[IL-Talk] PresidentRiccobonos notebook for the week of June 2

Fri Jun 6 15:42:10 UTC 2025

Critical Actions:

Presidential Release Recording for Chapters

The June Presidential Release chapter recording
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>  is
available. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter
meeting agenda and discuss the topics among members. The topics this month
include the convention registration deadline, introduction of the Access
Technology Affordability Act and the Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act, and our partnership with Innosearch.

Reminder: No June or July Presidential Release Live:

There will not be a Presidential Release Live in June or July. Tune in to
the Presidential Report during the 2025 National Convention on July 11. 

Convention:

National Convention Agenda is Available:

The 2025 National Convention agenda
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2025-national-convention-a
genda>  is available! The agenda will be available in multiple formats. We
will post each format as it becomes available at nfb.org/convention
<https://nfb.org/convention> . 

Volunteers Needed for NFB25:

We need more help! The national convention relies on hundreds of
volunteers-which include members, supporters, and friends. We need your help
to make convention successful, enjoyable, and accessible for all
participants. Seek volunteers to get involved. There is an opportunity for
everyone.  Review the descriptions and complete the volunteer form
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/volunteer-opportunities> .

Calling All Door Prizes!

The NFB door prize team is planning for this year's convention. If your
affiliate or division wants to donate something to the in-person door
prizes, you can deliver it to Bennett Prows or Kenia Flores on the stage
before or during breaks of the general session. Please label the prize in
Braille and print so our team knows what it is and who donated it. If you
are donating cash, put it in an envelope labeled with the amount and who it
is from-our team wants to acknowledge your generosity. 

Our registered virtual attendees are also eligible to win gift cards or
Independence Market gift certificates. You can help NFB with virtual door
prizes by writing a check payable to National Federation of the Blind and
mailing it to 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, Attention:
Fiscal Services - Virtual DP and write Virtual Door Prizes in the check
memo.

National Association of Blind Veterans Scholarships:

The National Association of Blind Veterans is giving three $1,000
first-timer scholarships to three blind veterans to attend this year's
National Federation of the Blind Convention. Scholarships will be awarded on
a first-come-first-served basis. Eligibility requirements are simple; one
must be a blind veteran and attend the division meeting to be held on July
10 and attend all of the general sessions of the convention. 

All applicants must contact the president of the National Association of
Blind Veterans at mr_president at nabv.org <mailto:mr_president at nabv.org>  by
June 25 and provide name, branch of service and rank, address, and phone
number. The three recipients will be announced on June 25.

Preauthorized Contribution Prizes:

Before you start PACing for convention, please support the PAC program with
a contribution toward the PAC gift card prizes. During the convention, those
who participate in the NFB Preauthorized Contribution program by either
signing up or increasing their donation are eligible to win gift cards.
Please support our PAC program with a donation to the prize fund. Checks for
PAC prizes are to be payable to National Federation of the Blind and mailed
to Attention Fiscal Services-PAC, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore MD,
21230; include "PAC prizes" in the check memo. Also, please send an email to
PAC at nfb.org <mailto:PAC at nfb.org>  to let us know to expect your
organization's support.  

National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair:

Join us for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career
Fair on July 9, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Central. Hosted by the National Employment
Committee, this event is an opportunity for blind and low-vision people
seeking jobs to connect with employers and is an opportunity for employers
to seek more talent for their teams. 

National Convention Jobseeker Registration
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-fair-jobseeker-registra
tion> 

National Convention Employer Registration
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&action=preview&id=621> 

To prepare jobseekers and employers, the Employment Committee will be
hosting "Getting Career-Fair Ready: For Jobseekers and Employers" virtual
seminars designed to provide strategies for creating the most positive
experience while attending the fair. Individuals will automatically be
registered for these events once they have registered for the career fair.
For more information on the career fair or virtual seminars, please contact
Charles Bennett, jobseeker liaison, at cbennett at cocenter.org
<mailto:cbennett at cocenter.org> , or Kris Colcock, employer liaison, at
<mailto:kris at colcock.com> kris at colcock.com.

News:

Blind Federal Employees:

We know that federal employees with disabilities have been disproportionally
affected by recent reductions in the federal employment workforce, and we
are doing all we can to help our blind colleagues. If you are aware of blind
federal workers impacted by the government layoffs, please encourage them to
submit the Employment Interest Form
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/general-interest-form>  to
receive announcements about career opportunities. Thanks to our partners at
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, these individuals
can also apply for support
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/federal-workers/convention-sup
port-application>  to participate in career activities at the national
convention in New Orleans. 

Legislative Priorities:

We currently have four bills that have been introduced in the 119th
Congress--three in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. They
are:

In the House of Representatives

Blind Americans Return to Work Act - H.R. 1175

Access Technology Affordability Act - H.R. 1529

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act - H.R. 3417

In the Senate

Access Technology Affordability Act - S. 1918

Catch up on Content and Share on Social Media:

Highlights, news, and stories are available in our most recent publications.
Access and share articles and episodes with Federationists on affiliate and
division social media to create discussions on various topics. 

*	June
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm25/bm2506/bm2506tc.htm>
Braille Monitor
*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-on-podcast> Access
On podcast episodes with transcripts available on AI visual interpretation,
Innosearch partnership, Google Meet, and more!
*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
Nation's Blind Podcast episodes with transcripts available on travel,
technology, resolutions, and more!

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	June 8: Deadline to submit resolutions <mailto:resolutions at nfb.org>
for the 2025 National Convention.
*	July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana
*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, August 6
*	Wednesday, November 5

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, June 12 and Sunday, June 15
*	Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14
*	Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

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 advances the lives of its
members and all blind people in Illinois. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.