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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>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
We have just completed a couple of busy days of meetings by the board of
directors of the National Federation of the Blind. On Friday night, we
had a donor appreciation dinner for those who have made significant
financial contributions to our organization. It is sometimes overwhelming
to examine the number of projects and the amount of work we get done in a
year as an organization. When you think about it, the primary reason we
are as effective as we are is that we have a strong committed corps of
members who put in significant time and energy. It is these personal
relationships we have with each other that allow us to tackle the big
obstacles in our way. I encourage all leaders of the Federation to
continue to take the time to build personal relationships with members,
even as the pace of things we need to complete seems to increase. If we
fail to know each other at a personal level, we will fail to continue to
build the type of organization we want. <br>
<br>
I wish that Melissa and I could make it to all the great Federation
holiday parties that are being planned across the nation. It would be
wonderful to share with each of you the great success we have had in
2016. Although we cannot be with you, please know that we appreciate the
tremendous work and joyful energy you bring to our organization at all
levels.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Communications Survey:<br>
As we close out 2016 and plan for 2017 and beyond, we are evaluating
various aspects of how we accomplish our organizational goals. To help us
plan, we would value your feedback on the NFB's organizational
priorities, as well as which forms of communication are most useful and
effective for you. This information will help us build a successful
communications plan for the future. The survey is confidential and should
take approximately five minutes to complete. Please distribute the link
(<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9MR89H">
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9MR89H</a>) far and wide. We encourage
all willing participants to complete the survey by Monday, December
12.<br><br>
Washington Seminar:<br>
The Holiday Inn Capitol is accepting reservations for the 2017 Washington
Seminar, which will occur from January 30–February 2. Please call (877)
572-6951 or go to
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">
https://nfb.org/washington-seminar</a> to make your reservations using
booking code F7B. The rates are $188 for a room accommodating up to four
persons, and the applicable tax is 14.5 percent. These rates are good for
check in as early as January 29 and check out by February 3. While the
reservation deadline is December 28, I urge you to take care of this now
before the holidays get too busy. If you would like to reserve a meeting
room during the Washington Seminar, please contact Diane McGeorge before
December 10 at (303) 778-1130, extension 219, or send an email to Lisa
Bonderson at
<a href="mailto:lbonderson@cocenter.org">lbonderson@cocenter.org</a>.<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>New Product in the Independence MarketKNFB Reader
Enterprise: <br>
We are happy to introduce a new license-based version of our
award-winning app in a new model called KNFB Reader Enterprise, currently
only available from the Independence Market. You can purchase a
two-device license for $99.99, a three-device license for $139.99, or a
four-device license for $169.99. To purchase an Enterprise license that
you can use with multiple devices, including in combination with both iOS
and Android devices for yourself, call the Independence Market at (410)
659-9314, extension 2216. You will still be able to purchase KNFB Reader
for a single device in the App Store or Play Store. Soon, KNFB Reader
Enterprise will also be available through approved distributors. If you
are interested in becoming a distributor for KNFB Reader Enterprise,
contact Scott White at
<a href="mailto:swhite@nfb.org">swhite@nfb.org</a>, or call (410)
659-9314, extension 2231.<br>
<br>
NFB-NEWSLINE® Ads<br>
NFB-NEWSLINE will be providing holiday ads from the following retailers
through December 31, 2016: Ace Hardware, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us,
Jo-Ann Fabric, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Petco, Publix, Staples, Office Depot,
Walgreens, and Kohl’s.<br>
<br>
<i>Braille Monitor</i>:<br>
The
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm1611tc.htm">
December issue of the
</a>
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm1611tc.htm">
<i>Braille Monitor</a></i> is now available.<br>
<br>
Slam That!:<br>
Some say that blind students cannot learn science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics. The members of the National Federation of
the Blind say “Slam that!” Dates and a location are now available for the
2017 NFB Youth Slama week-long, hands-on, STEM learning program for one
hundred blind and low-vision high school students from across the
country. This program of the NFB Jernigan Institute’s National Center for
Blind Youth in Science will be held July 23-29, 2017, at Towson
University in Baltimore, Maryland. Individuals who are interested in
volunteering to help the members of the NFB “Slam that!” and are
available July 21-29, 2017, should apply at
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam-volunteer-page">
http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam-volunteer-page</a>. The
deadline to apply is January 31, 2017. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in
Mind:</b></h2>· December 9,
2016: Putting More STEAM in STEM, a Tactile Art Symposium<br>
· December 16, 2016:
<a href="https://nfb.org/santa-letters">Deadline for Braille Letters from
Santa requests</a><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>
· March 31, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">scholarship
applications</a><br>
· April 15, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">Jacob Bolotin Award
applications</a><br>
· July 10-15, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm">
National Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando,
Florida</a><br>
· July 21-29, 2017:
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam">Youth Slam</a>,
Towson University<br>
· September 12-17, 2017:
<a href="http://blindmerchants.org/blast-2017/">BLAST</a>, 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>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
President<br>
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
(410) 659-9314 |
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/">
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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. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<br>
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