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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hi, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I think my National Convention highlights for the year include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>\u2022Reuniting with a former summer program student of mine in an elevator bank. We got to take the stairs together multiple times throughout the week afterward, and catching up on his life was a treat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>\u2022Working the Exhibit Hall table with so many wonderful folks was fun, but getting some quality time to get to know Miss Sharon Omvig better might just top my list. She\u2019s not only one of the kindest hearts you\u2019ll ever meet but also a wealth of information about the Federation and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>\u2022Hosting this year\u2019s Showcase of Talent on behalf of the Performing Arts Division was a great experience, even though I lost my voice shortly afterward. Shoutout to Des Moines Chapter President Becky Young for her bravery in venturing onto the stage!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hope to hear about others\u2019 experiences soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Helen Mejia via Tall-Corn<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 22, 2025 7:09 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List <tall-corn@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Helen Mejia <hmejia@nfbi.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Tall-Corn] National Convention<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning NFBI,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>For anyone who did not participate in the convention in any way, the recordings of the General Sessions and the banquet will eventually be available to listen to so you can check out some of what we are discussing.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>First, I want to thank everyone who helped out with fundraising efforts at the convention, in particular David and Elizabeth, who both contributed quite a bit of time in preparation and at the convention. We raised a significant amount of money to support our movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Second, for everyone who was able to attend the Convention, either virtually or in-person, could you share a brief highlight or two with the list? What stood out to you and why?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Two highlights for me were the Presidential report and the banquet address. In the Presidential report we hear about just some of the things that the NFB did over the past year. The report focused on some of the more personal stories of people who the NFB helped. For example, President Riccobono started off by talking about a woman who had her six-month-old child taken away, and she had trouble getting her back because of her blindness. The NFB advocated and testified so that the courts ruled in the mom\u2019s favor. Of course that resonated with me as a parent of a seven-month-old. What resonated with you?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Helen<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Helen Mejia, President<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<span class=apple-converted-space> </span>of Iowa<br><a href="mailto:hmejia@nfbi.org">hmejia@nfbi.org</a><br>(570) 983-7867<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>