<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=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@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=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Afternoon Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to share President Riccobono’s note below regarding the passing of a dear friend, mentor, and colleague in the federation, Rachel Olivero. This is a tremendous shock to many of us who have known and worked with her in various capacities. Some of the affiliate presidents, including me, had the chance to interact with her the weekend before Washington Seminar, so this is especially difficult for many of us. I will share more details as I receive them. Please keep Rachel’s family, and her partner Karen Anderson, in your thoughts and prayers. As President Riccobono mentions, some of her most recent work in the Federation, especially the newly launched website, will be some of her most well-known for some time to come. See below. Thank you, and let’s continue to keep the Federation strong, especially in times such as this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is with deep shock and a strong sadness that I share the news with you that our friend, mentor, and colleague Rachel Olivero passed away very suddenly late last evening. I have known Rachel for nearly twenty of her thirty-six years and I have felt the significant impact she has made on the lives of so many people especially within the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wanted each of you to know as soon as possible. Details of funeral arrangements will be coming in the following days. I would ask you to join with me in keeping Rachel’s family especially her partner Karen Anderson in your thoughts and prayers. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Within our movement a core value we share is love. That we open our hearts to each other is what makes our work together so meaningful. That we open our hearts to each other also means that we feel the pain in a real way when we experience a loss in our family especially one as bright and powerful as Rachel Olivero. Thank you for your openness to the bond that we share together.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many have asked how they can help in this time of loss and I know that your support is much appreciated. If needs arise, you can be certain you will be called upon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For now, I invite you to keep the impact that Rachel played in your life close to your heart. Considering the significant work that she did behind the scenes for our organization, if you had no direct experience with her, you can be sure that you have utilized a tool that she helped build for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mark A. Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314 | <a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org">Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter: @Riccobono<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=591 height=214 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.png@01D4BBDB.7CCC1B10" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=68 height=68 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.png@01D4BBDB.7CCC1B10" alt=Facebook></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=68 height=68 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.png@01D4BBDB.7CCC1B10" alt=Twitter></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=68 height=68 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.png@01D4BBDB.7CCC1B10" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>