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<h1><b>President's Notebook</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>National Federation of the Blind</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>Mark A. Riccobono</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a></b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>(410) 659-9314</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
A month from now, the convention will be over. This means that all energy
is pointed toward the final preparations for this year's national
convention. I encourage you to be sure that our convention rookies have
good mentors and that our convention veterans find new opportunities to
help build the organization. Additionally, I encourage you to make sure
those who cannot be at this year's convention receive the information
about the live streaming, which should be available later this month. Our
internet and social media tools should allow us to engage our members
that cannot be at the convention for one reason or another. Although
there is no substitute for being at our convention, there is no reason
for us to miss the opportunity to increase the excitement back home.
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Convention Agenda Available:<br>
The online version of the 2016 National Convention agenda is now
available on the <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">NFB website</a> in
Word and accessible PDF formats, as well as in Spanish. <br>
<br>
Need Volunteers in Independence Market at Convention:<br>
We are looking for volunteers to work in the Independence Market at the
convention. If you have some time to help, please contact Patricia Maurer
at (410) 659-9314, extension 2272, or Jen White at extension 2236. If we
have sent you a schedule please give one of us a call to let us know
whether you can work at that time. We appreciate your help to make the
convention run smoothly and to give our membership the opportunity to
purchase from the products in the market. We are in need of volunteers
for only Friday, July 1, both shifts (8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 12:45
p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), and Saturday, July 2, both shifts (8:00 a.m. to 12:45
p.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.).<br>
<br>
Space Available Status:<br>
Last month, Senator Heller from Nevada introduced an amendment to the
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to add the same space available
language that is already in the House NDAA to the Senate’s version.
This amendment, SA 4235, already has one cosponsor, Senator Tester from
Montana. Please call your senators and urge them to cosponsor SA 4235 so
that veterans with disabilities rated as total can participate in the
space available program. More on this subject will be coming out as it is
available.<br>
<br>
USA JOBS Now Available in NFB NEWSLINE:<br>
NFB-NEWSLINE® has added USA JOBS to the job listings feature in addition
to the over one hundred thousand listings currently provided to
subscribers by CareerBuilder.com.
<a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/">USAJOBS.gov</a> is a free, web-based
job board enabling federal job seekers access to thousands of career
opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations,
providing public notice for federal employment opportunities. As
the federal government's official source for federal job listings and
employment opportunity information, USAJOBS.gov provides a variety of
opportunities. Now, in addition to NFB-NEWSLINE’s existing job
listings, subscribers can set up profiles to include opportunities
offered by <a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/">USAJOBS.gov</a>. Visit
<a href="https://nfb.org/nfb-newsline%C2%AE-expands-feature-allowing-independent-job-searches-blind">
our website</a> for more information.<br>
<br>
Video:<br>
In this week's video, Caitlin Best describes how she found her way to the
National Federation of the Blind and the lessons she learned along the
way. It can be viewed at
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D22aYyj52J8">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D22aYyj52J8</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
· May 23-August 26, 2016: NFB
BELL Academy held at forty-six sites throughout the nation. More
information at
<a href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy">https://nfb.org/bell-academy</a>.
<br>
· June 7: NFB EQ teacher
application deadline,
<a href="https://nfb.org/nfb-eq-teacher-application">
https://nfb.org/nfb-eq-teacher-application</a> <br>
· June 19-25: NFB EQ (first
iteration)<br>
· June 30-July 5: National
Federation of the Blind Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando,
Florida<br>
· July 31-August 6: NFB EQ
(second iteration) <br>
· August 2-6: NFB EQ teacher
cohort <br>
· August 18-25: WBU and ICEVI
General Assembly, Rosen Centre, Orlando, Florida,
<a href="http://www.wbu-icevi2016.org">www.wbu-icevi2016.org</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<br>
Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>
Phone: (410) 659-9314<br>
Fax: (410) 659-5129<br>
Email:
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br>
Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice<br>
Web: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a><br>
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