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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Evening Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Earlier this week, we received word that Emily Wharton, Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind, would be retiring due to medical reasons. Her last day is July 18, 2024. Below is the text of the resignation letter sent to the governor taken from the commission board packet on the IDB website. We wish Director Wharton well in this next chapter. The National Federation of the blind of Iowa will be watching the next steps in the search process closely, and we will do what is necessary to protect the interests of the blind of Iowa. This includes making sure that the blind of Iowa have constructive input to share with the governor before a decision is made. Emily, the members of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa thank you for your service as director over these last few years. It has been a pleasure to work with you to advance the interests of blind people in Iowa, and we wish you nothing but the best going forward! Now for the letter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>June 4, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 14px'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>Dear Governor Reynolds,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to notify you of my retirement from the position of Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind. My last day in this position will be July 18, 2024. As you know I have been battling stage IV kidney cancer since January of 2023. I have greatly appreciated your and your staff's willingness to let me take the time that I have needed for treatments and healing. However, this is a battle I most likely will be continuing to fight for the rest of my life. Treatment side effects and the chronic conditions they create have greatly reduced my stamina and tolerance for stress. While my love of public service and passion for empowering blind Iowans to be gainfully employed and live independently has not diminished, I am afraid I can no longer continue to put forth the high level of energy and effort our citizens deserve.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>I want to express my deepest gratitude to the members of my leadership team for the many extra tasks they have taken on and extra effort they have put forth throughout my illness. I have complete confidence in Deputy Director Sarah Willeford's ability to keep the agency moving forward until a new Director can be hired. She is an outstanding leader. I'm sure every Director says this, but I am continually amazed by the innovation, work ethic, and dedication of our agency staff. Before I became ill, I had a practice of commenting on and signing every evaluation in the agency. This would regularly make me tear up with gratitude at how much heart and soul people put into serving blind Iowans. I will greatly miss being a part of this extraordinary community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>It has been an outstanding opportunity and exciting challenge to occupy this historic position. I had hoped to be able to serve during the 100-year anniversary in April 2025. There is something deeply inspiring and humbling about working in the office once belonging to Kenneth Jernigan. Because of his legendary example, blind Iowans expect a great deal from the leadership of the Iowa Department for the Blind and will not tolerate anything less than excellence and equality. This can often make the position of Director exceedingly challenging. I would respectfully urge you to select a new Director in an open and public manner with the full engagement of blind Iowans. I would also strongly encourage you to select a Director who holds high expectations for those they serve and is dedicated to providing real, meaningful vocational rehabilitation and true independent living services. History has repeatedly shown that IDB Directors who do not meet these qualifications (or are not perceived to have met these qualifications by the public) experience a great deal of failure, frustration, and misery. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>When I was a client of the Iowa Department for the Blind and a student in the Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center in the late 1990s, I could not have imagined that serving as the IDB Director would be the culmination of a 26-year career in vocational rehabilitation. Having grown up legally blind in a small town in Northwest Iowa without access to blindness skill training or <br><br>positive role models, I had believed that I was inherently less capable and worthy than my sighted friends and family. I had no belief that I could be employed or independent. I was so scared and hopeless that I attempted suicide one month before graduating from Drake University. The skills, positive attitude toward blindness, and self-confidence I gained in my training in the IDB center made me understand that the amount of eyesight a person possesses has nothing to do with their worth, competency, or potential. This saved my life. In addition, the services I received from IDB empowered me to craft a highly meaningful career. I have so loved watching my former students and clients going on to teach others and achieve their dreams. I have been blessed by this rare opportunity to pay forward such a profound gift. Because of this and my deep love for and pride in the great state of Iowa, it has been a true honor and genuine privilege to serve. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 14px'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 14px'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal;min-height: 14px'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-variant-caps: normal;font-stretch: normal;font-size-adjust: none;font-kerning: auto;font-variant-alternates: normal;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-numeric: normal;font-variant-east-asian: normal;font-variant-position: normal;font-variant-emoji: normal;font-feature-settings: normal;font-optical-sizing: auto;font-variation-settings: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif'><br>Emily Wharton<br>Director<br>Iowa Department for the Blind<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a></span><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><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></span><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a></span><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><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></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>