[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 10/ 31/2016

Mon Oct 31 23:22:16 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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>Happy Halloween! This past weekend was the busiest for our fall 
>convention season. The eight conventions held this past weekend 
>demonstrate the growth and vitality of the Federation. In Maryland, 
>a new standard has been set for state convention attendance and 
>participation in our PAC Plan program. The National Federation of 
>the Blind of Maryland registered 401 attendees at its fiftieth 
>anniversary gathering, and we have now surpassed $6,000 contributed 
>each month to the PAC Plan by members in Maryland. As I learn of 
>other outstanding achievements in our affiliates, I will be sure to 
>share them.
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>Last week, I sent a meeting request and email for a teleconference 
>with all affiliate presidents for November 16. I want to again call 
>this to your attention as only a small handful of presidents have 
>accepted the invitation to the call or replied to the email.
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>News:
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>NFB Scholarship Program:
>We are accepting scholarship applications from November 1, 2016, to 
>March 31, 2017. This annual program offers thirty scholarships worth 
>from $3,000 to $12,000 to eligible students, from high school 
>seniors beginning their freshman year in the fall semester of 2017, 
>up through graduate students working on their PhD degrees. These 
>merit scholarships are based on academic excellence, community 
>service, and leadership. In addition to the money, each winner will 
>receive assistance to attend the 2017 NFB annual convention in 
>Orlando, Florida, held during the second week of July, providing an 
>excellent opportunity for high-level networking with active blind 
>persons in many different professions and occupations. Go to 
><http://www.nfb.org/scholarships>www.nfb.org/scholarships for 
>complete rules and requirements.
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>Parent Leadership Program (PLP):
>Our National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is 
>seeking recommendations for our next Parent Leadership Program (PLP) 
>to be held at the 2017 Washington Seminar. Please send 
>recommendations to 
><mailto:carol_castellano at verizon.net>carol_castellano at verizon.net by 
>November 18. Do you have a parent who shows the commitment and 
>leadership potential to found or strengthen a parents division in 
>your state? If so, please send us the name and contact information, 
>and we will send that parent an invitation to become a part of the 
>PLP. Parents from your state who are already in the program will 
>also be sent invitations. We hope that your affiliate POBC can 
>assist in getting the parent to DC. The NOPBC may be able to provide 
>some financial support. Please note: PLP workshops will begin the 
>morning of Sunday, January 29, so PLP participants need to arrive in 
>DC on Saturday, January 28, earlier than most seminar participants.
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>Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Program:
>The award program will be accepting nominations online from November 
>15, 2016, to April 15, 2017. Applicants must have demonstrated 
>exemplary leadership and extraordinary accomplishments in improving 
>the lives of blind people in the United States. An application for 
>an award may be made either by the applicant directly or by third 
>parties who nominate an applicant. Additional information can be 
>found at 
><https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main>https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main.
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>Reminders:
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>Early Voting:
>We invite blind people to report on their experience with early 
>voting across the country. To report on your experience with early 
>voting, please send an email to Lou Ann Blake at 
><mailto:lblake at nfb.org>lblake at nfb.org.
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>NFB Voting Hotline:
>We will be hosting an Election Day hotline for blind and visually 
>impaired voters, poll workers, and voting rights advocates to call 
>when problems with accessible voting technology or other barriers 
>are preventing a blind voter from casting a private and independent 
>ballot. The hotline will be available November 8, 2016, from 7:00 
>a.m. Eastern to 10:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 p.m. Pacific). The number 
>is (877) 632-1940.
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>*        <https://nfb.org/state-conventions>Fall Conventions
>*        November 8: Election Day; NFB voter hotline available at 
>(877) 632-1940
>         January 30, 2017: Great Gathering-In
>*        January 30-February 2, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/washington-seminar>Washington Seminar
>*        March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
>*        July 21-29, 2017: Youth Slam, Towson University
>*        September 12-17, 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.
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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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