<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
p.p1, li.p1, div.p1
{mso-style-name:p1;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;}
span.s1
{mso-style-name:s1;}
span.s2
{mso-style-name:s2;}
p.p2, li.p2, div.p2
{mso-style-name:p2;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;}
p.p3, li.p3, div.p3
{mso-style-name:p3;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=p1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.25pt;margin-left:0in'><span class=s1><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Thank you so much<span style='color:black'> </span></span></span><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Sheryl, Fred and Randi</span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>For the research you've done so far about our upcoming convention. I appreciate you giving us an update and asking for feedback from our group. Thank you Jean and !Andrew for sharing your thoughts.</span></span><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> I’m hoping to share my thoughts as well.</span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>I agree wholeheartedly with the need for gathering for a greater amount of time in order to have the ability for us to learn more information as a group when we are together. This is also so important for us to make personal connections with each other, so we can be a stronger group of NFB difference makers.</span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>I know that it can take some time to connect with group sales departments at different hotels. I am happy to help make some phone calls, and maybe there's someone else out there willing to do so as well. </span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>They're definitely </span></span><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>are additional<span style='color:black'> costs involved withholding an overnight convention. </span>With student events that I have worked on, I’ve learned that many hotels will discount or give conference space and/or meals if we have a good number of us renting rooms. <span style='color:black'>While talking with NFB members from other states, I have </span>also <span style='color:black'>heard some great suggestions for some </span>quick and <span style='color:black'>easy fundraisers, and some other ways to bring revenue into our </span>A<span style='color:black'>ffiliate. One thing that we could do would be to reach out for some sponsors to help us fund our convention. I am happy to make phone calls for that, and maybe others are as well. we have money in the bank to make this happen, and there</span> are<span style='color:black'> a bunch of different ways we can replenish that money and </span>then some<span style='color:black'>.</span></span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>I was one of a handful of people that did book room space the night before our September convention. It was a fun adventure, and it had other benefits as well. It was much less stressful and tiring to have a one-way commute one day and then the commute back home the next. It was also a great chance to enjoy some downtime And social time with fellow members and even an invited guest!</span></span><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> If our Affiliate is able to provide some financial support, hopefully a great number of us can make it work. If we start inviting others to join us, they can help us to increase the number of hotel rooms we book as well.</span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p2 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>We are a small </span></span><span class=s2><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>A<span style='color:black'>ffiliate, and the more we invest</span> our time and talents<span style='color:black'> in our </span>A<span style='color:black'>ffiliate the more chances we have to grow. The more we grow, then the more we can do </span>to<span style='color:black'> support each other and educate others about </span>our abilities and <span style='color:black'>the NFB. I invited two</span> <span style='color:black'>si</span>ght<span style='color:black'>ed friends to join us in September, </span>a<span style='color:black'>nd they both have told me multiple times how much they learned by spending that short amount of time with us. Wouldn't it be great </span>f<span style='color:black'>or each of us to reach out and invite others to come to our convention as well. </span>Our number of booked hotel rooms can grow, p<span style='color:black'>ublic awareness would grow, and our membership might grow a little too.</span> It felt a little awkward asking at first, but I’m so glad I did!</span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 24px;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Having more than a one day convention </span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>does cost more<span style='color:black'>, but I definitely think the benefits </span>out<span style='color:black'>weigh the costs. I hope we can work together to make </span>a great experience for many to come together to learn and enjoy<span style='color:black'> :-)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=p3 style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Dana<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'><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>Jean Shiner via NHLakesChapter<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 5, 2025 9:06 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of New Hampshire Lakes Region Chapter List' <nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> jean.shiner@comcast.net<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><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Hi Everyone,<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'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></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. <o:p></o:p></span></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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Those are my thoughts. Thanks.<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'>All The Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Jean Shiner<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'><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 <<a href="mailto:nhlakeschapter-bounces@nfbnet.org">nhlakeschapter-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <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 <<a href="mailto:nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org">nhlakeschapter@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> randi62 <<a href="mailto:randi62@comcast.net">randi62@comcast.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [NHLakesChapter] Upcoming convention<o:p></o:p></span></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<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>