[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of November 20

Tue Nov 21 15:55:06 UTC 2023

Critical Actions:

December Presidential Release Next Week:

The National Federation of the Blind
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fpublicatio
ns-and-media%2Fpresidential-releases&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw070-a89QjTh-TJrWS
JM5Zl> Presidential Release #533 is scheduled for November 30, 2023, at 8:00
p.m., eastern. Zoom ID 91543076239. Each presidential release live includes
a question and answer session. Please submit questions early to
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/178czlpvibiez/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=cdanielsen@
nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org.

News:

Double Your Impact with a Matching Gift Opportunity:

During our October
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fpublicatio
ns-and-media%2Fpresidential-releases&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw070-a89QjTh-TJrWS
JM5Zl> Presidential Release, President Riccobono announced that HumanWare
has generously offered a matching grant. HumanWare will match gifts to the
National Federation of the Blind up to $50,000 during the months of October,
November, and December. Participate by visiting our
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fdonate&sa=D&sntz=1&usg
=AOvVaw2Mb_Q2kc1vCeb8oxDaTLo8> donate page and share with your friends and
family. Learn more about the
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fways-gi
ve%2Fmatching-gift-opportunity&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1P6NCnwbSVo2g66Engh-kB>
HumanWare challenge grant and watch our launch video.

Application Open 2024 Bolotin Awards:

The National Federation of the Blind is accepting nominations of individuals
or organizations who are a positive force in the lives of blind people and
help us transform dreams into reality. Each application must include a
letter of recommendation.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fsc
holarships-and-awards%2Fdr-jacob-bolotin-awards%2Fapplication-information&sa
=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw33OTCrsq2843D2Kf0s4SnV> Learn more and submit a
nomination for the 2024 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards.

Braille Readers Are Leaders:

The Braille Readers Are Leaders contest opened for registration in October.
You still have time
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Factionfund.beanstack.org%2Freade
r365&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1u-GgABGxxrvZ8bHjxgsK9> to register, as the
contest doesn’t officially start until December 4. This year we have not
only the youth and adult contests but we have a challenge for teachers of
blind students as well.

Use
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Factionfund.beanstack.org%2Freade
r365&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1u-GgABGxxrvZ8bHjxgsK9> the Beanstack website or
the Beanstack app to log your many minutes of reading. Have fun and
challenge your friends, family members, and colleagues who read Braille to
join you. 

2024 Washington Seminar:

We are a little more than two months away from the 2024 Washington Seminar!
As a reminder, the 2024 Washington Seminar officially begins on Monday,
January 29, 2024, with our annual Great Gathering-In, followed by three days
of Federation members meeting with their elected representatives in the US
Congress. Hotel reservation information can be found on our
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fad
vocacy%2Fwashington-seminar&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2R7hJfxbBbgNNy6RqxZ2yb>
Washington Seminar page. Be sure to reserve your rooms as soon as possible,
and don’t forget to keep checking
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2FWashington-seminar&sa=
D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1JMEsaTKmpyLHbVz50NQ-3> nfb.org/Washington-seminar for
updates.

Latest Podcast Episode: “Celebrating and Supporting Blind Veterans”:

Melissa Riccobono and Chris Danielsen discuss Veterans Day and the role of
veterans in the National Federation of the Blind. They are joined by Dr.
Vernon Humphrey, the president of the National Association of Blind Veterans
(NABV), a division of the National Federation of the Blind; and José
Centeno, a blind veteran, marathon runner, and member of the NABV.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fpublicatio
ns-and-media%2Fnations-blind-podcast&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2WUpuwuoF9EMv8xhW
KHX7m> Listen to the episode, “Celebrating and Supporting Blind Veterans.”

Are You Ready for Some Football?:

Want to read more about your favorite NFL team in preparation for this
upcoming holiday weekend? Or are MLB, NHL, or NBA more to your liking?
NFB-NEWSLINE has you covered with a new publication for sports lovers
everywhere. You can now find tons of sports coverage in The Athletic,
located in the Breaking News Online section of NFB-NEWSLINE. For more
information, contact Scott White at extension 2231 or by sending an email to
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/178czlpvibiez/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=swhite@nfb.
org> swhite at nfb.org.

Independence Market Holiday Orders:

If you plan to place an order with the Independence Market and want to have
it delivered in time for the holidays, orders should be placed by Wednesday,
December 13, 2023. This will increase your chances for Free Matter delivery
before Christmas. Thank you and happy holidays.

Reminders:

Lift Up with Lyft Round Up:

The National Federation of the Blind is still part of Lyft’s Round Up
program. Please go to the menu in your Lyft app, choose Donate, and select
the National Federation of the Blind to have each fare rounded up to the
nearest dollar with 100 percent of your contribution going to raise
expectations and make dreams come true.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the
Year Ahead)
*	Monday, January 29, 2024: Great Gathering-In
*	January 29 -February 1, 2024:
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fad
vocacy%2Fwashington-seminar&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2R7hJfxbBbgNNy6RqxZ2yb>
Washington Seminar
*	April 15, 2024: Deadline for
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fsc
holarships-and-awards%2Fdr-jacob-bolotin-awards%2Fapplication-information&sa
=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw33OTCrsq2843D2Kf0s4SnV> Bolotin Award nominations
*	July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

 <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> president at nfbofillinois.org

 <http://www.nfbofillinois.org> www.nfbofillinois.org

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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.