[Massachusetts-NFB] Important information and dates to remember

Wed Dec 17 09:55:22 UTC 2025

Independence Market Holiday Hours:

Please note that the Independence Market will be closed for calls on the
days of December 24, 25, and 26. The market will also be closed starting at
12:00 noon, Eastern, on Wednesday, December 31 and all day on January 1 and
2. Our Independence Market ecommerce site will still be open during these
times, but orders may take a little longer to process, so please be patient.

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is pleased to announce
the availability of scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please
spread the word widely!

Up to four scholarships will be awarded: one in the amount of $3,000.00, 2
in the amount of $1,500.00, and one in the amount of $1,000.00. Up to three
of these scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an academic
degree at a college or university. One of the scholarships will be awarded
to a student pursuing a trade through a vocational training program -for
example, in cosmetology, massage therapy, information technology, culinary
arts, or another trade.

Scholarship application deadline: February 15, 2026.

More details and instructions can be found at the link below.

NFBMA Scholarship Application Form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnnPuVIutta_h38GnT7t-TqdUuAoPWoqf
TZN7Ja2Ijdg226Q/viewform?usp=sf_link> 

Update on Recurring National Donation Processing:

Several weeks ago, we announced a change to how we are processing recurring
monthly donations. Though we thought we would be processing at this point,
we are still working with our vendors to make sure there are no issues. As
soon as we can, hopefully this week, we will start processing December
contributions and then catch up on November PAC contributions. If you do not
want us to process your November contribution, please send an email to
PAC at nfb.org <mailto:PAC at nfb.org>  with your name and direction to not
process November's PAC transaction. We appreciate your patience as we work
through unforeseen challenges. Please contact Bridgid Burke at
bburke at nfb.org <mailto:bburke at nfb.org>  or 410-659-9314, extension 2271,
with any questions or concerns. 

2026 Washington Seminar Hotel and Registration:

The 2026 Washington Seminar is six weeks away! However, the deadline to
secure a hotel room as part of our room block is just over two weeks away.
Please be sure to call the hotel or use the booking link on our
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> Washington
Seminar page before the deadline of December 31, 2025, to secure your room.
While you're on the Washington Seminar page, don't forget to register for
the event. Registration is completely free, and it helps us communicate
important details about the Washington Seminar to attendees. The
registration form is also where you can make an official accommodations
request if needed. 

2026 Washington Seminar Issues:

We have chosen our three issues for the 2026 Washington Seminar. They are:
Protecting Education, Employment, and Independent Living Programs for Blind
Americans; the Access Technology Affordability Act; and the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act. The fact sheets for our three issues are nearly complete
and we expect to have them posted on our
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> Washington
Seminar page in the coming days. 

2026 Washington Seminar Zoom Training Calls:

The government affairs group will be conducting our first 2026 Washington
Seminar training call via Zoom this coming Thursday, December 18, at 8:00
p.m., Eastern. This call will serve as our kickoff call and as a more
in-depth discussion of the issues. This training is intended for all who
plan to attend Washington Seminar. The Zoom link for the call is:

Join Zoom Meeting 
 <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/7567531013?omn=91085753050>
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/7567531013?omn=91085753050 

Meeting ID: 756 753 1013 

One tap mobile 
+13017158592,,7567531013# US (Washington DC) 
+13126266799,,7567531013# US (Chicago)

>From the President Riccobono's  Desk: The Federation Shares Pressing
Concerns with Vispero's CEO:

In
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor/early-acce
ss-articles/presidents-desk-federation> an article in the upcoming Braille
Monitor, I released my recent correspondence with Vispero's new CEO
regarding urgent member concerns about changes to the company's access
technology products and policies.

 Massachusetts State Convention

Our  Hotel, which is the Garden Plaza Hotel-Boston/Woburn located at 15
Middlesex Canal Drive in Woburn is now ready to begin taking our hotel
reservations at our discounted price of $119 per night. Our Convention will
be held from March 27-29, 2026. This price includes breakfast at the hotel
restaurant. Below, please find your link to make your  reservations at the
discounted rate:

https://www.ihg.com/redirect?path=asearch
<https://www.ihg.com/redirect?path=asearch&brandCode=CP&localeCode=en&region
Code=1&hotelCode=bosms&checkInDate=27&checkInMonthYear=022026&checkOutDate=2
9&checkOutMonthYear=022026&rateCode=6CBARC&_PMID=99801505&GPC=nfb&cn=no&adju
stMonth=false&showApp=true&monthIndex=00>
&brandCode=CP&localeCode=en&regionCode=1&hotelCode=bosms&checkInDate=27&chec
kInMonthYear=022026&checkOutDate=29&checkOutMonthYear=022026&rateCode=6CBARC
&_PMID=99801505&GPC=nfb&cn=no&adjustMonth=false&showApp=true&monthIndex=00

you may also choose to call into the hotel directly,  at 781-935-8760 to
make your reservations. If you choose to call be sure to  refer to the NFB
of Massachusetts convention.

The deadline for making hotel reservations at this price is March 2, 2026.
Don't delay though, we might sell out again! 

National Museum of the Blind People's Movement Legislative Alert:

Just this past Sunday, December 14, we sent out a
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislati
ve-alerts/pass-national-museum-blind> legislative alert regarding the
National Museum of the Blind People's Movement Act (H.R. 6467/S. 3371). The
purpose of this legislative alert is to create a surge in cosponsor support
for the bill so that it can ultimately be passed and signed into law and our
museum will have the national recognition that it deserves. Please be sure
to contact your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the
National Museum of the Blind People's Movement Act (H.R. 6467/S. 3371)!

Latest Podcast Episodes:

Tune into our
<https://podcasts7m.podbean.com/e/communicating-with-blind-people-what-sight
ed-people-should-know/> new episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast where
Melissa and Anil are joined by board members Marilyn Green and Tracy
Soforenko. They share interesting and sometimes surprising social
interactions that they've had with sighted people while traveling, hanging
out with friends, and even while spending time with family members,
especially during the holidays. They also discuss the best ways that sighted
people should communicate with blind people. 

Listen to episode seven of our Walking Alone and Marching Together podcast
entitled "
<https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/e/episode-7-chapter-4-d
emocracy-in-transition-the-second-generation-part-1/> Episode 7: Chapter 4 -
Democracy in Transition: The Second Generation, Part 1."

 <https://buff.ly/DnyeSos> Episode 55 of Access On is now available.
Jonathan discusses Zoom's accessibility journey with Samuel Greene, product
manager for Zoom North America. He also talks to our new accessibility
excellence advocate for home and independent living, Ron Miller. Ron
outlines his history in access technology and discusses the difference we
can all make together to improve accessibility.

Reminders:

Braille Readers Are Leaders:

Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest will last through
the end of the contest on January 16. This year, we will have the youth,
adult, and teachers of blind students contests. You will want to complete
the first activity, as that will give us your address so that we can send
any prizes you win along the way. Completing other activities will earn you
badges of honor. Use the
<file:///C:/Users/LamkinSeth/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Conte
nt.Outlook/PXN5EKPU/actionfund.beanstack.org> Beanstack website or the
Beanstack app to log your reading minutes each day. Have fun and challenge
your friends, family members, and colleagues who read Braille to join you.  

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar
*	Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Introduction to the Organized Blind
Movement
*	February 15, 2026: Deadline for Mass Scholarship Application 
*	February 17, 2026: Massachusetts Board Meeting
*	March 2, 2026: Deadline for making room reservations for state
convention
*	Thursday March 12 and Sunday March 15, 2026 Chapter President Call 
*	March 27-29, 2026: Massachusetts Convention
*	March 31, 2026: Deadline for National Scholarship Application
*	Wednesday, May 6, 2026: Introduction to the organized Blind movement
*	July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas

At your Service, 

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

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

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/attachments/20251217/2245d84a/attachment.htm>