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<h1><b>President’s Notebook<br><br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><br>
<br>
</a>(410) 659-9314</b></h1> <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>PAC Plan: I urge every
affiliate to include mention of the PAC Plan in the activities of the
affiliate convention. More importantly, I encourage you to have an
individual identified to help people sign up for the PAC plan. Discussing
the importance of funding our movement should be a priority for each of
our affiliates. Please refer to the online version of the PAC form as a
resource
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/pac-form-fillout-accessible.pdf%A0" eudora="autourl">
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/pac-form-fillout-accessible.pdf
</a> <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>Blind student Aleeha Dudley and US Department of
Justice resolve Miami University of Ohio discrimination case: Read the
<a href="https://nfb.org/blind-student-aleeha-dudley-and-us-department-justice-resolve-miami-university-ohio-discrimination">
press release</a>.<br>
NFB Voting Hotline:<br>
We will be hosting an Election Day hotline for blind and visually
impaired voters, poll workers, and voting rights advocates can call when
problems with accessible voting technology or other barriers are
preventing a blind voter from casting a private and independent ballot.
The hotline will be available November 8, 2016, from 7:00 a.m. Eastern to
10:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 p.m. Pacific). The number is (877) 632-1940.
<br>
<br>
Documentary about Subminimum Wages:<br>
A new documentary, "Rooted in Rights," has recently been
released. This film, produced by Rooted in Rights, an organization that
specializes in documentaries and social media campaigns related to
disability issues, addresses exploitation of workers with disabilities
through the payment of subminimum wages and calls for a phase-out of this
discriminatory practice. I am featured in the film; and we are having a
free screening here at the Jernigan Institute this week. If you are
interested in hosting a screening in your state, visit
<a href="http://www.bottomdollarsmovie.com">www.bottomdollarsmovie.com</a>
for more information. <br>
<br>
Communications Seminar:<br>
As we continue to strengthen our communications and branding presence, it
is important that our affiliates, divisions, and chapters get involved
and up-to-date on our tools, techniques, and strategies. Therefore, I’m
reaching out to let you know that I will be hosting a communications
seminar over the weekend of February 17-20, 2017. I invite you to
nominate one member of your division's or affiliate’s communications
team to attend this conference, which will be held here at the NFB
Jernigan Institute. Please send your nominee’s name, email address, and
phone number to our communications team at
<a href="mailto:communicationsteam@nfb.org">communicationsteam@nfb.org</a>
no later than Thursday, December 1, 2016. As always, feel free to reach
out to me with questions. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in
Mind:</b></h2>·
<a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall Conventions</a><br>
· November 8: Election
Day; NFB voter hotline available at (877) 632-1940<br>
· January 30, 2017:
Great Gathering-In <br>
· January 30-February 2,
2017: <a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington
Seminar</a><br>
· March 30-31, 2017:
Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium<br>
· July 21-29, 2017:
Youth Slam, Towson University<br>
· September 12-17, 2017:
BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee<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>
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