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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:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Thinking about it, I think a two-day convention would be better long-term, even if we can’t manage one for 2025. I second Jean’s well-thought-out comments about having time for in-person community building. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I would also offer there should be some room for negotiation with the hotels in regards to the meeting spaces at least, depending on how many people are able to book overnight rooms. I also second the idea of subsidies as I think it’s important to help people get to the convention who want to and might need some assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>That being said, I also recognize just how much hard work has to go into planning the convention, especially a few short months after our last one. Thank you so much to Fred, Randi and Cheryl!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Hope everyone had a great holidays and looking forward to the next chapter meeting!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sincerely<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Andrew Harmon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>JOANNE JORDAN via NHLakesChapter<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 5, 2025 9:54 PM<br><b>To:</b> nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> JOANNE JORDAN <jordanj229@verizon.net>; nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NHLakesChapter] Upcoming convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Well said Jean! I agree. We did this in Massachusetts!<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Jan 5, 2025, at 9:07<span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span>PM, Jean Shiner via NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Hi Everyone,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Here are my thoughts about the convention. I think a two day convention should be the first choice. It would give us more time to cover more things. We could have speakers, hold a longer business meeting and everyone throughout the state could get together in a more casual way. If we know in advance the cost it might give some time to save up the money. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The most important thing is the community building. This cannot be done as well in a one-day event. We meet monthly for about an hour to cover business. We don’t drive. So when we get together we need to make the most of it. Community building, bonding and getting to know each other can make working together an even stronger experience. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I hear that those that want to could stay either the night before or the night after the convention. I think it is important for as many of us as possible should stay over night. Maybe the board could permit a subsidy for people requesting it. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Those are my thoughts. Thanks.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>All The Best,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Jean Shiner</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>randi62 via NHLakesChapter<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, December 21, 2024 8:23 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of New Hampshire Lakes Region Chapter List <nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> randi62 <randi62@comcast.net><br><b>Subject:</b> [NHLakesChapter] Upcoming convention</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning good folk of the NFB!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Happy first day of Winter <span style='font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif'>❄️</span> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sheryl, Fred and I would like to give you all an update on where we are with the convention planning. It's been a month of tracking people down- unsuccessfully.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Most of the hotels/ event centers have not returned communications with us. And the few that have seem to be booked out on the weekend that we want. There is one that has been very receptive. The biggest hurdle with them is that they are expensive. Expensive for convention space and overnight rooms. Plus we haven't seen their catering offerings yet. Also we would have to move our location to Laconia.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>We are continuing to look for another option but are also considering if having a one day convention would once again be a good idea for our small state. We wouldn't be the only ones leaning towards one day conventions. Maine and Vermont both do that as they're also small affiliates.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>We are continuing to reach out to Hotel / event centers to see if we can get communication and better pricing!! But we do need to button this down as quickly as possible so we can move on to the next stage of booking speakers, etc.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>If we have to go back to a one-day convention, and people were looking for an overnight adventure, you could always stay at the hotel we land on the night before or the night of if you needed to but we wouldn't book a block of rooms. Some people have done that in the past.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>If you have strong feelings one way or another, please reach out here on listserve. We are doing our best to accommodate all the needs of the affiliate.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks, <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Randi, Sheryl and Fred <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Convention Committee <o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="composer_signature"><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#575757'>Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>NHLakesChapter mailing list<br>NHLakesChapter@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NHLakesChapter:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/jordanj229%40verizon.net<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>