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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have some very exciting news to share! Please see the following message from Norma Crosby, our affiliate president. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to either of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>...Gabe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> Members [mailto:members-bounces@lists.nfbtx.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Norma Crosby via Members<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 09, 2015 12:31 PM<br><b>To:</b> This is a list for discussion among members of the NFB of Texas.<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBT] Sunset Commission<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Hello Everyone,<br><br>I hope all of you are having a great 2015 so far. I am writing this morning to give you some updated information regarding the Sunset Commission. As you know, I have been attending their hearings and meetings in order to make the case for moving DARS under the auspices of the Texas Workforce Commission. During their decision making in December, they left the model the staff had recommended for DARS in place and voted to adopt the staff recommendations affecting DARS, as part of the Health and Human Services Commission.<br><br>They also heard public comment regarding the Texas Workforce Commission on the same day. Just prior to that hearing Senator Jane Nelson, who chairs the Sunset Commission, mentioned my testimony about moving DARS functions under the purview of TWC. She said she thought that actually sounded like a pretty good idea, and that was that. They held the hearing. I testified again, saying that DARS functions should be moved to TWC, and then the hearing was over.<br><br>Last night, Kimberly Flores and I learned that the Sunset Report on TWC would include language that would transfer the vocational rehabilitation program from DARS to TWC. This morning the report was posted on the Sunset Commission's website, and on page 72 of the report there is a recommendation that this be done. The recommendation was put forth by Senator Nelson. So, I think the odds are pretty good that it will go through without a hitch. <br><br>The decision making meeting for TWC will take place on Wednesday, January 14, beginning at 9:00am. I will be in attendance, and I wanted to make sure our members are aware of the meeting so that anyone who wants to attend can do so. We will not be providing assistance for this event, and there won't be any public testimony. However, if you attend, you will be present for a history-making meeting.<br><br>We all know Larry Temple, and I am very excited for the opportunity to work with him and his team to improve employment outcomes for blind Texans. The vote that will take place on Wednesday does not mean our work is done. We don't know what opposition we will face during the legislative session. So, I will still be calling on you all to help at an Austin Seminar in mid February or early March. I want this process to be as transparent as I can make it. So, I will be updating you regularly. Look for a new post on Wednesday.<br><br>If you plan to attend the decision making meeting, on Wednesday, please let me know. Everyone is welcome. I just want to have some idea of who might be coming. You can either post your plans to attend on this list. Or, you can send me a private email.<br><br>Thank you all so much for your support. As Kimberly said to me last night, "This is amazing!"<br><br>Have a great weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>-- <br>Norma Crosby, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Texas<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>