<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Chapter members and friends,</div><div>I wanted to share this information regarding this years state convention. Thank you</div><div><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Chris Walker, </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">President </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Winchester Chapter</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 13pt;">National Federation of the Blind of Virginia </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 13pt;">chrisvinson1@gmail.com</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 13pt;">540.303.0080 </span></div><div>www.nfb.org </div><div>www.nfbv.org</div><div><br></div><div>Live the life you want, blindness is not what holds us back.</div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "tracy.soforenko--- via NFBV-Announce" <nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org><br><b>Date:</b> September 8, 2021 at 11:47:26 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Sarah Patnaude via NFBV-Announce <nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[NFBV-Announce] 2021 NFB of virginia State Convention Goes 100% Virtual</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> tracy.soforenko@gmail.com<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span>Hello fellow Federationists,</span><br><span></span><br><span>The 2021 National Federation of the Blind of Virginia State Convention has shifted from a hybrid model to 100% virtual over Zoom.</span><br><span></span><br><span>This was a very difficult decision. </span><br><span>As you know, the pandemic is a fluid situation. In July when we officially announced our state convention would be hybrid, we did so with the hope that the trend would continue moving toward a more solid recovery from COVID. Unfortunately, the Delta variant continues to disrupt everyday activity.</span><br><span></span><br><span>It is our responsibility to ensure we are good stewards of the virginia affiliate's funds. Since we would have been unable to meet our contract requirements, we will return to a virtual format for the 2021 State Convention, thereby prioritizing everyone's safety and protecting our hard-earned treasury.</span><br><span>We are eager to hold our convention at the Westin Tysons Corner in 2022 and look forward to being in person at this outstanding property next year. </span><br><span></span><br><span>On a personal level, I am saddened to move through another year without being able to be in person with you. Nevertheless, we now have more experience in making the virtual convention as warm of an experience as we can, and if there is a persistent silver lining, it is the ability to reach returning and new members in a way we would have otherwise been unable using the traditional model.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I'm asking you to please rally around our largest annual event as an affiliate. A virtual format will never compare to gathering in person, but a virtual convention gives us the flexibility to experiment with new programming that could become a part of our core agenda in years to come. Dream with me. Think outside the box with me, and let's find new and dynamic ways to connect with old friends and new friends both here and abroad. If we must meet virtually again, let's seize the opportunity to explore new ways to put our positive blindness philosophy into practice. When we come out on the other side of these challenging times, and we will, we will do so having learned new ways to be that much more powerful as a movement, as an organization, and as a family.</span><br><span></span><br><span>We have revamped our material to reflect our pivot to a virtual only agenda. As always, all the information you need will be available at:</span><br><span></span><br><span>https://nfbv.org/convention</span><br><span></span><br><span>Yours in service,</span><br><span></span><br><span>Tracy Soforenko</span><br><span>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia</span><br><span>202 285-4595</span><br><span>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span><br><span>www.nfb.org</span><br><span>www.nfbv.org</span><br><span>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want 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.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBV-Announce mailing list</span><br><span>NFBV-Announce@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbv-announce_nfbnet.org</span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>