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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><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We are off to a start in working with the Iowa Legislature to maintain and improve the status of the Iowa Department For The Blind. We are still in early times but it is clear that the only way we are going to be heard is for us to make it happen. With that in mind President Van Gorp and the legislative committee have called a meeting on ZOOM this Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. This meeting is for the membership of the NFBI to get together and learn what we have done so far, what we believe to be the right things to do from here forward and to answer your questions about how to accomplish this. We hope that many of you will be able to join us because this is one of the most critical things we have done in many years to promote the well-being of the lives of blind Iowans in the years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Do we have friends in the Iowa Legislature? Yes, we certainly do but it is up to each of us to make new friends and to help convince those that disagree with us that what we are asking for will cause blind Iowans to continue to have and expect excellent services. Each of us need to contact legislators and tell our story. Does it need to be fancy and all flowery? No, it needs to let the legislator that you are communicating with understands what it means to you. This may come in many different forms. It can be done by phone. It may be done by email or regular mail. It may also be done by a personal visit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>It was suggested by one of our State board members that blind persons across the state may want to get on social media and tell their story. I believe that is an excellent idea. I realize that not all of us are on social media, for example, I am not. I do encourage all who are to make use of this tool to spread the word. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I also wish to thank those who have already attended the subcommittee meetings of the State Government Committee of the Iowa Senate. The meeting yesterday had many blind Iowans, several students from the Orientation center and our friends in attendance. The chair of the committee permitted anyone in the room who wished to speak. There may be more gatherings of that subcommittee we don’t know at this point. We do know that the same type of committee in the Iowa House will be meeting and we need to be there. If you can attend we encourage it. If you cannot lists of the people on these subcommittees have been circulated and will continue to be . Contact these people and make your feelings known. News stories appeared on KCCI tv as well as articles in the Des Moines Register and Cedar Rapids Gazzet. If you have any contacts in the media be sure to let us know about them. They would be most helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Remember that this Saturday we will be having a ZOOM meeting to discuss what has happened and what is coming up. Please, come join us, ask questions, make suggestions a let us know about things that have occurred that we have missed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If we can be of help with anything along these lines feel free to contact me by phone or email.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Bob Ray<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Legislative Committee Chair<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation Of The Blind Of Iowa<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phone: 515 334-7231<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Email:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:bray@nfbi.org">bray@nfbi.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Let’s go build the National Federation Of The Blind Of Iowa. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div></body></html>