[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 12/ 19/2016

Wed Dec 21 04:45:44 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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>It is hard to say that the Federation ever slows 
>down, but I do note that the schedules seem to 
>be lighter in the last two weeks of the year. We 
>have had a great year, and I feel blessed to 
>have the honor of working with each of you on a 
>daily basis. We have much work ahead of us next 
>year, but I urge everyone to take this holiday 
>time to reflect on our progress and the great 
>pleasure it is to be in this family that is the 
>National Federation of the Blind.
>
>There are a few matters that do require your 
>attention before you go off the grid for the 
>holidays. I encourage each of you to pay 
>attention to the deadlines below and especially 
>our Washington Seminar call later this week.
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>I am anticipating the coming holidays and the 
>restful family time (as restful as a household 
>with three children ever can be). I am planning 
>to refuel the batteries for a great 2017. I hope 
>that each of you will take the opportunity to do 
>the same. As you take a moment to reflect at the 
>end of 2016, I would ask you to consider sharing 
>with me thoughts that come to mind about the 
>year we have had and how we can make the next year even better.
>
>I plan to be away from the office and email much 
>of the week between Christmas and New 
>Year's—please remember tthat our national office 
>is closed on December 26 and 30. I will be 
>available on my mobile phone in case there are 
>Federation matters to deal with urgently.
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>I hope that you and your family enjoy a 
>spectacular end of the year, that the joy and 
>meaning of the holidays fills your heart and 
>home with love, and that 2017 is an outstanding 
>year for you personally and for our Federation.
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>Critical Actions This Week:
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>Call for Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors:
>This Wednesday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m. EST, 
>there will be a call for all affiliate 
>presidents and legislative directors to discuss 
>various aspects of the Washington Seminar and 
>our legislative priorities for 2017. Call-in information will be forthcoming.
>
>Washington Seminar:
>The Holiday Inn Capitol is accepting 
>reservations for the 2017 Washington Seminar, 
>which will occur from January 30–February 2. 
>Please call (8877) 572-6951 or go to 
><https://nfb.org/washington-seminar>https://nfb.org/washington-seminar 
>to make your reservations using booking code F7B.
>
>The rates are $188 for a room accommodating up 
>to four persons, and the applicable tax is 14.5 
>percent. These rates are good for check in as 
>early as January 29 and check out by February 3. 
>While the reservation deadline is December 28, I 
>urge you to take care of this now before the holidays get too busy.
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>News:
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>Holiday Schedule:
>The national office will be closed Monday, 
>December 26, and Friday, December 30, for 
>Christmas and New Year's respectively. The 
>Independence Market will be closed the entire 
>week of December 26-30, and will reopen on Monday, January 2.
>
>2017 National Convention Exhibit Hall Information Now Available:
>Exhibitor and sponsor information for the 2017 
>National Convention is now available at 
><https://nfb.org/sponsor-and-exhibitor-info>https://nfb.org/sponsor-and-exhibitor-info. 
>Exhibitor and sponsor applications will open 
>after January 1, but I encourage you to start 
>thinking about your affiliate's presence in the 
>convention exhibit hall now. Please be sure to 
>make note of all applicable deadlines and requirements.
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>Reminders:
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>Ready to Slam That!?:
>The 2017 NFB Youth Slam, a weeklong program for 
>blind students interested in science, 
>technology, engineering, and math, will be held 
>July 23-29, 2017, at Towson University in 
>Baltimore, Maryland. Applications for the 
>program are now available online for 
><https://nfb.org/youth-slam-student-application>students 
>and 
><https://nfb.org/youth-slam-volunteer-application>adult 
>volunteers. For more details, visit 
><http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam>http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam.
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>Student Loan Notifications:
>If you have experienced accessibility issues 
>with student loan communications, we need to 
>hear from you. In October 2014, we entered into 
>an agreement with the US Department of Education 
>to make all federal student loan information 
>accessible to blind individuals. Under the 
>agreement, the DOE and its loan servicers should 
>now offer: (1) accessible websites; (2) digital 
>forms that can be filled out, submitted, and 
>saved on electronic devices; and (3) timely 
>provision of alternative formats for all 
>documents, including notices, statements, and 
>publications. If you have had difficulty 
>receiving accessible federal student loan 
>information in the past year or otherwise 
>believe that the DOE or one of its loan 
>servicers is not fulfilling its obligations 
>under our agreement, please contact Valerie 
>Yingling at 
><mailto:vyingling at nfb.org>vyingling at nfb.org as soon as possible to discuss.
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>Â·        January 30, 2017: Great Gathering-In
>Â·        January 30-February 2, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/washington-seminar>Washington Seminar
>Â·        March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
>Â·        March 31, 2017: Deadline for 
><http://www.nfb.org/scholarships>scholarship applications
>Â·        April 15, 2017: Deadline for 
><https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main>Jacob Bolotin Award applications
>Â·        July 10-15, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm>National 
>Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida
>Â·        July 21-29, 2017: 
><http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam>Youth Slam, Towson University
>Â·        September 12-17, 2017: 
><http://blindmerchants.org/blast-2017/>BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee
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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.
>
>Mark A. Riccobono
>President
>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>(410) 659-9314 | 
><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>
>
><https://nfb.org/>
>National Federation of the Blind
>
>
> 
><http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>
>Facebook
>     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>
>Twitter
>     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>Youtube
>
>
>The National Federation of the Blind is a 
>community of members and friends who believe in 
>the hopes and dreams of the nationâ€™s blind. 
>Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
>
>
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