[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of June 16

Tue Jun 17 14:55:26 UTC 2025

Critical Actions:

Donated Services Reminder:

Independence Market Convention Schedule: 

Independence Market telephone orders will close on Monday, June 30, at 5:00
p.m., Eastern, and reopen on Thursday, July 17, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern. This
is to ensure that orders can be processed and shipped before our market
employees travel to New Orleans for this year's national convention. Online
ordering will remain open during this time, but please expect shipping
delays due to the July 4th holiday and our adjusted convention schedule.

Promote NFB25 Virtual Experience:

If members in your affiliate, division, or chapter are not able to attend
this year's national convention, please recommend that they register for the
NFB25 Virtual Experience. Registration remains open and there will be over
forty hours of content.
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/national-convention-virtua
l-experience> Share the NFB25 Virtual Experience.

Update Your Photo at the National Convention Portrait Studio:

Our leaders are important to us! You contribute so much to the mission of
the NFB, and we'd like to make sure we have updated photos of you in our
archives and for other NFB purposes. Please make time to visit the Portrait
Studio, which will be located in the Acadia Ballroom foyer. Pro tip: Stop by
one of the earlier sessions as they are usually less busy. Photos are stored
for official communications of the National Federation of the Blind. We use
images in the Braille Monitor, on websites, and to build the movement
through authentic representation. We will email photos after the convention
to those who would like to have them. 

Portrait Studio Open Hours:

Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Saturday: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Sunday: 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.

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.

News:

NFBnet Update: Issues Resolved, but Report Future Issues as Needed:

The NFBnet mailing lists (also known as listservs) are a vital tool for
connecting, coordinating, and informing the organized blind
movement-supporting thousands of members across hundreds of mailing lists. 

While the system has remained functional, a recent software change
introduced challenges that we've been actively working to address. Those
issues included errors when subscribing to a new list and distorting
plain-text formatted emails, making them illegible. The software used for
NFBnet has been making updates to resolve some issues, and we are reviewing
alternative options if the proper functionality continues to be an issue. As
of June 16, 2025, it appears that the primary concerns have been resolved.
We are committed to maintaining strong, accessible communication channels
that empower every member throughout our chapters, divisions, and affiliates
to stay informed and engaged. If you are having difficulty with using
NFBnet, please email  <mailto:communications at nfb.org> communications at nfb.org
with a description of the issues you are experiencing. 

NFB-NEWSLINER on Android Devices:

NFB-NEWSLINE is now available on Android devices in the Google Play Store!
Once you download the app, simply enter your account number and passcode and
you will be ready to go. If you are not already an NFB-NEWSLINE subscriber,
please call 866-504-7300. 

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

Please call or email your members of the House and Senate and urge them to
cosponsor our legislation. We would love to have a surge of cosponsor
support heading into our national convention and the second half of the
year!

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	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, 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.