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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Dear Tall Corn Listers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>As mentioned at the NFBI State Convention in October, I am applying for reappointment to the Iowa Commission for the Blind for a new three-year term beginning May 1, 2018. Today is the day I’m writing to ask for your letter of support for my reappointment bid. I have completed and submitted my application. I feel this additional term is important to move forward and enhance the initiatives and high-quality programs and services we have established over the last ten years. Many have been started. I want to see that they continue and succeed. As I told the Governor in my application, independent and productive blind citizens are a valuable economic resource in our state. I want to remain on the Commission to ensure that value continues to increase.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>When you write your letter, please bear in mind that the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa does not endorse anyone’s appointment to the Commission, and that as a commissioner, I do not represent any blind consumer organization. I represent each blind Iowan, including you. If, on that basis, you can submit a letter of support on my behalf, I will appreciate it very much. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Below is the statement I have submitted with my updated application for reappointment:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I have lived in Iowa all my life, as a blind person since my first birthday. I was educated for ten years at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, then graduated from my local high school. After graduation I spent time at the Iowa Commission for the Blind’s Orientation Center, learning from the very best how to be a blind person with a good life. I went to college as a blind person; married and raised a computer engineer and a retail manager as a blind person; enjoyed a long and varied career, paying taxes on my wages as a blind person. The Iowa Commission for the Blind and the services and programs of the Iowa Department for the Blind have helped me live a normal, happy, productive life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“My career was spent outside the field of blindness, but I learned much that has helped me succeed as a member of the Iowa Commission for the Blind for about nine years. I formulated and administered budgets, designed, implemented and evaluated a research study protocol and several heart health programs for women, edited documents sent out of the Department of Public Health, provided grants to local health agencies and administered those grants. I facilitated several coalitions on various health issues, wrote multimillion-dollar grant applications to the Federal government to fund programs, and coordinated a team of colleagues who worked with local health agencies providing community services to low-income women.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“During my time on the Iowa Commission for the Blind, I have helped to hire two directors (a third was hired during a brief hiatus from the Commission), update and revitalize the Iowa Department for the Blind’s policies, programs and services for the twenty-first century, maintain excellent services to blind Iowans even when the budget dwindled, work through the Federal Government’s WIOA initiative to help high school students and young adults become job-ready, employable citizens of Iowa, and work toward the goals of productivity and independence for all blind Iowans. I also wrote and revised a form to evaluate the performance of the last two directors, and am working to establish a Service Enterprise Initiative volunteer program at the Department.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>“I ask that you reappoint me to the Iowa Commission for the Blind so that I may continue to help the Department move forward, increasing the expectations of blind Iowans to be productive, tax-paying citizens, and to help older Iowans stay in their homes and active as long as possible. Independent, productive blind Iowans are a valuable part of our state’s economy. I want to help ensure that value is increased over the next three years.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Please email your letter to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Christina Bettini, Deputy Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Boards and Commissions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Governor’s Office<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><a href="mailto:Christina.bettini@iowa.gov">Christina.bettini@iowa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Submit your letter no later than Monday, January 15. If you need more information about me for the letter, contact me at <a href="mailto:sjryan2@gmail.com">sjryan2@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Thanks so much for your support!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sandi Ryan <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Board Member, Des Moines Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986">Mail</a> for Windows 10</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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