[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFB President's Notebook - week of 02/20/2017

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Wed Feb 22 01:36:21 UTC 2017 

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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,
>
>We just completed a communications seminar here 
>at the NFB Jernigan Institute. I was 
>particularly inspired by the enthusiasm and 
>expertise embedded within the affiliates that 
>sent representatives. The nature of how we 
>communicate­impart and exchange information and 
>news­has shifted significantly in my twenty 
>years as a member of the Federation. I am really 
>proud that we have a committed corps of members 
>prepared to carry our strategy forward in a thoughtful manner.
>
>This past week we added the ability to get NFB 
>podcast content through the Amazon Echo suite of 
>products (see below for more information). We 
>need to continue to find new ways to share 
>information and tell our stories. Keep those ideas coming.
>
>Finally, I have been working with our 
>communications team, our organizational 
>technology team, and members who have been 
>supporting our internet presence in affiliates. 
>I have asked that we set aggressive timelines 
>and that we dedicate resources to getting our 
>affiliate web assets up to date and secured for 
>the future. I encourage you to let me know how 
>that is going as it rolls out so that we can adjust the sails as needed.
>
>Although it is still a little early, I am 
>beginning to think about our national 
>convention. I have already invited a number of 
>key presenters, and I am looking for ideas about 
>interesting presentations. Please share your thoughts with me.
>
>Speaking of communication, for those of you who 
>are not yet connected with me on Facebook, I 
>invite you to friend Mark A. Riccobono and follow me on Twitter, @Riccobono.
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>News:
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>Amazon Echo:
>The following podcasts have been added to the 
>Amazon Echo through the TuneIn and Stitcher 
>podcast directories: The Nation’s Blind, 
>National Federation of the Blind Presidential 
>Releases, National Federation of the Blind 
>“Braille Monitor,” and National Federation of 
>the Blind “Future Reflections.” When asking 
>Alexa to play one of our podcasts, be sure to 
>ask for the entire title, and in the case of the 
>Presidential Release, include your language 
>preference (English or Spanish): "Alexa, please 
>play the ‘National Federation of the Blind 
>February Presidential Release,’ English version."
>
>Summer Internship Program:
>As we continue to raise expectations of and for 
>the blind, we realize that we must actively work 
>to empower the next generation of dynamic 
>leaders and innovative thinkers that will dream, 
>develop, and implement the next ground-breaking 
>project or program that changes the lives of all 
>blind people. To that end, we must share our 
>acquired knowledge and life experience with 
>young, motivated blind students as they travel 
>their individual paths toward full 
>participation. We seek to accomplish this goal 
>through our National Federation of the Blind 
>Summer Internship Program, a unique learning 
>experience that can only be directed by the 
>National Federation of the Blind. For more 
>information, visit: 
><https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-2017-summer-internship-program>https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-2017-summer-internship-program. 
>
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>Parental Rights Legislation Passes in Utah:
>Both houses of the Utah legislature have passed 
>H.B. 150 Custody Amendments Related to Parents 
>with Disabilities, a bill that would require 
>judges to make specific findings that a disabled 
>parent lacks resources to provide for a child's 
>physical and emotional needs, rather than assume 
>that a disabled person is less capable of being 
>a parent, as is the case today. The bill is 
>being prepared for Governor Herbert's signature. 
>More information can be found in the 
><http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673324/Bill-would-change-how-courts-look-at-parents-disabilities-in-child-custody-cases.html>Deseret 
>News<http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673324/Bill-would-change-how-courts-look-at-parents-disabilities-in-child-custody-cases.html> 
>article.
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>
>Discount Guinness World Records™ Umbrella Mosaic Posters:
>Posters may now be purchased in quantities of 
>twenty or more for one dollar each, plus the UPS 
>shipping cost. These posters feature a 
>photograph taken by the drone of the NFB’s 
>record-breaking umbrella mosaic at the National 
>Convention in July 2015 and our brand promise, 
>"Together with love, hope, and determination, we 
>transform dreams into reality," as well as a 
>description of the event and our website. The 
>posters measure 24 × 18 inches and have a 
>landscape orientation. We recommend using these 
>posters to enhance fundraising and outreach 
>activities at the local level. Please contact 
>the Independence Market at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216, to place your order.
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>Summer Programs at Our Centers
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>For your convenience we combined the following 
>summer program information from our three training centers.
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>Louisiana Center for the Blind:
>The Louisiana Center for the Blind is pleased to 
>announce the Buddy Program­a fun and innovative 
>summer offering for students in fourth through 
>eighth grades. Dates for the 2017 Buddy Program 
>are July 23-August 12. Please visit 
><http://www.louisianacenter.org/buddyprogram/>http://www.louisianacenter.org/buddyprogram/ 
>for more information.
>The Louisiana Center for the Blind’s Summer 
>Training and Employment Project (STEP) Program 
>is an eight-week summer experience tailored for 
>blind high school students. Please navigate to 
><http://www.louisianacenter.org/step-program/>http://www.louisianacenter.org/step-program/ 
>to learn more.
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>Colorado Center for the Blind:
>Every summer at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, 
>blind youth learn and grow in confidence that 
>they can live the lives they want. From Braille 
>to rock climbing, and with blind role models and 
>peers, it’s a summer they’ll never forget! The 
>Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton, 
>Colorado, is accepting applications for its 
>Initiation to Independence (three-week 
>residential middle school) Program, as well as 
>our Earn and Learn and College Prep (eight-week 
>residential high school/college) Programs. For 
>dates and applications visit 
><http://cocenter.org/summer-youth-2017/>http://cocenter.org/summer-youth-2017/.
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>BLIND, Inc.:
>Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions (BLIND), 
>Inc., a National Federation of the Blind 
>training center is hosting three comprehensive 
>residential programs this summer in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
>June 10 to July 1: The Buddy Program offers 
>blind/low-vision students ages nine through 
>thirteen a chance to learn skills such as 
>cooking, cleaning, Braille/technology, and cane 
>travel from qualified blind counselors, while 
>participating in exciting recreational 
>activities as they develop friendships that will last a lifetime!
>June 11 to August 5: The PREP Program offers 
>blind/low-vision high school students a chance 
>to learn their independence skills from 
>qualified blind counselors while living in 
>apartments blocks from a light rail station; put 
>their skills to the test during a three-week, 
>paid (at minimum wage) work experiences in the 
>community; participate in cool recreational 
>activities with friends; and meet friends and 
>mentors while attending the National Federation 
>of the Blind Convention in Orlando.
>July 17 to August 4: Closeout the summer in 
>STYLE (Summer Training Youth Learning 
>Experience) residential program as 
>blind/low-vision high school students select 
>from one, two, or all three five-day transition 
>programs focusing on cane travel and the use of 
>public transit throughout the Minneapolis/St. 
>Paul area (session 1); health, fitness, and 
>recreation (session 2); and all things money 
>management: making it, saving it, and spending 
>it (session 3), while participating in 
>educational and recreational weekend activities 
>supervised by successful blind adults.
>Please visit 
><https://www.blindinc.org/programs/Summer/>https://www.blindinc.org/programs/Summer/ 
>for more detailed information regarding these exciting programs.
>
>
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>·        March 23, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6317&qid=1522699>eBooks 
>and EPUB accessibility event
>·        March 30-31, 2017: 
><http://nfb.org/law-symposium>Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
>·        March 31, 2017: Deadline for 
><http://www.nfb.org/scholarships>scholarship applications
>·        April 15, 2017: Deadline for 
><https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main>Jacob Bolotin Award applications
>·        May 1, 2017: Deadline for 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf>Distinguished 
>Educator of Blind Students Award
>·        July 10-15, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm>National 
>Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida
>·        July 23-29, 2017: 
><http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam>Youth Slam, Towson University
>·        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 nation’s blind. 
>Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
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