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219</a>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">On Tuesday morning, we will be going to the offices of the General Assembly in the Pocahontas Building. 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. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">If you are on a virtual team, the appointments will also be scheduled during this time window but the appointments will be conducted over Zoom. Please note, we will have many different Zoom access numbers so you will need to connect with your team leader to understand what Zoom access link and number should be used. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">For those attending in person, we look forward to reconnecting in person while being mindful of and compliant with all visiting requirements observed at Marriott properties, the DBVI campus, and the capitol.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><h1>The Issues:<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">The issues we will bring to Richmond are still under consideration but will most likely include:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">- Improving the accessibility of education technology used by K-12 students<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">- Expanding resources for the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">- creating a hiring preference for people with disabilities in local government jobs. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">We will present the final list of issues and fact sheets at the board meeting on Monday, January 17. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><h1>What You Need to Do:<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Let your chapter president know you will be attending, either in person or virtually, but also copy Stewart Prost. Your chapter president will be helping with transportation. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Stewart Prost is collecting all the RSVPs for Richmond Seminar and helping to ensure we match participants with legislators. When you tell Stewart, he will really need your mailing address to confirm your legislators.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Stewart can be reached at <a href="mailto:sprost82@gmail.com" target="_blank">sprost82@gmail.com</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Or on his mobile at (757)572-6891.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">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, which is $142 per night plus taxes. 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 Domonique Lawless: (615) 904-4225, no later than Friday, December 31 to allow matches to make their reservation by the hotel deadline of January 3. 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. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Please make your own reservation on-line at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown at <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1637267574074&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1637267574074&key=GRP&app=resvlink</a>. You may make your reservations at any time, but they must be made by January 3. If you have problems making reservations or have any other issues with the hotel, please contact our Operations Coordinator, Joe Orozco via email at <a href="mailto:jsorozco@gmail.com" target="_blank">jsorozco@gmail.com</a>. A form requesting reimbursement for transportation and your hotel stay is attached to this email.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText">Chapter presidents must provide an initial list of the names of the individuals planning to attend from their chapter to Bonnie O'Day by Monday January 3 at 5 PM and additional names as they are known so we can establish and update teams in advance.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="m_-4967354781685474501MsoPlainText"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Finally, if you are interested in being a team leader, please reach out to Bonnie O'Day directly and provide your full name, city or county of residence, email address, and phone number. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie O'Day at 703 965-2501 or email her at <a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com" target="_blank">bonnoday@gmail.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Tracy Soforenko<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">202 285-4595<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com" target="_blank">Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nfb.org" target="_blank">www.nfb.org</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nfbv.org" target="_blank">www.nfbv.org</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<u></u><u></u></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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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