<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">"President, National Federation of the Blind" <<a href="mailto:OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org" class="">OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org</a>><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class="">NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/09/2017</b><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">January 9, 2017 at 12:34:32 PM MST<br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">"President, National Federation of the Blind" <<a href="mailto:OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org" class="">OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org</a>><br class=""></span></div><br class=""><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">President’s Notebook<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">National Federation of the Blind<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">Mark A. Riccobono<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class=""><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><o:p class=""></o:p></h1><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">(410) 659-9314<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Dear Fellow Federationists,<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">I had the opportunity to represent the Federation at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) last week. In talking to technology providers, it is encouraging to find more awareness of what "accessibility" means than I did years ago when I last attended CES. It is clear that we are living in an ever-connected world from cars, to homes, to wearables, to the physical environment. I think that our advocacy and technology expertise put the blind in a great position to take advantage of all of these innovations.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Technology will never be the answer. We need to continue to articulate our philosophy about blindness. I think that we need to walk carefully around the use of technology making sure that the blind continue to direct that use in our lives. There are many simple things that do not require a technology solution. However, how can we further leverage technology to give us increased access to information that is expensive or difficult to get in our everyday lives? It will be up to the National Federation of the Blind to define what the cutting edge of technology and independence is, and I am looking to the leaders of the Federation to help by actively participating in those discussions.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">Critical Actions This Week:<o:p class=""></o:p></h2><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Washington Seminar:<br class="">The Great Gathering-In is exactly three weeks from today. Please schedule appointments with members of your Congressional delegation for January 31, February 1, and February 2. Once your appointments are scheduled, please notify us at<a href="mailto:Hillappointments@nfb.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Hillappointments@nfb.org</a>, providing as much information about each meeting as you can, including: date, time, meeting location, and (perhaps most importantly) whether you are meeting with a staffer or an actual member of Congress.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">The 2017<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Legislative Fact Sheets</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are online. This is a great time to be studying our issues for the 2017 Washington Seminar and memorizing the fact sheets. Be sure to check back often for updates regarding the Washington Seminar in the weeks leading up to the Great Gathering-In on January 30 at 5:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Capitol.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class=""><span style="font-weight: normal;" class="">News:</span><span style="font-weight: normal;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></h2><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;" class="">2017 BELL Academy Program launched:<br class="">On Louis Braille's birthday, January 4, we launched the 2017 BELL Academy Program with Wells Fargo. In addition to sponsoring the BELL Academy, Wells Fargo will provide strategic input into the program and offer team member volunteers at select academies.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;" class="">Presidential Release:<br class="">The January Presidential Release has been posted to our website at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/pr457.mp3" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/pr457.mp3</a>.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px;" class="">EPUB 3 Training Seminar:<br class="">We will be hosting a training seminar designed to teach how to create and implement accessible EPUB 3 in a variety of different settings and to discuss the upcoming release of the EPUB accessibility conformance specification. This event will be hosted under the auspices of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access to Education, Public Information, and Commerce (CENA), with financial support through the Non-Visual Accessibility Initiative grant from the State of Maryland.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" class="">Dates to Keep in Mind:<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></h2><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">January 30, 2017: Great Gathering-In</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">January 30-February 2, 2017:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Washington Seminar</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">March 23, 2017:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/ebooks-and-epub-accessibility" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">EPUB 3 Training Seminar</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium<o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">March 31, 2017: Deadline for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">scholarship applications</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">April 15, 2017: Deadline for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Jacob Bolotin Award applications</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" class="">July 10-15, 2017:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm" target="_blank" title="Link to NFB Convention - Braille Monitor" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" class="">National Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">July 21-29, 2017:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Youth Slam</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">, Towson University<o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" class=""><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span class="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">September 12-17, 2017:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://blindmerchants.org/blast-2017/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">BLAST</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: none;" class="">, Nashville, Tennessee<o:p class=""></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Mark A. Riccobono<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">President<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">(410) 659-9314 |<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="https://nfb.org/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><img class="" apple-inline="yes" id="A81182C1-D301-4CFD-8EF1-B0B2230C5629" height="76" width="210" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:image001.png@01D23E84.379CBDF0"></span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><img class="" apple-inline="yes" id="EF40CC3C-AE56-495F-8D0C-1C2AC791D114" height="24" width="24" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:image002.png@01D23E84.379CBDF0"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><img class="" apple-inline="yes" id="783F5C16-54E2-4B5C-82C1-BA0A79D1E2AC" height="24" width="24" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:image003.png@01D23E84.379CBDF0"></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none;" class=""><img class="" apple-inline="yes" id="D8DE74DF-CB45-458E-8B8D-42E97FEC242D" height="24" width="24" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:image004.png@01D23E84.379CBDF0"></span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">The National Federation of the Blind 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.</div></div></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></body></html>