[MN-at-Large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 02/ 17/2020

[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 Presidents,
>
>What an incredible job done by all of you in 
>advancing our legislative agenda last week. 
>Congratulations to the team. We demonstrated 
>that we stand together, we will not back down, and we move things forward.
>
>I have said it many times, but especially today 
>I want to extend my personal thank you for the 
>tremendous leadership you provide as a president 
>of one of our state affiliates or national 
>divisions. Your volunteer commitment of time, 
>energy, love, and leadership makes a difference 
>in the world. This morning on my walk into the 
>office, I was listening to a little Eric 
>Clapton, specifically the song “Change the 
>World.” You all exhibit what a group of people 
>can do together when they commit their hearts 
>and minds to a common mission better than any other group I can think of.
>
>I am still sorting through the notes you all 
>left during our seminar, and we will be 
>following up. I welcome further feedback and 
>ideas all of you have about how we continue to build our leaders.
>
>Many of you have affiliate conventions, 
>leadership training, and other significant 
>affiliate projects coming up this spring. I wish 
>you all the best in those programs and hope that 
>you put the learning gleaned at our retreat into 
>practice at those gatherings. The sooner you 
>activate on new information, the stronger it becomes in your practice.
>
>Thank you all for your work in our movement but 
>most importantly for your true friendship in our 
>Federation family. I anticipate our next opportunity to gather together.
>
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>News:
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>Washington Seminar Update:
>Thanks to all of our members who participated in 
>this year’s Washington Seminar. Here are some of the highlights:
>    * Representative Bobby Scott, chair of the 
> House Education and Labor Committee, spoke at 
> our Great Gathering-In. He pledged his 
> commitment to the Transformation to Competitive 
> Employment Act and to our other educational initiatives.
>    * Representative Steny Hoyer, the House 
> Majority Leader; Representative Mike Thompson, 
> the chair of the Tax Policy Subcommittee; 
> Representative John Sarbanes; Senator Ben 
> Cardin; and Senator Bob Casey all spoke at our 
> Congressional Reception. We also had a 
> substantial increase in the number of 
> cosponsors for each of our bills. In the House, 
> the Access Technology Affordability Act went 
> from forty-nine to sixty-three cosponsors. And 
> in the Senate, it went from fifteen to 
> seventeen cosponsors. The GAIN Act went from 
> four to thirteen cosponsors. Finally, AIM HIGH 
> went from four to twelve cosponsors in the House.
>If your representative or senators have not yet 
>cosponsored our legislation, please urge them to do so.
>
>
>Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award:
>The deadline to submit applications for the 
>Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award 
>is May 1, 2020. More information can be found on 
>the 
><https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>website. 
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>    * March 26-27: 
> <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/jacobus-tenbroek-disability-law-symposium>Jacobus 
> tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland
>    * March 31: Deadline for 
> <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>scholarship 
> applications
>    * April 15: <https://www.nfb.org/bolotin>Dr. 
> Jacob Bolotin Award application deadline
>    * May 1: 
> <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>Distinguished 
> Educator Award nomination deadline
>    * April 14-17: 
> <http://www.blindmerchants.org>NABM BLAST, Chicago, Illinois
>    * April 14-16: 
> <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference>Nonvisual 
> Access Conference, Baltimore, Maryland
>    * June 21-27: 
> <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq>NFB 
> EQ; St. Paul, Minnesota
>    * July 14-19: 
> <https://www.nfb.org/convention>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.
>
>
>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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