[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFB President's Notebook - week of 08/15/2016

Mon Aug 15 22:09:33 UTC 2016

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>President’s Notebook
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>National Federation of the Blind
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>Mark A. Riccobono
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><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
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>(410) 659-9314
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>Dear Fellow Federationists,
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>This is our week to bring the Federation to the 
>world, or maybe it is better to say the world is 
>coming to learn about the Federation. This week 
>and much of the next, leaders of the Federation 
>and a good portion of our national staff will be 
>in Orlando for the joint general assemblies of 
>the World Blind Union and the International 
>Council for the Education of the Visually 
>Impaired. In the United States, we have built a 
>unique organization that is authentically driven 
>by blind people. We have developed a philosophy 
>about blindness, and we have found innovative 
>ways to test and implement that philosophy. 
>Although we have been officially engaged in 
>world collaboration with blind people since 
>1952, and before that informally, our hosting 
>the world meeting represents another milestone 
>in our leadership in blindness around the world.
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>Recently, the question came up about how deep 
>the Federation might get in international 
>affairs. While the hosting of the world meeting 
>is something to be proud of, we should not let 
>it signify a shift in our overall organizational 
>priorities. We will continue to be engaged in 
>international collaboration. We will continue to 
>share what we know about blindness and to find 
>opportunities to learn from the progress of 
>others. As each of you knows, there is still 
>much work to be done in the United States and 
>that will remain our overwhelming priority.
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>If you are attending the world meetings or if 
>you are tuning in via the internet, I urge you 
>to learn from the common bonds with our brothers 
>and sisters around the world and find 
>opportunities to utilize their experience to 
>build our organization. That is what I will be 
>doing during my time in Orlando. I will also be 
>seeking to share everything we have learned 
>about advancing opportunities for the blind so 
>that others might apply our techniques in the 
>unique circumstances of their country.
>Furthermore, I will be seeking opportunities to 
>coordinate our work that now is impacted on a 
>global scale. Whether it is the impact of 
>inaccessible technology, the dangers caused by 
>quiet cars, or the persistent fears about 
>blindness, the artificial barriers are not limited to our borders.
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>As we bring attention to the World Blind Union 
>for the next week, remember that the reason we 
>have so much knowledge to share is that we have 
>built and nurtured a strong organization in the 
>United States. Furthermore, we have always 
>looked for opportunities to learn from those 
>around the world based on a common determination 
>for the blind to live the lives we want anywhere on this planet.
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>Unless something urgent arises, you should not expect a notebook next Monday.
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>News:
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>Important Legislative Action:
>We need to thank Representative Mac Thornberry, 
>chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, 
>for assisting disabled veterans injured prior to 
>September 23, 1996, to obtain access to the 
>Space Available program by including language to 
>correct the exclusion of these veterans from the 
>program in the House version of the National 
>Defense Authorization Act. Your letter of thanks 
>will give Chairman Thornberry support when he 
>seeks inclusion of his language in the final 
>joint House and Senate bill when the conference 
>committee meets in September. We have made it 
>simple and convenient for you to write to 
>Chairman Thornberry; all you need do is fill out 
>the very short webform located at this link: 
><https://nfb.org/thank-you-thornberry>https://nfb.org/thank-you-thornberry.
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>WBU Streaming Information:
>Stay up to date with all of the activity at the 
>World Blind Union events on Twitter by following 
>the hashtag #JointGA2016. The WBU and ICEVI 
>events will also be streamed on ACBRadio Live 
>Event. You can listen at this URL: 
><http://cp.mcafee.com/d/avndxMAcy0Arhosd7aatXThdTdEThjjooso76QrEFFIc3zhOOrhKyCCMMUMYrhKyCqen66bFCOIBuIjS9ZaM1iTNaOxjw09JrUBpgFM04SzvTrCzAs_R-svd7b2bfnKnjjopV5cQsTvpoWyaqRQRrKfsG7DR8OJMddECTPtPtPo0dno8hAuvGOTbVeeSaVo-lyKcToud79EV7fVJy4tgBnw099oXOM42wq8RA6g60xw9Fwfd0G7zeyxco2op8IweCdcwelhr0t4cwe2hgY61Iz4A91HwSc69m4wRMdxeMr0cS3h6EEdxM3I1w4Bmgoc1ZwS04S3h6Eu5hsN901w8E0MA6K0c90hl0bwIM63M-M32hEVI0MKocws1gpaOEKlQ1nCO384g0on3X1lcfmgl3dwSgvodlfawc91Hw32gqOdy94MdxMKu30A6Fzoi6Xws1g7K1N45Bg9l39k2gUpA60U3I3oEul1xVygl5P4A060yw39DBr8C91w-twQh0X074g94hIh0X84x8r509l3hgr50ou31g2lhIkgf1wsdI0Mk1pU7j0W8o3wC-18zoI1aEpI6DECzAdxsSgGT2TBRk1lCX3NEVd78V_DNNEVKXZXYphbzATHThZwwVuP6Ec4647vggKgusupd7a3walS24p7DWIJOVJdBB5AS2NF8Qg34U_GIE4jh1lQQg0acxcQg3v_ek2d3qpEVdOqOay1T9eHgN>http://acbradio.org/live.
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>Meet the Blind Month:
>Just a reminder that October is Meet the Blind 
>Month. Remember that we have lots of resources 
>such as alphabet cards, NFB brochures, and 
>Kernel Books available in the Independence 
>Market that you can use at your event. Whether 
>you’re holding a large gathering or simply 
>giving out information, it’s important that our 
>communities see that we are out there living the 
>lives we want. Please send an email to 
><mailto:membership at nfb.org>membership at nfb.org if 
>you have questions about Meet the Blind Month or 
>if you would like to share what your chapter is 
>doing to celebrate. This is a great time for 
>affiliate presidents to check in with your 
>chapters to hear about the different events 
>happening in your state. The hashtag this year is #MTBM16.
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>Video:
>Check out the most recent NFB video, my son 
>Austin and I building with LEGOs together: 
><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ncVyVcAG9o>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ncVyVcAG9o 
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>·        May 23-August 26, 2016: NFB BELL 
>Academy held at forty-six sites throughout the 
>nation. More information at 
><https://nfb.org/bell-academy>https://nfb.org/bell-academy.
>·        August 18-25: WBU and ICEVI General 
>Assembly, Rosen Centre, Orlando, Florida, 
><http://www.wbu-icevi2016.org>www.wbu-icevi2016.org
>·        <https://nfb.org/state-conventions>Fall Conventions
>·        August 31: Deadline for experienced NFB 
>BELL Academy affiliate representatives to 
>register for the NFB BELL Academy Training 
>Seminar, September 30-October 2, 2016. Please 
>choose: Advanced or Novice/Intermediate, 
><https://nfb.org/bell-seminar-registration-form>registration form
>·        September 8: Deadline for prospective 
>NFB BELL Academy affiliates to apply to host an 
>NFB BELL Academy for the summer of 2017, 
><https://nfb.org/bell-program-online-application>application form
>·        September 15: Deadline for 
>representatives from accepted prospective NFB 
>BELL Academy affiliates to register for the NFB 
>BELL Academy Training Seminar, October 20-23, 
>2016. Please choose: Novice/Intermediate, 
><https://nfb.org/bell-seminar-registration-form>registration form
>·        September 30-October 2: NFB BELL 
>Academy Training Seminar (Advanced) in Baltimore, Maryland
>·        October 20-23: NFB BELL Academy 
>Training Seminar (Novice/Intermediate) in Baltimore, Maryland
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>The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you 
>want; blindness is not what holds you back.
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>Mark A. Riccobono, President
>National Federation of the Blind
>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
>Baltimore, Maryland 21230
>Phone: (410) 659-9314
>Fax: (410) 659-5129
>Email: <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice
>Web: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org
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>The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you 
>want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>
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