<div dir="auto"><div><div>Hello chapter member family and friends,</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I'm forwarding this out as information about Richmond seminar which will be January 20th and 21st. I will be attending and I know several of you have expressed interest in going. If you can let me know by December 7th if you're going so that we can let the state affiliate no who all from our chapter will be attending and we can make arrangements. Also if you need assistance with booking the hotel let me know and I'd be happy to assist you.</div><div><br></div><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Regards,<br>Wayne Williams<br>President, Winchester Federation of the Blind<br>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia <br><a href="mailto:wayne.williams026@gmail.com">wayne.williams026@gmail.com</a><br>540-535-6958<br>Follow us On Twitter NFBVWinchesterChapter<br>Find us on Facebook Winchester Federation of the Blind<br>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia Youtube<br><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a> <br><a href="http://www.nfbv.org">www.nfbv.org</a></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">jackibruce6--- via NFBV-Announce</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org">nfbv-announce@nfbnet.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 4:05 PM<br>Subject: [NFBV-Announce] Democracy in action! Join us for the Richmond Seminar, January 20th -21st<br>To: 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_6759360378906694193WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">From: Bonnie O’Day, legislative Committee Chair <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dates to Remember<u></u><u></u></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">The dates of our Richmond Seminar are Monday January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr Day) and Tuesday January 21, 2025. Attend the board meeting on January 20 at the Delta Mariott Hotel in downtown Richmond to hear about our legislative priorities. Meet with General Assembly members on the morning of January 21. <u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal">Please use the form at the link <a href="https://nfbv.org/richmond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://nfbv.org/richmond</a> to let us know you are coming by December 20, 2024. Also let your chapter president know, as they will be arranging transportation.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal">If you want to be a team leader, contact Bonnie O’Day at <a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">bonnoday@gmail.com</a> or 703 965-2501. <u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal">Make your reservation at the Richmond Delta Hotel by January 7. You can make them on- line at <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711476754895&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711476754895&key=GRP&app=resvlink</a>. or by calling 804 788-0900. Please ask for the NFB rate. <u></u><u></u></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here are the details.<u></u><u></u></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. The Richmond Seminar will take place in-person. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>When:</b> Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Day. We will hold an important NFBV Board Meeting to discuss legislative issues and get organized. On Tuesday, January 21, we will meet with our Senators and Delegates.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><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 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 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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Where it All Happens:</b> Our board meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM Monday afternoon, January 20. The meeting will be held at the Delta Mariott Hotel, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/555+East+Canal+Street?entry=gmail&source=g">555 East Canal Street</a> in downtown Richmond. Note that this is a change in the board meeting location from past years. We will stay at the Delta Hotel on Monday night. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Tuesday morning, we will be going to the offices of the General Assembly in the new General Assembly Building, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/201+North+Ninth+Street?entry=gmail&source=g">201 North Ninth Street</a>. 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="MsoNormal"><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 on Monday, January 20. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Please complete the on-line form at <a href="https://nfbv.org/richmond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://nfbv.org/richmond</a> to let us know that you will be attending the Richmond Seminar by December 20. 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 703 851-8149, no later than Monday, December 30 to allow matches to make their reservation by the hotel deadline of January 7. You can also email Bob at <a href="mailto:bobmhartt@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">bobmhartt@gmail.com</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:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1667932048046&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1667932048046&key=GRP&app=resvlink</a> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">You may make your reservations at any time, but they must be made by January 7. 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" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">sprost82@gmail.com</a>. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">A form requesting reimbursement for transportation and your hotel stay is attached to this email or can be downloaded from the affiliate site: <a href="https://nfbv.org/treasurer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://nfbv.org/treasurer</a> at the bottom of the page.<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, in addition to completing the on-line form. 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" rel="noreferrer">bonnoday@gmail.com</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">I look forward to seeing you in Richmond!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie O’Day<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">NFB of Virginia Legislative Committee Chair<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:bonnoday@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">bonnoday@gmail.com</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">703 965-250<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Peace,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jacki Bruce<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Corresponding Secretary NFBV<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="tel:(757)291-1789" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">tel:(757)291-1789</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nfbv.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.nfbv.org</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">STRONGER TOGETHER!<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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