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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Quick question. Some of you know my husband, Ross Pollpeter, who is a VR teacher at IDB. Should we email our state reps, or the specific committee members? Thanks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter (she/her)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Freelance writer/marketer, Contributing writer, The Omaha Daily Record<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="mailto:bkpollpeter@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>bkpollpeter@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>“in a time of doubt and uncertainty, a nation is wise if it turns to its artists for enlightenment.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Edward O’Brien<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bob Ray via Tall-Corn<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 10, 2023 2:18 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List' <tall-corn@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> bray@nfbi.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Tall-Corn] Fwd: SSB 1123 Division XIII (13)<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>Sara, Thank you for this. Those of us who were at the subcommittee Wednesday were very impressed with Tony Bisignano. He has a very good record of working with the programs for the idb. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>Bob <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sara Coleman via Tall-Corn<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 10, 2023 1:08 PM<br><b>To:</b> tall-corn@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Sara Coleman <scolemae@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Tall-Corn] Fwd: SSB 1123 Division XIII (13)<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I received this response from the Ranking Member of the Senate State Government Committee, Tony Bisignano. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>My thanks to Enrique for the letter template I adapted for my letter. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Sara<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>From:</b> "Bisignano, Tony [LEGIS]" <<a href="mailto:Tony.Bisignano@legis.iowa.gov">Tony.Bisignano@legis.iowa.gov</a>><br><b>Date:</b> February 9, 2023 at 7:01:51 PM CST<br><b>To:</b> Sara Coleman <<a href="mailto:scolemae@gmail.com">scolemae@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Re: SSB 1123 Division XIII (13)</b><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>I agree with you. I will do what I can to stop this move.<br><br>Sent from my iPhone<br><br>On Feb 9, 2023, at 4:32 PM, Sara Coleman <<a href="mailto:scolemae@gmail.com">scolemae@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br><br>To the Honorable Tony Bsignano, Ranking Member, Senate State Government Committee,<br><br><br><br>My name is Sara Coleman and I am a registered voter who happens to be a deafblind Iowan.<br><br>I strongly oppose SSB 1123 Division XIII (13) as it will negatively impact the services provided to blind Iowans. The removal of hiring authority from the Iowa Commission for the Blind, especially in choosing the department's director will unnecessarily politicize the directorship and erode the quality of services.<br><br>The Iowa Department for the Blind has a long history of providing exceptional services to blind Iowans since 1925. For the past 65 years, the agency has been led by mostly blind leaders who serve as positive role models. The leadership of blind directors and blind members of the Iowa Commission for the Blind is a model for rehabilitation agencies serving the blind across the U.S.<br><br>To ensure the continued success of the agency and to better serve blind Iowans, it is imperative to maintain its independence and be led by individuals who understand the real challenges of blindness. The mission to lift up blind Iowans to live independently means it is vital to have leadership that truly comprehends what it means to be blind.<br><br>As an Iowan who has been the recipient of Department of the Blind services, I can attest to the life changing work the Agency accomplishes every day. I am happy to discuss my experience and reasoning for maintaining the independence of the Iowa Commission for the Blind with its current governmental structure.<br><br>I respectfully ask that SSB 1123 Division XIII (13) be stricken from the bill.<br><br>Sincerely,<br><br>Sara B. Coleman<br>Norwalk, IA<br>515-240-8257<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>