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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear Eric and all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I wanted to thank you for your message and assure you that we have been working on this issue as you know in fact DRO was checking to see if any legal reasons would keep Joe from testifying.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Suzanne and I have testimony and have been asking others to prepare testimony so everyone can count on that the information has been circulating and we will put it out again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Have Joe to call me and we will also find a way to get him to Columbus when we get the date of the hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The chapter leaders received a message that should have included this information and information for the national legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Members that need assistance feel free to reach out to the committee and me to help with this or any other items.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Richard Payne, President</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>937/829/3368</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><a href="mailto:Rchpay7@gmail.com"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0563C1'>Rchpay7@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><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'> Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric via Ohio-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 14, 2024 5:31 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Ohio Announcement List <ohio-talk@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Eric <blind5dtn@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Ohio-Talk] An Open Request to the Leadership of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio from Eric Duffy<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> An Open Request to the Leadership of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear NFB-O Leadership:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>HB 427 (a bill to end the payment of subminimum wages to disabled people in Ohio) is now at the tipping point in the Ohio General Assembly. With only four meetings left before the scheduled break, the Government Oversight Committee must schedule hearings on this Bill and vote it out of the Committee with a favorable vote sending it on to the House. Although proponent, opponent, and interested-party testimony could be consolidated into one hearing, this is likely not the way it will be done. It is quite likely that these parties will be scheduled separately. Therefore, it is critical that these hearings be scheduled now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Every member should write or call each member of the Government Oversight Committee, even if you do not live in that representative’s district. Ask him or her to contact Chairman Peterson and request that this Bill be scheduled for hearings immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Richard and Suzanne, you both have personal meaningful stories to tell that could help move this legislation forward. At a minimum you should be prepared to offer written testimony, and ideally to travel to Columbus to provide in-person testimony. Now that the Seneca County case is no longer in the courts, Joe Magers would be an excellent witness to appear before the committee. Joe is not in a position to pay for his transportation to and from Columbus, I would hope that this is something the affiliate would take care of for him, given the importance of this issue. If for any reason this cannot be done, I will reach out to friends who are interested in helping bring this abhorrent practice to an end in Ohio.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>It is urgent that we make contact with all members of the committee now. If we all act quickly, we can get this done. Those in the NFB participating on the 14(C) taskforce should have the Government Oversight Committee contact list as well as a sample letter. If for some reason you do not, I will be happy to provide it. If I can assist in any way in this matter, I am happy to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Eric Duffy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>614-377-9877<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;font-variant-caps: normal;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-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 11px'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>