[MN-at-Large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 10/ 28/2019

[David Andrews]

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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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>You can tell we are in the heart of fall now as 
>the activity around the Federation is quite 
>intense. I am heading to one of the ten 
>affiliate conventions happening this next 
>weekend along with other visits to meetings for 
>the Federation. I appreciate the continued 
>feedback that you all provide; it is very 
>helpful to make sure our national organization 
>is providing the assistance you need in building 
>the local organization. If you have things that 
>require my immediate attention, I urge you to 
>call or text me as my travel schedule makes it 
>difficult to keep up with the inbox. There are 
>many notes for you this week. I encourage you to 
>take pieces of this and incorporate them into your affiliate communications.
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>Most importantly, in case you missed it, our 
>first vice president, Pam Allen, was recently 
>recognized with a community award for her 
>outstanding service, which is driven by her 
>understanding and expression of the Federation 
>philosophy. It is nice to witness the community 
>coming to acknowledge what we already know about 
>one of our most outstanding leaders. 
><https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qRNqK_98Vn0>This 
>video is worth sharing with others.
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>Critical Actions This Week:
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>Convention Dates Have Changed:
>The 2020 National Convention of the National 
>Federation of the Blind will be held July 14-19 
>in Houston, Texas. While the convention was 
>originally planned for two weeks earlier, the 
>Federation agreed to move its convention to 
>accommodate activities in the city of Houston. 
>We believe this change will further enhance the 
>program, exhibits, and dynamic content provided 
>at America's civil rights and resource 
>convention of blind people and their families. 
>More information regarding convention 
>arrangements will be published in the December issue of the Braille Monitor.
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>News:
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>Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest:
>Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders 
>contest, administered by the American Action 
>Fund for Blind Children and Adults in 
>partnership with the National Federation of the 
>Blind, will open Friday, November 1. The 
>contest, with categories for children and 
>adults, will run through January 18, 2020, and 
>reading logs must be submitted by February 1, 
>2020. Details, including entry information, can 
>be found at <https://actionfund.org/BRAL>https://actionfund.org/BRAL.
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>Presidential Release:
>The November release will be available on Friday in the usual locations.
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>National Highway Transportation Safety Administration NPRM Comments:
>There has been a lot of discussion about updates 
>to the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act (PSEA) 
>in recent weeks, and I wanted to reiterate the 
>National Federation of the Blind’s stance on 
>the issue of multiple possible alert sounds. The 
>National Federation of the Blind has always 
>supported the idea that car companies might want 
>to provide more than one sound that is compliant 
>with the regulations set forth under the 
>Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which was 
>signed into law on January 4, 2011. We supported 
>this language because multiple sounds have the 
>potential to create greater societal acceptance, 
>and any sound that manufacturers provide must be 
>compliant. Our 
><https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-no-nhtsa-2019-0085.pdf>most 
>recent comments to the National Highway Traffic 
>Safety Administration reinforce this position. 
>Federation leaders are welcome and encouraged to 
>add their comments to the department’s request for feedback.
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>OSERS National Instructional Materials Access Standard (NIMAS) Comments:
>I have also provided comments to the US 
>Department of Education regarding the 
>accessibility of digital educational content and 
>instructional materials, as well as the 
>continued instruction and utilization of Braille 
>in the classroom. 
><https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-id-ed-2019-osers-0111.pdf>The 
>letter is available on our website.
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>Scholarship Program–Call for Applicatioons Starts November 1:
>A note from Cayte Mendez: Every year, the 
>National Federation of the Blind awards more 
>than $120,000 to blind scholars across the fifty 
>states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 
>Rico in recognition of their achievements and 
>professional aspirations. The scholarship 
>program is our commitment to academic excellence 
>and leadership among blind students, and each 
>winner is awarded on the basis of academic 
>excellence, community service, and leadership. 
>The application process opens this week, 
>November 1. Review the 
><https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist>scholarship 
>application checklist and the 
><https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-faqs>scholarship 
>program FAQs. Share this opportunity that 
>invests in the future of blind people. Learn 
>about the eligibility and requirements of the 
><https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>2020 
>scholarship program.
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>Santa Braille Letters:
>It is time for Santa letters. Between November 
>11 and December 16, parents can go online at 
><http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters>www.nfb.org/santa-letters 
>and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request 
>form. The form can also be printed and faxed to 
>410-685-2340 or emailed to 
><mailto:communityrelations at nfb.org>communityrelations at nfb.org. 
>Beginning Monday, December 2, the Braille 
>letters from Santa will start going out to boys 
>and girls around the country. The Braille letter 
>will also be accompanied by a print copy (for 
>mom and dad to read) as well as some other fun 
>Christmastime activities. The deadline for 
>letter requests is December 16 to ensure that a 
>return letter in Braille is received before 
>Christmas. For more information, visit <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>    * January 9-11, 2020: BELL® Academy Training Seminar
>    * February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
>    * March 26-27, 2020: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland
>    * April 14-17, 2020: 
> <http://www.blindmerchants.org>NABM BLAST; Chicago, Illinois
>    * July 14-19, 2020: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
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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
>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>(410) 659-9314 | 
><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
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>
><https://nfb.org/>
>National Federation of the Blind
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> 
><http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>
>Facebook
>     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>
>Twitter
>     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>Youtube
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>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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