[MN-at-Large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 02/ 24/2020

Wed Feb 26 02:32:06 UTC 2020

>
>
>President's Notebook
>
>
>
>
>
>National Federation of the Blind
>
>
>
>
>
>Mark A. Riccobono
>
>
>
>
>
><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
>410-659-9314
>
>
>
>
>Dear Fellow Federationists,
>
>Hey look, we get one extra day this year to 
>spread the love and positive message of the 
>National Federation of the Blind, and it is a 
>good month to do so. You will find below a 
>collection of links to a number of outstanding 
>pieces featuring Federation members who share 
>the additional common characteristic of being 
>black. These folks are great friends and mentors 
>of mine, and I am so pleased that they have 
>spread our message through their stories. You 
>should share these far and wide to promote the 
>diversity we want in our movement. As Ever Lee says, let's grow and go!
>
>This week I will be welcoming the eighty-ninth 
>leadership seminar to the National Federation of 
>the Blind Jernigan Institute. I expect that this 
>year we will have a seminar in the fall as 
>well—wwe did not have one last year because of 
>the construction. Some of you continue to 
>believe that recommendations should only come 
>when there is a seminar planned. Keep in mind, 
>there will always be another seminar someday. 
>Send your recommendations, and they can be for 
>people outside your state. Also keep in mind 
>that we should continue to seek diversity in our 
>leadership pool. If you recommend someone and 
>they have additional qualities that would add to 
>the diversity of our leadership seminar, please 
>let me know that. This data is only for my use. 
>Often the only thing I know about a person is 
>who recommended them and when. If I happen to 
>have met them, it helps me know more about them. 
>Since I cannot meet everyone, the data you share 
>with me is useful. We should be intentional 
>about developing a diversity of leaders in our 
>organization. You should know this is important 
>to me personally and it is critical to our 
>organization's advancement. Thank you in advance for your recommendations.
>
>As I am sure you are aware, March 1 is the 
>opening for our 2020 National Convention online 
>registration (The link, once it is live, will be 
><https://www.nfb.org/registration>nfb.org/registration.) 
>Please be sure to spread the word and help make 
>this our best-attended convention ever. Come on, 
>even Louisiana is cheering for this to be our 
>biggest convention ever—even if they think 
>Houston cannot top New Orleans! I am really 
>excited for this year's convention, and I 
>continue to welcome your ideas for speakers and program items.
>
>Finally, committee appointments are in the 
>works; you should find those hitting your email 
>boxes soon. Thank you for your work to keep the 
>Federation moving forward in all areas by serving on national committees.
>
>
>
>News:
>
>
>
>
>
>Federationists Featured in #DisabilityRightsInBlack Series:
>
>
>
>The National Disability Rights Network is 
>recognizing remarkable contributions of past and 
>present black disability rights advocates and 
>attorneys by presenting a different profile each 
>day in February. We are proud of the following 
>National Federation of the Blind leaders to be 
>featured and hope you watch their brief videos 
>of their stories: 
><https://www.ndrn.org/resource/drib2020-anil-lewis/>Anil 
>Lewis, executive director of Blindness 
>Initiatives; 
><https://www.ndrn.org/resource/drib2020-ever-lee-hairston/>Ever 
>Lee Hairston, member of the NFB Board of 
>Directors and 2019 Jacobus tenBroek Award 
>winner; 
><https://www.ndrn.org/resource/drib2020-sam-gleese/>Sam 
>Gleese, 2014 Jacobus tenBroek Award winner, past 
>affiliate president, and past member of the NFB Board of Directors.
>
>
>
>Nation's Blind Podcast: Celebrating Black History:
>
>
>
>The newest episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast 
>celebrates Black History Month with a 
>contemporary discussion with Denise Avant, Ron 
>Brown, and Shawn Callaway, all affiliate 
>presidents and members of the NFB Board of 
>Directors. They talk about the intersectionality 
>of being African-American and blind. Listen to 
>the 
><https://www.nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>Nationâ€™s 
>Blind Podcast.
>
>Partnership with Aira:
>Federation leaders will remember that a number 
>of years ago we secured a special membership 
>deal through our partnership with Aira granting 
>that every Federation state convention would be 
>a free Aira access site. Thanks to our 
>partnership, the Federation conventions were the 
>first free Aira accessible meetings in the 
>nation. That agreement we had with Aira expired 
>in January 2020, but we continue to have a 
>strong partnership with them. As you likely 
>know, the company has been going through a 
>number of changes. I understand that many of our 
>affiliates with spring conventions have reached 
>out to Aira asking about free site access. Our 
>conventions no longer have that benefit as a 
>right through an existing agreement. We continue 
>to talk with the company about what the future 
>partnership with the organized blind movement 
>will include and how we will execute on that 
>relationship. If you reach out to them, and they 
>tell you that they cannot provide free access, 
>do not be surprised. We will be posting an 
>update about Aira to the Voice of the Nationâ€™s 
>Blind Blog later today. If you have questions, please let me know.
>
>
>
>Take the Braille Monitor Survey:
>
>
>
>The Braille Monitor is our flagship publication 
>and contains critical content as we continue to 
>build the Federation. It reflects many of our 
>traditions, but it also must evolve enough to 
>clearly be relevant in this decade and those to 
>come. Please help us by telling us what you 
>want, what you need, and what you will read. 
>Please complete the quick, five-minute 
><https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BrailleMonitor>Braille 
>Monitor 
><https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BrailleMonitor>survey. 
>Your participation is greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
>Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium:
>
>
>
>Registration is still open for the Jacobus 
>tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, scheduled 
>March 26-27 at the National Federation of the 
>Blind Jernigan Institute. It is a two-day 
>conference that continues Dr. tenBroekâ€™s 
>lifelong pursuit of dignity, equality, and full 
>participation in society by the disabled by 
>bringing together attorneys, advocates, and 
>those with lived experiences. The agenda 
>includes roundtable discussions, presentations, 
>workshops, plenary sessions, and an evening 
>networking reception. This yearâ€™s theme is 
>Race, Diversity, Inclusion, and the Right to 
>Live in the World. 
><https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/jacobus-tenbroek-disability-law-symposium>Review 
>the agenda and register today!
>
>
>
>#ReadAcrossAmerica #WithBraille:
>
>
>
>National Read Across America Day is Monday, 
>March 2. Although we promote the importance of 
>Braille literacy year-round, letâ€™s make sure 
>our voices are included on this national day. 
>The goal of Read Across America is to help 
>motivate kids to read, bring the joys of reading 
>to students of all ages, and make all children 
>feel valued and welcome. This must include blind 
>and low-vision children. Letâ€™s promote reading 
>with Braille by sharing videos of children 
>reading Braille or posting about the importance 
>of Braille on Monday, March 2, on social media 
>platforms and use the hashtags #ReadAcrossAmerica #WithBraille.
>
>
>
>Dates to Keep in Mind:
>
>
>
>    * 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
>
>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.
>
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/mn-at-large_nfbnet.org/attachments/20200225/04eecfca/attachment.html>