[il-talk] {Spam?} Fwd: ICBV Office Update February 23, 2016
Denise Avant
davant1958 at gmail.com
Wed Feb 24 12:32:52 UTC 2016
Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: ICBV Office Update February 23, 2016
> Date: February 23, 2016 at 5:00:25 PM CST
> To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Reply-To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>ICBV Office Update
> February 23, 2016
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>
> *1) Calendar of Events
> *2) Cullen & Associates Session Update
> *3) IAMC Legislative Report
> *4) Governor Rauner’s Budget Address
> *5) NCD Applauds New Proposed Rule by the Department of Education to Assist Students of Color with Disabilities
> *6) Access Technology for Daily Living
> *7) 3 Ways to Boost Your Customer Service Listening
> *8) Apple Gains Silcon Valley’s Backing in Government Fight
> *9) Hadley School for the Blind
> Big Announcement!! Name Change and More
> iFocus 13: Tips on Using the Accessibility Features in iOS
> VoiceOver App Smackdown 2016
> *10) Eyes on Success – The Blind Cook
> *11) NFB & NFBI Sponsor Merit Scholarship Programs
> *12) Beggars Pizza NFBI Fundraiser April 20th
> *13) Distributor News CVS PUSH Tribe Teas, price changes
> *14) Broker News Saverino & Associates - Cloverhill
> *15) Broker News G&J Marketing – Advance Pierre, Freshley’s
> *16) RSA Buying Group News – Frito Lay News Item & Top 20 Purchase Power Deals
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**1 Calendar of Events
> Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:00 a.m.
> From Dan Brander Chicago Vendors Supply - Training at ICRE
> Good Morning All, The date has been set for ICBV training. It will be on Wednesday, 2/24/16 at 10 am. The location will be the training facility on Wood Street at Roosevelt (Illinois Center for rehabilitation Education1151 S. Wood, Chicago IL). Chicago Vendor Supply will train any ICBV members on how to use our Vendchannel website. There will also be an Office Coffee Service (OCS) presentation from White Bear Coffee. It will train members to make their OCS business more profitable.
>
> CVS website training 10:00-11:00
> White Bear OCS. 11:15- 12:15
> Questions / Wrap up 12:15 - 1:00
>
> May 17 -20, 2016
> From the National Association of Blind Merchants -
> Registration is open for the Windy City BLAST. Our training conference will be held May 17-20, 2016, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Exciting things are being planned and we hope you will plan on joining us for this premiere training opportunity. Visit www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/> to register now and book your hotel room.
>
> The most exciting thing is we have signed a deal with Disney to do a one-day pre-conference training. The training is entitled “The Disney Approach to Business Excellence” and will be held on Tuesday, May 17th from 8:00 – 4:00. This training is outstanding.
>
> To All Illinois Members and Trainees:
> Disney Training - ICBV will cover $50 of the $100.00 cost to attend for Illinois members and trainees. Your $50.00 deposit is due in the ICBV office by March 1, 2016. The check is to be made payable to ICBV and mailed to 53 West Jackson, Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60604. If a manager would like to bring a guest to the Disney Training, the full $100.00 for the guest is also due in the office by March 1st.
>
> So mark your calendar and (those in Illinois) please contact Letia Gossard at 217-558-2321 by February 11, 2016 to express your interest in attending "Windy City BLAST" as well as the Disney Training. It is imperative that we get a head count as soon as possible.
>
> Also please note that anyone bringing a guest to BLAST in order for your guest to attend general sessions and planned meals they will also have to be registered for BLAST at NABM at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**2 From Cullen & Associates – Session Update February 17, 2016
> Acknowledging Illinois is “headed in the wrong direction,” Governor Rauner delivered his second budget address to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly, calling on all Legislators to place “priority on the next generation and not the next election.” In an unprecedented situation where a proposed budget is presented prior to the final approval of the current fiscal year budget, the Governor asked Legislators to work together to find a bipartisan solution to fix Illinois’ financial difficulties, challenging legislators to change the way they think about the budget. Instead of viewing the budget as “a choice between program cuts and increased revenue,” he encouraged Legislators think of it as being “about economic growth and opportunity – a more efficient government with more value for taxpayers.”
>
> The Republican Governor offered the Democrat-controlled General Assembly a choice: pass a $36.3 billion general funds budget reflecting a combination of spending reductions and revenue increases, accompanied by business and government reforms, or, if gridlock continues, pass a more lean $32.8 billion budget and grant the Governor the ability to reduce spending unilaterally. Neither proposal was viewed favorably by Democratic Leaders.
>
> Under both budget scenarios, Governor Rauner signaled that K – 12 education funding is his top priority, and as such, he proposed fully funding the General State Aid (GSA) formula for the first time in 7 years. At $4.8 billion, the Governor’s proposed education funding level represents a $55 million increase over FY16, raising the per pupil foundation level to $6,119. The Governor also proposed $393 million for early childhood education, which represents a $75 million increase over FY16. Republican leaders Representative Jim Durkin and Senator Christine Radogno will introduce the Governor’s proposed education budget as an independent appropriation bill. The Governor asked legislators to send the final bill to his desk, “clean and with no games,” and he pledged to sign it immediately.
>
> WORKING TOGETHER PROPOSAL
> Under the Governor’s proposal for “Working Together” at the $36.3 billion general funds level, he proposed working with Senate President John Cullerton to pass the Senator’s pension plan that would provide state employees a choice of keeping more generous yearly cost-of-living increases (without pay increases factored into their benefit calculation) or continuing to count pay raises in calculating their retirement benefits, with a lower, non-compounding COLA. Other budget highlights under the “Working Together” proposal include:
>
> Transportation: The Governor proposed a larger road program for FY17, including $2 billion in “pay-as-you-go (non-bonded) capital for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s road program.
>
> Medicaid and Human Services: The Governor proposed thinking about human services differently and eliminating “silos” between state agencies, the justice system, and the educational system, while optimizing the State’s ability to bring in federal dollars. Medicaid eligibility will be maintained for the State’s core, low-income population and also for the ACA expansion population. It is projected that 3 million people on average will be enrolled in Medicaid in FY17. ACA enrollment will be funded by the State at the 100% level through December 31st, 2016, and ACA enrollment is expected to increase from 622,400 in FY16 to 641,600 in FY17. When federal funding drops to 90% in CY2017 for the ACA population, the net cost increase to the State will be $57.6 million. The Healthcare and Family Services budget under the Governor’s proposal would increase $670 million GRF. The Governor is also proposing a dramatic shift from institutional care for children and adults, and paying providers for value, quality, and outcome. Non-Medicaid services and programs that are not funded by order of consent decree, such as mental health programs and services for the developmentally disabled, are not line-item funded in the Governor’s proposal. There is a lump-sum appropriation, however, that could be directed to fund various programs in a final budget agreement.
>
> Department of Children and Family Services: The Governor proposed transitioning DCFS wards from institutional settings to community-based settings, reducing institutional placements for DCFS wards by 20 percent in FY17, a proposed savings of $13.3 million. The Governor also proposed transforming service delivery to the 18 to 21-year-old population.
>
> Higher Education: The Governor proposed funding the State’s Monetary Award Program at FY15 levels. He also proposed a “reallocation of resources into performance funding for public universities and community colleges.”
>
> Child Care and Community Services: In keeping with his promise from last spring, the Governor proposed funding for child care assistance for families with incomes up to 185% of the FPL. The FY17 proposed budget also includes full funding for home services and early intervention programs. The Governor further proposed creating the Community Reinvestment Program, offering services to non-Medicaid eligible seniors who meet the functional and financial requirements of the current Community Care Program.
>
> Corrections: The Governor proposed adding headcount at the Department of Corrections, including correctional officers, staff at expanded mental health facilities, residential treatment units, and specialists in risk assessments, with the goal of operating a correctional system that “reduces recidivism and manages costs.” The Administration hopes to reduce the adult prison population by 25%.
>
> While the Governor’s proposed budget does not address the current $4 billion budget shortfall in FY16, and it contains a $3.5 billion shortfall for FY17, he will use debt financing alternatives and other cost-saving reforms to adjust the budget, such as those found through procurement reforms, selling the Chicago Thompson Center building, imposing a 10% budget reduction for all constitutional officers and the General Assembly, and merging the Historic Preservation Agency with the DCEO Bureau of Tourism. He also maintained his position that any tax increase as part of a budget solution must be accompanied by structural reforms. The Governor did agree, however, to forego some of his previously-demanded Turnaround Agenda Reforms, but he continues to argue that Illinois must be an attractive state in which to do business to regain our economic stability.
>
> Other policy initiatives announced as part of the Governor’s FY 17 budget include: implementing a $275 million Rainy Day Fund; changing the state employee’s health plan as previously proposed, capping premium benefit levels and providing a reduced level of benefits; increasing rewards for state employees; creating the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as a separate state agency, re-opening the Illinois State Museum under a more cost-effective practice, creating a public-private museum partnership, and reforming health and human services technology platforms.
>
> EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL
> In the likely event that the Governor and the General Assembly do not agree on a “balanced budget in conjunction with structural reforms,” the Governor proposed a second budget scenario under which the Administration would independently manage the FY17 budget under the “Executive Management” option. Under this proposal, the Unbalanced Budget Response Act would be enacted to provide the Governor the tools needed to bring the budget into balance. Those tools would include: (1) a means to establish a wide array of spending reserves; (2) the ability to reduce provider rates that are currently set in statute; (3) the ability to reduce or modify statutory transfers from state funds; (4) a mechanism to reallocate balances from other state accounts into general funds; and (5) the ability to alter or delay payments under continuing appropriations (which could include skipping the FY17 pension payment).
>
> As expected, both of the Governor’s budget proposals met with opposition from Democrat Legislative Leaders. While Senate President Cullerton is “all in” for cooperation, he stated that there must be compromise, and people must “move off” their previously held positions. President Cullerton did state that he is willing to discuss redistricting reform, collective bargaining changes (without elimination), and even discussing workers compensation reform. President Cullerton also stated that the State’s pension payment cannot be skipped, and said he would be “fact checking” some of the Governor’s statements. In particular, he felt the Governor talked “unfairly” about Chicago schools. Cullerton further noted that he wants to find a way to avoid a state worker strike, and the Senate will be taking up the binding arbitration bill approved by the House.
>
> Speaker Madigan continues to believe the State’s number one problem is the budget deficit, that Illinois cannot cut its way out of the budget problems, and that Illinois needs a balanced approach to the budget, with spending reductions accompanied by new revenues. He reiterated his belief several times that Illinois should not be in the business of lowering wages and the standard of living for middle class families. The Speaker did pledge to work cooperatively with the Governor to address the budget problem and felt that all of this can be accomplished if extreme ideas are put aside. Madigan applauded the Governor for wanting to provide more money for education and encouraged him to support his millionaire’s tax to pay for it.
>
> Illinois’ path forward to finding a fiscal solution to the 8-month budget stalemate remains uncertain. With Democratic Legislative Leaders calling the Governor’s budget proposals “impractical” and suggesting that the Legislature will “start from scratch,” and with primary elections on the immediate horizon in March, it is clear that the State will continue to operate without an FY16 budget, at least in the coming weeks. With discussion now begun on an FY17 budget solution, Illinois may see its first two-year budget since the approval of the 1970 Illinois Constitution. In 1863, then Governor Richard Yates sent the Legislature home before they could approve a budget due to fears the General Assembly was “pro-South” during the Civil War. The Governor then proceeded to operate the State without a budget and borrowed money from Republican and Union sympathizers until the next session met in 1865. One hopes that Illinois does not wait until next session to provide spending authority for government programs and services for FY16 and FY17.
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**3 From IAMC - Legislative Report on the 99th General Assembly
> February 13, 2016 Prepared by BP Consultants
> Introduction: The following Legislative Report includes Legislation from the 2016 Session of the 99th General Assembly. This report has been prepared by BP Consultants on behalf of IAMC.
>
> We have included bills that we believe may be of interest to your organization. Please review this report carefully to see if we have included all areas of interest. If we have included legislation that is not relevant or legislation that you do not wish to track, please let me know and they will be removed. If you would like for your organization’s positions on bills to be included in the report, please send that information to me at desiharris at msn.com and it will be incorporated.
>
> The General Assembly was in session this past week. Both chambers will return on February 16th. Governor Rauner is scheduled to deliver his Fiscal Year 17 Budget Address at noon on Wednesday, February 17th. Please note that the deadline to introduce Senate Bills is Friday, February 19th.
>
> President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday, February 10th. He returned to Springfield to commemorate the anniversary of his announcement for the run to the White House. During his speech he called for a more cooperative politics and said that citizenship is “threatened by a poisonous political climate that pushes people away from participating in our public life.” Recalling his time served in the Illinois Senate mingling with lawmakers from both parties at receptions and poker games, Obama said he learned the lessons of both parties working together to pass legislation. During his visit he also met with former colleagues, stopped by his former office in the State Capitol and visited with supporters.
>
> On Thursday the Civic Federation offered a revamped version of its blueprint to rescue the state from its current fiscal crisis. The report calls for raising the income tax back to the level it was at prior to January 1, 2015, and taxing non-Social Security retirement income of more than $50,000 a year, as most states do. It also would expand the state's sales tax to cover more services. Other recommendations include enacting a constitutional amendment to permit prospective changes to public employee pension benefits, enacting state government operational spending cuts, and shifting the Chicago teachers' pension fund's $9.59 billion in unfunded liabilities to the state retirement system. According to the Civic Federation, if the mix of spending cuts and tax hikes is not implemented or replaced by something equivalent, the state's backlog of unpaid bills could grow to $25.9 billion by the end of fiscal 2019.
>
> There wasn’t much action on substantive legislation this past week but a few committees began considering new legislation. The House Labor and Commerce Committee recommended adoption of House Amendment 2 to HB 580 (Representative Welch), which would let arbitrators decide between the State’s and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ final contract offers. The measure includes a “no-strike” provision. The amendment is similar to provisions contained in SB 1229 which the Governor vetoed and the House failed to override the veto in September. The amendment now goes to the House floor for adoption.
>
> Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines:
> February 17, 2016 – Governor’s FY17 Budget Address
> February 19, 2016 – Deadline for Introduction of Senate Bills
> March 15, 2016 – Primary Election
> March 20 to April 3, 2016 – Spring Break for General Assembly
> April 8, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> April 22, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> May 13, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Senate Bills in the House and Substantive
> House Bills in the Senate
> May 27, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Second Chamber
> May 31, 2016 – Scheduled Adjournment
>
> Thank you,
> Desi Harris
>
> IAMC also put out a legislative report on February 20, 2016 which basically included the same information as Tom Cullen’s session report above so I am not including it here. If you would still like to see it just let me know.
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**4 Shared by IAMC – Governor Rauner’s Budget Address
> OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER
> EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
> Wednesday, February 17, 2016
>
> Contact
> Catherine Kelly
> Catherine.Kelly at illinois.gov <mailto:Catherine.Kelly at illinois.gov>
>
> Governor Rauner’s Budget Address
> As prepared for delivery
> President Cullerton
> Speaker Madigan
> Leader Radogno
> Leader Durkin
> Lieutenant Governor Sanguinetti
> Attorney General Madigan
> Secretary White
> Comptroller Munger
> Treasurer Frerichs
>
> Members of the General Assembly,
> Thank you for your service. I stand before you today with respect for our co-equal branches of government – acknowledgment of our shared responsibility for the future – and a deeply-rooted desire to work with each and every one of you to right our ship of state.
>
> Although we succeeded last year in eliminating an inherited $1.6 billion budget hole without a tax hike, we are now in our 8th month without a state budget – and court orders are forcing us to spend beyond our means.
> Shocking, yes. Acceptable, not even close.
>
> For more than two decades, we’ve had unsustainable unbalanced budgets, undisciplined spending, increased borrowing from retirees and vendors, rising taxes, inadequate infrastructure investment, massive manufacturing job losses, and stagnant family incomes. Dismal economic performance.
> The truth is, we haven’t had a truly balanced budget in Illinois for decades. In ways both obvious and hidden, we’ve overspent, and raised taxes to cover it.
>
> To win elections, politicians from both parties made promises to special interests that the state could never afford – unaffordable pension promises that are bankrupting our state.
>
> Adding to the damage has been the cost of delay, the penalty we pay for kicking the can down the road by not paying for our promises when they were made. Postponing the day of reckoning is taxing delayed, only with a steeper price, and increased pain for our working families, when the bill finally comes due.
>
> Years of unpaid bills – with their punishing 12% interest rates – have cost taxpayers more than $1 billion in interest. Worse: Delaying pension contributions through a slow ramp, which didn’t pay in the actuarially required amount each year, was the equivalent of borrowing from the pension funds at an 8% interest rate – which is the long term yield on pension assets.
>
> Eight percent is a stunningly high interest cost for our taxpayers to bear – that’s the rate you pay on junk bonds! Illinois taxpayers owe an additional $40 billion to the pensions because of this hidden borrowing scheme.
> Our costs of government have grown rapidly, while our tax base – families and companies who pay for it all – is declining. Illinois today has fewer jobs and lower family incomes than we had in 1999. Think about that. Absolutely shocking. Unacceptable! Our people deserve so much better.
>
> Raising taxes without addressing the costs of government, and improving the business climate of our state, merely drives families and jobs out of Illinois. In the years after the last tax hike in 2011, Illinois lost $3.7 billion of taxable income. After the last tax increase, Illinois’ credit rating was downgraded to the lowest in the nation. Our pension liability went UP $28 billion. School funding was cut. The finances in the City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools deteriorated. And now we lag the nation in job creation.
>
> That experience showed us that a tax hike by itself is just part of an endless cycle of increased spending, borrowing and higher taxes – a cycle that drives people and jobs out of Illinois. We have to break out of this downward cycle – and build a positive cycle of cost savings and job growth.
> We must look beyond annual savings, and focus on changing long term trajectories.
>
> We already know what won’t work. For one thing – this year cannot become a re-run of last year. Twelve months ago, I proposed a budget with $6 billion in cuts, and it was quickly rejected by the legislature. I offered to work together to find a compromise, but our reform proposals were ignored.
> Instead, Democratic legislators passed a spending plan that was more than $4 billion out-of-balance, and I had to veto it.
>
> Democrats won’t support enough spending cuts to live within our current revenues, and you won’t vote to raise taxes to cover your deficit spending unless Republicans agree to support your tax hike.
>
> I won’t support new revenue unless we have major structural reforms to grow more jobs and get more value for taxpayers. I’m insisting that we attack the root causes of our dismal economic performance. Those are the dynamics.
>
> That leaves us with only two choices: either you give the executive branch the authority to cut spending to live within our revenues. Or, we agree – together – on economic and governmental reforms, to accompany a negotiated balance of spending reductions and revenue, that ensures that Illinois can be both compassionate and competitive.
>
> You choose. But please, choose now.
>
> Let’s stop wasting time by voting on spending bills you know must be vetoed – and then doing it again and again and again.
> The people of Illinois are sick and tired of this – they want us to work together, not watch another pointless cycle of votes and vetoes.
> The people have been waiting long enough.
> I stand ready to negotiate with each and every one of you – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
>
> The people of Illinois want action. The time to act is NOW.
> A few weeks ago, one Democratic legislator – someone for whom I have a great deal of respect – told the media that the solution to our problems must include several things: reforms, cuts and revenues.
> Quote: “Those are the levers that have to be pulled in order to get out of this, and it’s just not that hard if reasonable people come together.”
> She is right – everyone in this chamber must come together in the spirit of compromise and bipartisanship.
>
> Let’s work together to enact a bipartisan, balanced budget with a mix of reforms, cost reductions and revenue – just as that Democratic lawmaker suggested. And by reforms, I mean REAL reforms that will allow Illinois to grow jobs, expand our tax base and steadily reduce the total tax burden on Illinois families. The reforms we’ve put forward would make our government more efficient and save taxpayers money.
>
> We’ve introduced procurement reform to save half a billion dollars in the coming fiscal year alone. We have begun the work to sell the Thompson Center and save hundreds of millions. And we are negotiating a new labor contract that is fair to both state employees and taxpayers – to save hundreds of millions of dollars this year and $3 billion over the next three years.
>
> Since last spring, we’ve been bargaining in good faith with all of the public sector unions whose members serve in state government. We are negotiating on behalf of taxpayers who pay their salaries; on behalf of school children, the vulnerable, and the elderly, whose services depend on taxpayer funds. I am negotiating for all of them.
>
> Our government employees are terrific people. They deserve to be well paid. And under our proposal, they will still be the highest paid state workers in the Midwest. In the end, I know we will have an agreement that is good for state workers and good for taxpayers. Political attempts by the legislature to intervene at the 11th hour, and alter a binding contract, are a direct attack on Illinois taxpayers – a direct attack on all the people across Illinois whose services depend on state funding. We simply can’t afford to increase the cost of our bureaucracy by three billion dollars. Legislation to force that kind of spending, and blow a giant hole in our budget, will be vetoed.
>
> Three weeks ago, during the State of the State address, I said I would support President Cullerton’s pension plan as a first step toward major pension reform – and I urged this legislature to pass it without delay. President Cullerton’s pension reform can save taxpayers a billion dollars a year starting in fiscal 2018.
>
> Our administration lawyers met with Senate staff and made clear we will support whatever legislative language President Cullerton wants to use.
> Unfortunately, as of today, no bill has even been introduced. Now is the time to set politics aside and do what is right for taxpayers. No more delays. No more stalling.
>
> We also have to implement structural reforms that lower the cost of government, while generating revenue through economic growth.
> There’s a perception among some of you that the Turnaround reforms we’ve put forward won’t help our budget crisis. That they’re quote “non-budget” items. That they don’t matter enough to move the needle. That they’d do more harm than good. Well, nothing could be further from the truth.
>
> Workers’ compensation reform and lawsuit reform. Mandate relief, consolidation, local control of bargaining and bidding to drive down property taxes. These reforms will provide many billions of dollars every year in government cost savings. But even more critically, they’ll help our economy grow faster by rebuilding job creators’ confidence in our state. More businesses, more jobs, more people working and paying taxes.
>
> Right now, middle class families face crushing property tax burdens – they see factory workers in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Texas making more than here in Illinois – and they see jobs and opportunity fleeing our state. I’m fighting for those middle class families every single day.
>
> To create jobs and raise incomes, we’ve got to change our state’s reputation as being hostile to business. If our workers comp costs were in line with the median; if our tort system was typical of most states; if our property taxes were average for America; if our government had long-term fiscal discipline with structural balanced budgets that restore confidence in our financial future – then Illinois would become much more attractive to business – and our economic growth rate would rise from the bottom.
>
> According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, if our state’s economy had grown at just the national average over the last 15 years, we would have generated $19 billion in additional revenue – even without the 2011 tax hike.
>
> Just think about that. Today, we’d have no bill backlog with a billion dollars of interest payments. No budget crisis. And billions more for our schools, human services and infrastructure.
>
> The true solution to fixing our budget is to raise revenue by expanding our tax base and growing our economy – not by raising taxes and driving more jobs and families out of our state. My point is this: we need to change the way we think about the budget. This isn’t a binary choice between program cuts and revenue increases. This is about economic growth and opportunity – a more efficient government with more value for taxpayers – a better future for everyone in Illinois.
>
> When we adopt reform – and our economy grows – and the cost of government shrinks – at that point, no matter what mix of spending cuts and revenue we consider in the short term, the overall tax burden on Illinois families will decline for years to come.
>
> To take this path, we don’t have to enact every item of our Turnaround Agenda in their current forms, but we must pass REAL reforms this year.
> The savings for taxpayers from our Turnaround reforms would increase over time and could be many billions of dollars a year – potentially much larger than our current annual deficit.
>
> Even if we only implemented a portion of these recommendations, in a few years we’d have a balanced budget without a tax hike, and we’d have billions of dollars in surplus funds to invest in our schools, our human services, and our infrastructure.
>
> We’d be putting a priority on the next generation, not the next election.
> Let us commit today to working together to enact a reform agenda, alongside a responsible, compassionate budget that together forms a sensible long-term financial future for the state.
>
> For a year now, I’ve believed with all my heart that this common-sense approach could win majorities in both the House and Senate – if everyone was willing to compromise. But as elected officials, you have to deal with political realities. Primary elections. Special interests. Campaign supporters.
>
> If, in the end, you won’t compromise on the reforms we’ve proposed – and if you’re unwilling to work with us to enact a balanced budget with a mix of reform, cost reductions and revenue – we still must fulfill our shared responsibility to enact a balanced budget.
>
> No reform means we cannot in good conscience raise taxes on the hard-working families of Illinois. Instead, cuts will have to be made.
> If that becomes necessary, I would ask the legislature to work with us to make these tough decisions.
>
> If you are not willing to do that, then give the Executive Branch the flexibility to reallocate resources and make reductions to state spending as necessary.
>
> The Unbalanced Budget Response Act would put everything on the table to help us balance our budget – everything except funding for early childhood education and General State Aid to our schools. To balance the budget without reform, we’ll have to take a microscope to every other category of state spending.
>
> You’ve given emergency budget authority to governors in the past – other states have too – and no one can dispute that we have an emergency on our hands. It’s not my preferred course of action. It wouldn’t solve our long-term challenges. But it would, at the very least, allow us to stop digging the hole deeper.
>
> No matter which of these paths you choose – we must make the education of our children our top priority. The one thing I won’t back down on – the one thing that’s non-negotiable for me – is increasing education funding.
> That is why Leader Durkin and Leader Radogno will be introducing a standalone appropriations bill for early childhood education and our K-12 schools. No matter how this session unfolds, send that education bill to my desk – CLEAN – NO GAMES – and I’ll sign it immediately.
>
> The greatest investment we can make as a community is in our children. And the earlier we begin, the bigger the return.
> That is why our budget for early childhood education increases state support by $75 million, a nearly 25 percent increase. With that level of funding, we’d keep more than 85,000 kids in preschool and create 2,900 more full-day preschool slots.
>
> The $393 million this budget proposes investing in early childhood education is the most in state history – and will allow us to make giant strides towards ensuring every child in Illinois enters Kindergarten with a chance to succeed. We have a new Executive Director at the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development – Kelley Washington – and I want to recognize her presence here today.
>
> Our budget also proposes fully funding the General State Aid foundation level for the first time in seven years. This will mark the most state money we’ve ever invested in our school funding formula, and eliminate the need for any proration – a practice that has forced teachers, administrators and school boards to make cuts that negatively impact our kids.
>
> We must fully fund this foundation level as a first step toward reforming our school funding formula. Our current formula doesn’t meet the needs of our children. Past attempts to fix the formula didn’t work because they pitted communities against each other.
>
> This year, we are already seeing this cynical strategy being deployed. After years of financial mismanagement, our largest school system is threatening a lawsuit against the state. Such a course could set back funding formula reform for years to come, and ignores reality.
>
> Not only did Chicago Public Schools ask for the current arrangement, they are benefiting from a special deal. CPS receives an extra $600 million more every year than school districts with similar student demographics. Any school funding reform proposal that involves taking money from one school district and giving it to another, is doomed to fail.
>
> To achieve formula changes, we must increase state support for education so that no community has state funding taken away as part of reform. I pledge to work with you on this issue to find a bipartisan way forward. But – nothing should delay the General Assembly from funding early childhood education and K-12 schools for the coming fiscal year.
>
> I restate my request – send me that appropriations bill right away – CLEAN – NO GAMES – to give our schoolchildren, our parents, and our teachers the security of knowing that education is our top priority.
>
> Send me that education bill for students all across Illinois – students like Diamond Jackson. Diamond is a student leader at Springfield Southeast High School – she’s a student board member for District 186 – she’s a rising star and she’s with us here today. Thank you for joining us here, Diamond. Send me that education bill so that every student like Diamond has the opportunity to succeed.
>
> Send me that bill for teachers around the state like Kim Thomas from Peoria. Kim is the 2016 Illinois Teacher of the Year – and she’s here with us today. Kim, thanks for all you do. Send me that bill right away, and make sure teachers like Kim have the resources they need to give our kids a world class education.
>
> Ladies and gentlemen, the paths before us are well-defined. Now it’s time to choose. With my hand outstretched – with a genuine desire to compromise – with respect – I humbly ask you to join me in transforming our state for the better.
>
> Turnarounds are about changing direction. From loss to growth. From decline to expansion. From deficit to surplus. For the economy. For jobs. For taxpayers. For our children. For our future.
>
> Right now, we’re headed in the wrong direction. We need to work together to change the trajectory.
>
> If we do this– if we come together to fix our long-term challenges – we will deliver world class education to every child in Illinois – no matter where they live or where they came from.
>
> If we do this– if we come together to fix our long-term challenges – we will support the human services safety net on which so many depend.
>
> If we do this– if we come together to fix our long-term challenges – we will lead the nation in the 21st century in economic growth, job creation and infrastructure – the envy of the world – the engine of North America once again.
>
> We CAN do this. We MUST do this. Every hard working family across this great state deserves no less. Let’s get this done TOGETHER.
>
> God bless you. God bless the State of Illinois. And God bless the United States of America.
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**5 Shared by Lawrence Carter-Long for the National Council on Disability
> Posted: February 23, 2016 Link: http://go.usa.gov/cpGb3 <http://go.usa.gov/cpGb3>
>
> NCD Applauds New Proposed Rule by the Department of Education to Assist Students of Color with Disabilities
> The National Council on Disability (NCD) – an independent federal agency – applauds the new “Equity in IDEA” rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Education which seeks to address widespread disparities in the treatment of students of color with disabilities who too often enter the "school-to-prison pipeline,” which refers to all policies and practices that have the effect of pushing students – especially those most at risk – out of classrooms and into juvenile and criminal justice systems.
>
> The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—seeks to ensure fairness in the identification, placement, discipline and delivery of educational tools and resources to students with disabilities. IDEA requires states to identify “significant disproportionality” in school districts that identify, place outside the regular classroom, or discipline children from any racial or ethnic group at markedly higher rates than their peers.
>
> In October 2014, NCD convened a stakeholder forum in Atlanta, Georgia to receive testimony on the role of special education in the school-to-prison pipeline, and the Department of Education participated in the event. Following the forum, in June 2015, in an attempt to address and propose solutions to these disparities, NCD issued its “Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students with Disabilities” report, concluding that IDEA can and should be an important part of the solution to the school-to-prison pipeline crisis.
>
> The Department of Education’s proposed “Equity in IDEA” rule would, for the first time, require states to implement a standard approach to compare racial and ethnic groups, with reasonable thresholds for determining when disparities have become significant in identification, placement, and discipline. That determination is critical to ensuring that all students get the supports they need and deserve to thrive and draws from a number of the recommendations made in NCD’s “Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline” report.
>
> These recommendations include:
> Schools should develop data-driven early warning systems to identify students with academic and behavioral issues that puts them at risk of suspensions and expulsions often leading to entry into the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems. Once identified, more intensive general or special education services and supports should be provided.
>
> The Department of Education should bolster efforts to monitor and enforce the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education to students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment as guaranteed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and IDEA.
>
> Guidance setting forth minimum substantive standards for the quality and delivery of special education and related services, particularly as they relate to behavioral supports should be issued by the Department of Education.
>
> The development of systems for evaluating implicit racial and disability bias in schools where minorities are overrepresented in identification, discipline, or placement, and implement implicit bias training in enforcement agreements and compliance reviews should be funded by the Department of Education.
>
> The Department of Education should take affirmative steps to enforce mandatory data collection and reporting requirements and ensure the validation of data submitted.
>
> “NCD applauds the Department of Education for echoing our recommendations in their Equity in IDEA Rule proposal,” said NCD Executive Director, Rebecca Cokley. “Studies reveal that up to 85 percent of youth in juvenile detention facilities have disabilities that make them eligible for special education services, yet surprisingly only an estimated 37 percent receive these services while in school. Disabled youth, particularly students of color, in the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems are deprived of an appropriate education that, if provided, could greatly expand options and opportunities. The proposals by the Department are an important step in correcting the current imbalance. We welcome these changes and remain available to provide guidance or assistance in their implementation.”
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**6 Shared by Joe Urbanek, SC from AFB AccessWorld ® Magazine
> Access Technology for Daily Living
> A Day in the Life: Technology that Assists a Visually Impaired Person Throughout the Day - Bill Holton
> In this special issue of AccessWorld we're rolling out the red carpet and introducing ourselves to a growing population that is all too frequently overlooked and chronically underserved: seniors who are blind or have low vision. At AccessWorld, our mission is to find and share innovative new ways in which technology can enhance and improve the lives of those with visual impairments, from finding and keeping a new job, to enjoying recreational activities independently or with friends and family. We'd like to take this opportunity to outline and describe just a tiny sampling of the mainstream and "blindness aware" technology we cover from month to month. Read on, and you will discover solutions to life's little challenges that you can use throughout your day, from the time you wake up until it's time to say goodnight.
>
> Good Morning: Accessible Alarm Clocks
> If you use an alarm clock to wake up, not too many years ago you would have needed to purchase a special, adaptive large number clock face, or one of only a few talking clocks. Today nearly every electronics, department, or discount store sells a clock that speaks the time aloud. Some of the most popular include Talking Atomic Clocks, which use radio signals to automatically set themselves to match official US Atomic Clock Time and date. Most can also be set manually with voice feedback, and many include extra features such as hourly or half-hourly chimes to help you track your day, and indoor and outdoor temperature announcements.
>
> Dislike pushing buttons? The Moshi Voice-Interactive Alarm Clock may be just the ticket. Moshi clocks respond to voice commands, such as "What time is it?" and "Set an alarm for 7:30 AM."
>
> To read the full article follow this link:
> http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170202&utm_source=AFB&utm_medium=email <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170202&utm_source=AFB&utm_medium=email>
>
> Another article that may be of interest:
> Home Appliance Access - An Overview Survey of Home Appliance Accessibility
> http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170205&utm_source=AFB&utm_medium=email <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170205&utm_source=AFB&utm_medium=email>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**7 Shared by SmartBrief on Leadership – via Customer Think
> 3 Ways to Boost Your Customer Service Listening
> Jeannie Walters Feb 16, 2016
> You know the feeling. You see a customer heading your way to complain.
>
> Or maybe they’ve already submitted feedback and checked the “please follow up” box on the form. Or maybe your employees have warned you about the person who has complained to them already and is bringing her concerns up the chain.
>
> In any case, you think you have the right customer service listening skills to truly hear her out. So you square your shoulders, practice your best “I’m truly concerned” face and prepare yourself to stay calm while hearing a rant.
>
> And you are already doing it all wrong.
>
> Listening to customers – or employees for that matter – can be challenging. They often don’t know the reason things have to work the way they do. They often complain about things you can’t change. They sometimes have already decided to just tell you a long, drawn-out story about why they will never deal with your organization again!
>
> Listening is truly an art. Doing it well means understanding why you’re doing it and what the outcomes need to be.
>
> 1. Listen to empathize.
> Yes, this seems obvious. But it’s often overlooked.
>
> Empathy means really putting yourself into the speaker’s shoes and doing your best to truly understand his or her perspective. This is challenging because you live the experience from the other side.
>
> As a customer complains about the way she has been overbilled, you might slip into “that’s because you filled out the billing form wrong” in your head. Catch yourself blaming the speaker, and correct how you are hearing him. Don’t try to solve the problem or place fault on why it happened.
>
> Listen. Understand. Empathize.
>
> This allows you to sincerely say “I’m sure that was frustrating” or “I’m really sorry you had to spend your time dealing with this” in an honest way that connects.
>
> 2. Listen to understand.
> If you avoid blaming the complainer, it’s easier to listen for what really went wrong. Maybe she did fill out a form incorrectly. What does that tell you about the form? If it’s online, why aren’t there tips and error messages which clearly outline how to do it correctly? What if it happened because of some process on the backend? It’s time to take notes and truly determine what went wrong.
>
> Before you say “Nothing went wrong! This is how it works!” go back to #1 and try again. It went wrong for the customer. So it went wrong.
>
> 3. Listen to take action.
> Once you identify an area that requires further attention, it’s time to outline a plan on how to fix it.
>
> Take a minute after a customer conversation to really think about what to do next. Is it a quick fix? Who’s in charge of taking what action? If it’s a larger issue, is there a place to gather that type of feedback for further review? Don’t let the complaint dissolve into the ether. It’s one complainer representing many customers. They want you to do something to make it better.
>
> Customer service listening is a challenge.
>
> It’s even more of a challenge in today’s hyper-distracting world of too many channels and many vocal complainers. Next time you are facing that inevitable situation, take a breath and get ready to listen with the right intentions.
>
> Your complainers, future customers, and blood pressure will all thank you!
>
> Link to the article: http://customerthink.com/3-ways-to-boost-your-customer-service-listening/ <http://customerthink.com/3-ways-to-boost-your-customer-service-listening/>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**8 Shared by Smart Brief via Bloomberg Business
> Apple Gains Silicon Valley's Backing in Government Fight
> by Tim Higgins February 17, 2016 — 6:35 PM CST Updated on February 18, 2016 — 5:37 PM CST
>
> Google's Pichai says U.S. order may set `troubling precedent' Blue Arrow
> `Tricky case' pits privacy versus battle against terrorism Tim Cook has picked a fight with the U.S. government and Silicon Valley is joining his side.
>
> From Google Inc. to Facebook Inc., the industry’s biggest names rallied around Apple Inc.’s chief executive officer after he vowed to resist a court order demanding it help unlock the iPhone of a shooter in a terrorist attack. Cook described the request as an “unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers” and called for a public debate.
>
> The escalation with the FBI, which has been pushing for access to mobile devices since Apple tightened its encryption in late 2014, galvanized the company’s U.S. peers and forced them to choose between helping the government fight crime and protecting their customers’ privacy. The decision in the Apple case could apply to the broader tech industry and it may spur requests from China and other nations that want similar abilities to access users’ encrypted content.
>
> Reform Government Surveillance, a group representing companies including Google, Facebook, Microsoft Corp. and Twitter Inc., issued a statement on Wednesday reiterating that, while it’s “extremely important” to deter crime and terrorism, no company should be required to build backdoors to their own technology.
>
> No Backdoors
> “This particular case is a tricky one for anybody to oppose a government’s request on because it deals with not just a suspected terrorist, but somebody who is very clearly guilty of a heinous act,” said Jan Dawson, an independent technology industry analyst. “It’s a really tough case for anyone to jump in on Apple’s side.”
>
> Cook took his stand after the Federal Bureau of Investigation won a court order to make Apple help investigators unlock an iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the shooters in a deadly Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino, California.
>
> Google CEO Sundar Pichai came to Cook’s defense, saying the government’s request could spur “a troubling precedent” in comments echoed by WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum. Billionaire Mark Cuban said Cook deserved a “standing ovation” for his stand. Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s CEO, said in a tweet that he stands with Cook and thanked him “for his leadership.”
>
> California Attack
> Google provides law enforcement access to data “based on valid legal orders, but that’s wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices and data,” Pichai wrote in a series of tweets. “Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue.”
>
> Ultimately, the matter needs to be decided by Congress, said Robert Cattanach, a lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney who practices in areas of regulatory litigation including cybersecurity.
>
> “This is a classic legislative function, the courts aren’t really equipped to weigh the policies in the forum of a democratic society -- what’s more important, protection against terrorists or protections against your privacy?” he said. “The tech industry sees this as the tip of the iceberg.”
>
> Little Unity
> Unlike the auto and financial industries, tech doesn’t have the same history of finding a common voice in Washington. Apple, for example, was well-known under co-founder Steve Jobs for choosing to stay on the sidelines on major issues in the nation’s capital.
>
> That changed the past few years under Cook, who has boosted the company’s presence in Washington as its profile and expanding product lineup has attracted more government scrutiny. When President Barack Obama visited Silicon Valley last year for a summit on cybersecurity, Cook advocated for protecting peoples’ privacy.
>
> “While we believe the FBI’s intentions are good, it would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products,” Cook wrote Tuesday in a letter posted on the company’s website. “Ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.”
>
> Even before the Apple legal fight, tech groups in Washington had been advocating for greater privacy protections.
>
> ‘Slippery Slope’
> Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, said there was a risk this one order against Apple could lead to many more in the future.
>
> “While the FBI is attempting to be very clear that this is a one off request, there is no chance that it is,” Cuban wrote on his blog. “There will be many government agencies that many times in the future, point to Apple’s compliance as a precedent. Once this happens, we all roll down that slippery slope of lost privacy together.”
>
> Cook’s stance drew endorsements elsewhere in Silicon Valley on Wednesday.
>
> “Silicon Valley stands with Apple,” Bret Taylor, co-founder of Quip and former chief technology officer of Facebook and co-creator of Google Maps, posted on Twitter. Steven Sinofsky, a former senior executive at Microsoft, on Twitter called for “broad support from full stack of technology companies.”
>
> “Tim’s blog post today definitely has the tone of a Paul Revere rallying call,” said Garrett Johnson, co-founder of the Lincoln Initiative, a conservative-leaning group in Silicon Valley.
>
> Find article here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-23/blackrock-warns-bond-traders-they-re-underestimating-the-fed <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-23/blackrock-warns-bond-traders-they-re-underestimating-the-fed>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**9 Hadley School for the Blind –
> Big Announcement!! Name Change
> Dear Hadley Students and Colleagues,
> I am excited to share that starting today The Hadley School for the Blind has changed its name to Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This new name reflects the broad spectrum of students that we serve and how Hadley has evolved in the 96 years since its founding.
>
> Along with our new name comes a new logo and tagline. The logo, pictured above, features a square icon in plum containing a simulated braille character ‘h;’ the name ‘Hadley’ in a large, bold font on line 1; ‘Institute for the Blind,’ smaller on line 2; and ‘and Visually Impaired’ on line 3 – with an overall rectangular shape.
>
> Lastly, we have a new tagline, “Educating – for life.” This tagline will be used in along with our new name to highlight Hadley’s mission to promote lifelong learning and independent living.
>
> We hope you are as excited as we are about this BRAND new day at Hadley. I encourage you to visit our newly redesigned website and to check out the re-branding microsite for more details on the rebrand and how Hadley has evolved over the past century.
>
> Welcome to Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired!
>
> Charles E. Young
> President
> Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
>
> Seminars at Hadley Presents: iFocus 13: Tips on Using the Accessiblity Features in iOS
> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2016
> Time: 11:00 AM CST, 11:00 GMT
>
> Attention all iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch owners! Seminars at Hadley is presenting the thirteenth in its quarterly series of seminars designed for you. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, you will not want to miss this latest installment.
>
> Join Seminars at Hadley as Hadley’s Access Technology Instruction Specialist and iDevice trainer Douglas Walker explores “Tips for Using the Vision Accessibility Features in iOS.” This seminar will cover the following topics:
> The new selecting, copying and pasting text feature.
> Navigating the notification center Searching in settings.
> Using the stopwatch
> Larry Muffett, a member of Hadley’s Seminars Team, will moderate this 60-minute seminar. A question and answer session will be included as part of the seminar.
>
> This seminar is an audio-only seminar. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register Now for iFocus 13 on February 24. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802308&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D308>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>Seminars at Hadley Presents: VoiceOver App Smackdown 2016
> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2016
> Time: 11:00 AM CST, 11:00 GMT
>
> Do you have a favorite iPhone or iPad app? Have you just been dying to share it with someone? Well, now is your chance! Hadley is hosting the annual Voiceover App Smackdown.
>
> Join Seminars at Hadley as Hadley’s technology teachers share their favorite iDevice apps that are accessible when using Apple’s voiceover screen reading software. Also, come prepared to share an app or two of your own! Larry Muffett, a member of Hadley’s Seminars team, will moderate this 60-minute seminar. A question and answer session will be included as part of the seminar.
>
> This seminar is an audio-only seminar. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register Now for VoiceOver App Smackdown on March 2. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802308&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D309>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**10 This week on Eyes On Success
> This week's episode of Eyes On Success is:
> 1608 The Blind Cook (Feb. 17, 2016)
> Christine Ha, who calls herself "The Blind Cook", developed her cooking skills after her vision failed. She is a winner of MasterChef, author of a NY Times bestselling cookbook and host of 4-Senses on AMI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with her about cooking blind and her pointers for success and safety for blind home cooks.
>
> The audio and show notes for this episode can be found at:
> http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/ <http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**11 From the National Federation of the Blind, Illinois
> A college education is a “big ticket item.” Do you have all the money you need for tuition, books, and technology? How about housing, meals, transportation, and maybe an evening out now and then? The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois sponsor merit scholarship programs that can help you defray the costs of your higher education. If you are a legally blind student who will attend an accredited postsecondary institution full-time in the fall semester of 2016, you are eligible to apply for an NFB national scholarship. If you meet these qualifications, and you reside or attend school in Illinois, you are also eligible to apply for an NFB of Illinois scholarship. We strongly encourage you to apply to both programs in order to increase your chances of winning an award.
>
> In addition to our scholarship program, the NFB of Illinois also sponsors an internship program through which blind students can gain valuable hands-on experience in a work setting. Students in eleventh or twelfth grade as well as those in college are eligible to apply.
>
> The applications for both the 2016 NFBI Scholarship and Internship programs are attached. You can find the application for the NFB national scholarships at www.nfb.org/scholarships <http://www.nfb.org/scholarships> . If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
>
> Debbie Stein
> NFBI Scholarship/Internship Committee
> Dkent5817 at att.net <mailto:Dkent5817 at att.net>
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**12 Shared by David Myer, NFBI
> Support The National Federation of the Blind with Beggars Pizza at the locations listed below on Wednesday, April 20th, 2016. You can dine in; get a delivery or carryout to help The National Federation of the Blind raise funds. All you have to do is turn in this voucher when you pay and Beggars Pizza will donate 20% of your bill (before taxes, gratuity, promotions, discounts, delivery fees and coupons) to The National Federation of the Blind Chicago Chapter.
>
> 310 S. Clinton Ave. Chicago- West Loop 312-588-0055 Anytime Between 11:00am to 11:00pm
>
> There are a few simple guidelines for the Eat & Earn Fundraiser Day:
> • This voucher can only be used at the locations listed above on Wednesday, April 20th 2016.
> • You must present and turn in the voucher when ordering/paying to have the percentage donated to your organization. (attached)
> • Make sure to make plenty of copies for your family, friends, co-workers and supporters of your organization!
> • Coupons, discounts, gratuities, delivery fees, promotional discounts and taxes will not be included in the bill total.
> • Vouchers valid for all order types including- Carry out, Dine In and Deliveries.
> • Please refrain from soliciting our customers, for the purpose of your event, outside our stores’ premises.
>
> The National Federation of the Blind Chicago Chapter
> Eat & Earn Fundraiser Day at Beggars Pizza
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**13 Distributor News:
> CVS – New PUSH Tribe Teas
> Single Serve Bottle Size 20oz
> Real Brewed Tea
> Pure Cane Sugar
> No Artificial Colors
> Labeled Gluten Free
> No Preservatives/Stabilizers
> No Aspartame in Diets
> Kosher
> Ingredients: Premium Brewed Tea using Filtered Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
>
> Note Price Changes for February:
> White Bear OCS List Decrease
> Tassimo List Increase
> Frito Lay List Increase
> Bolder Canyon List Increase
> Cheesewich List Increase
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**14 Broker News:
> Saverino & Associates, Mark Saverino
> Cloverhill and Otis Spunkmeyer February & March 2016 Extra Rebate Promotion Call Mark Saverino to place your order in order to receive this extra rebate via separate check to you. Telephone: 800-242-6036
>
> 19674 Cloverhill Chocolate Mini Donuts 12/3.50oz extra rebate $0.24
> 19679 Cloverhill Crunch Mini Donuts 12/3.50oz extra rebate $0.24
> 19683 Cloverhill Powdered Mini Donuts 12/3.00oz extra rebate $0.24
> 00100 Wild Blueberry Muffin 24ct/4.0oz extra rebate $0.50
> 00115 Chocolate Chip Muffin 24ct/4.0oz extra rebate $0.50
> 00200 Cheese Streusel Muffin 24ct/4.0oz extra rebate $0.50
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**15 Broker News:
> G&J Marketing, Tom Dolan
> Advance Pierre ONLY has Purchase Power rebate deals throughout the year. These are the only items on Purchase Power in Q1.
> January 1st through March 31st
> Hot’n Ready Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Square Wrap
> Hot’n Ready Ham, Egg, & Cheese Croissant
> Fast Choice Triple Double beef Charbroil with Cheese
> Fast Choice Caesar Chicken Breast
> Big Az Twin Charbroiled with Cheese
> Big Az Twin Breaded Chicken Subs
> Pierre Jumbo Spicy Chicken Breast
> Pierre A1 Chopped Beef Steak
>
> Freshley’s
> Peanut Butter Cupcakes $0.03 off invoice and Chocolate Cupcakes $0.02 off invoice in February and March.
>
> Introducing two new items with off invoice discounts in March:
> Chocolate Strawberry Mini Donuts
> Blueberry Mini Donuts
>
> <applewebdata://187ECCA1-0089-4BCE-AF61-C574ADBEF124>**16 RSA Buying Group News:
> Q116 Frito-Lay News Item
> LSS Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger
> and/or
> LSS Kettle Cooked 40% Less Fat Jalapeno Cheddar
> Everyone is required to purchase at least “1” case of one of the above during1st Quarter 2016 to qualify for the Frito-Lay Rebate.
>
> Top 20 Purchase Power USG Rebates:
> Folgers Classic Roast Filter Pack Regular
> Pepsi Wild Cherry
> Folgers Classic Roast Regular Vacket
> Welch's Mixed Fruit Snacks
> LSS Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
> Jalapeno Popper Cheese Curl
> French Vanilla Liquid
> LSS Rold Gold Classic Tiny Twists Pretzels
> French Vanilla Liquid
> Ocean Spray 100% Orange Juice
> OSCAR MAYER Lunchables TurkeyCheddar
> Folgers Conventional Roast Regular
> PLANTERS Salted Peanuts
> Mt Dew Amp 16oz Can 1pk/12
> Ocean Spray 100% Apple
> Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Honey
> Grandma's Big Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
> Gummi Factory Sour Worms
> Hazelnut Liquid
> Clif Chocolate Chip Bar #160004
>
> Thank you,
> Kathy Ungaro
> ICBV, Business Manager
> (630)234-4444
>
> Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
> 53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502
> Chicago, IL 60604
> (312)663-3007
>
> This message (including attachments) is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it without further distribution and reply to the sender that you have received the message in error.
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