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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NEWS RELEASE </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<b><i>: </i></b>January 20, 2012<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1027" style='position:absolute;z-index:2' from="0,1.9pt" to="486.2pt,3.8pt" strokecolor="blue" strokeweight="6pt">
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<![if !mso]><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr><td><![endif]><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>More information: Christopher Clemens<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>NBA Operations Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'> <a href="mailto:cclemens@nationalbraille.org">cclemens@nationalbraille.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>585-427-8260<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><![if !mso]></td></tr></table><![endif]></v:textbox>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:2'><span style='position:absolute;left:-12px;top:-16px;width:718px;height:108px'><img width=718 height=108 src="cid:image001.png@01CCD755.CDAAB310" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1029"></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t202" style='position:absolute;margin-left:74.8pt;margin-top:60.05pt;width:252.45pt;height:24.8pt;z-index:1' stroked="f" /><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:absolute;z-index:1;margin-left:100px;margin-top:80px;width:340px;height:37px'><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td width=340 height=37 bgcolor=white style='vertical-align:top;background:white'><![endif]><![if !mso]><span style='position:absolute;mso-ignore:vglayout;z-index:1'><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr><td><![endif]><div v:shape="_x0000_s1026" style='padding:3.6pt 7.2pt 3.6pt 7.2pt' class=shape><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NATIONAL BRAILLE ASSOCIATION, INC.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><![if !mso]></td></tr></table></span><![endif]><![if !mso & !vml]> <![endif]><![if !vml]></td></tr></table></span><![endif]><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t202" style='position:absolute;margin-left:74.8pt;margin-top:5.7pt;width:119.4pt;height:18pt;z-index:3;mso-wrap-style:none' stroked="f">
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<![if !mso]><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr><td><![endif]><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Rochester, New York</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><![if !mso]></td></tr></table><![endif]></v:textbox>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=163 height=28 src="cid:image002.png@01CCD755.CDAAB310" align=left hspace=12 alt="Text Box: Rochester, New York" v:shapes="_x0000_s1028"><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><img width=87 height=85 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CCD755.CF278F10" alt="NBA%20Logo"></span></b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Braille from BRL2000"'>,,NBA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Braille from BRL2000"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOUNDED IN 1945<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NBA ANNOUNCES<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Professional Development Conference<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>April 26-28, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hilton St. Louis Frontenac</span></i><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>St. Louis, MO<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial-ItalicMT","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The conference provides opportunities for networking and refreshing skills, learning more efficient methods to do our work, and discussing our unique skills with others working in the same field. All aspects of braille production will be covered including:</span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.25in'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>Literary Braille, Nemeth Code, Music Braille, Tactile Graphics<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>2011 BANA Braille Formats Update<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>Transcription Software<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>Formatting Educational Materials<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>BANA Open Forum<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>and more!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial-ItalicMT","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial-BoldItalicMT","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial-BoldItalicMT","sans-serif";color:black'> Don’t miss the pre-conference tour of the Gateway Arch!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>Call the National Office at the number <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>below or check </span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:blue'>www.nationalbraille.org </span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"ArialMT","sans-serif";color:black'>for registration details.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Braille Association is a sponsor of the Braille Authority of North America.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-END-<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Jana Hertz<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Certified Braille Transcriber/Alternate Media Specialist <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Program for Visually Impaired Students <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>George White Elementary School P-5<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>25422 Chapparosa Park Drive<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Laguna Niguel, CA 92677<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>(949) 489-7484<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>Fax (949) 249-6781<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[if mail is returned undeliverable, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>please resend to <a href="mailto:JanaBrailles@aol.com">JanaBrailles@aol.com</a>]<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>