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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>
There was a time during the history of our organization when the weeks
following the national convention were somewhat slow and, therefore, a
good time to review the operation of the organization. The pattern of
relative quiet after the national convention changed in the early part of
this century. This is evidenced this year by the buzz of NFB BELL Academy
participants in our building, the preparation for our NFBEQ program, our
hosting the Maryland Department of Disabilities ADA event tomorrow, and
our work to host the general assembly of the World Blind Union and
International Council for the Education of the Visually Impaired next
month. However, this time of yeardespite the scheduledoes tend to be a
time for revieview of the organization’s operations.<br>
In that spirit, I am interested in gathering reflections from our
affiliate presidents. Please consider the following brief questions and
take a moment if you are interested in sharing your perspective. I would
appreciate your ideas. Send your thoughts to me at
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a>. These questions are targeted at
presidents, but anyone receiving the notebook is encouraged to share his
or her perspective.<br><br>
1. How can the national organization
more effectively facilitate communication and sharing of information
across the organization?<br><br>
2. What is the greatest barrier you
are facing in your affiliate?<br><br>
3. What would be most useful to you
in improving affiliate-building at the local level?<br>
Thank you for your work to make our organization stronger, better, and
more dynamic every day.<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
Chapter President Listserv:<br>
Please make sure to update the chapter president listserv with Dave
Andrews by sending him the name, email address, and action necessary for
each chapter president that you would like him to add or remove. The
chapter president list is a good way for us to communicate specifically
to, and directly with, your chapter presidents. You may send emails with
this information to Dave at
<a href="mailto:david.andrews@nfbnet.org">david.andrews@nfbnet.org</a>.
Upcoming communications regarding membership and Meet the Blind Month
require that the list is updated as quickly as possible. Please make
every effort to do so by the end of the month. <br>
<br>
Chapter Contact & Meeting Information:<br>
Please make sure to send an updated chapter list to Danielle Trevino with
the following information: chapter name, chapter president contact
information, chapter meeting day and time, and chapter meeting location
and address. The lists will be used to update the chapter locator on the
NFB Connect app. Please use the following format when sending your
updates to Danielle:<br>
Boomer Sooner Chapter <br>
Heather McEver, Chapter President<br>
<a href="mailto:hmcever@nfbok.org">hmcever@nfbok.org</a><br>
405-123-4567 <br>
3<sup>rd</sup> Saturday of each month <br>
Norman Public Library<br>
415 West Gray<br>
Norman, OK 73059<br>
<br>
Send your updated affiliate chapter list to Danielle at
<a href="mailto:dtrevino@nfb.org">dtrevino@nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
Scholarship Winners:<br>
The following is the list of the 2016 scholarship winners, including
their home state, vocational goals, and the specific named scholarship
(if applicable):<br>
Tara Abella, IN: Elementary/Special Education Teacher<br>
Justine “JJ” Aragon, CO: Rehabilitation Counseling<br>
Deniz Aydemir-Doke, PA: Higher Education<br>
Samrawit Biyazin, OR: Certified Public Accountant ($3,000 Charles &
Betty Allen Scholarship)<br>
Megan Borella, CA: Business or Information Systems ($3,000 Expedia
Scholarship)<br>
Riki Danielle Burton, KY: Teaching Blind Students <br>
Brennan Carman, NY: Medical Research ($5,000 National Federation of the
Blind Scholarship)<br>
Merry-Noel Chamberlain, NE: Higher Education ($3,000 Charles & Melva
T. Owen Memorial Scholarship)<br>
Nathan Clark, MD: Juvenile Probation Officer<br>
Elif Emir Oksuz, OH: Mental Health Counselor ($5,000 Pearson
Scholarship)<br>
Laura Etori, NJ: Actuary ($8,000 Oracle Scholarship for Excellence in a
STEM Field)<br>
Jameyanne Fuller, NH: Law ($5,000 Mimi & Marvin Sandler
Scholarship)<br>
Deanna Greco, NJ: Brain Research<br>
Nazanin Heydarian, TX: Medical Research<br>
Sharon Jose, VA: Computer Science Engineer ($3,000 Adrienne Asch Memorial
Scholarship)<br>
Matthew Miller, IL: Actuary <br>
James Garret Mooney, AZ: Law ($3,000 E. U. & Gene Parker
Scholarship)<br>
Kathryn Olsen, IA: Physical Therapist <br>
Chelsea Page, LA: Blind Instruction and Early Intervention<br>
Precious Perez, MA: Professional Performer/Music Educator ($5,000 Larry
Streeter Memorial Scholarship)<br>
Donna Posont, MI: Naturalist <br>
Syed Rizvi, MA: Health Informatics and Data Analytics ($8,000 Oracle
Scholarship for Excellence in Computer Science)<br>
Joe Rowell, MA: Public Interest Law<br>
Kartik Sawhney, CA: Software Development ($3,000 Expedia
Scholarship)<br>
Kennedy Stomberg, MN: Research <br>
Corgan Waters, TN: Pathology<br>
Kathryn Webster, CT: Actuarial Science Consulting ($10,000 Charles &
Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship)<br>
Kassidy Wilde, UT: Psychology ($3,000 NFB Science and Engineering
Division Scholarship)<br>
Johna Wright, GA: Blind Education<br>
<br>
<br>
Spanish Version of the Presidential Release:<br>
The Spanish version has been posted to
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/spanish/pr451_spanish.mp3">
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/spanish/pr451_spanish.mp3</a>. <br>
<br>
<br>
Adult Rehabilitation and Employment Survey:<br>
If you are blind or visually impaired, reside in the United States, and
are at least eighteen years of age, we cordially invite you to
participate in this survey. The purpose of this survey is to gain a
better understanding of your experiences as an adult who is blind or
visually impaired, including your experiences with education, employment,
training, and vocational rehabilitation. <br>
<br>
This survey should not take more than ten minutes of your time. If you
complete this survey, you will be entered into a drawing in which five
individuals will win a $100 VISA gift card. We offer you three ways to
complete the survey: <br>
Go to <a href="http://www.pdrib.com/ares">www.pdrib.com/ares</a>.<br>
Email <a href="mailto:pdrib2016@gmail.com">pdrib2016@gmail.com</a>.<br>
Call 318-257-2029.<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><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>
·
<a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall state
conventions</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>
<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>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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<br>
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
State-affiliate-leadership-list:<br>
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