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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>
POWERFUL: I think that was the brand personality trait that was most in
evidence for me during our 2017 National Federation of the Blind
Washington Seminar. I was particularly INSPIRED by the work of our blind
students. They were passionate, energetic, and out in front in so many
ways. Not to mention, if you dropped by the NABS Café, as I did, you
noticed how INVITING they were in building our organization.<br>
<br>
The question for us is what are we going to do as a follow up to the
week? How are we going to close the loop, lock in our members of
Congress, and continue the momentum with the members who could not be in
Washington? We have an opportunity to INNOVATE some new ways to get our
members engaged with our legislative priorities. Please share your ideas
for keeping the momentum going on the affiliate leadership list so we can
all benefit from the work being done in your affiliate.<br>
<br>
Thank you again for your active participation in our state affiliate
president retreat. I have received a lot of good feedback, and I
encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts with me. We are quickly
moving into the spring convention time, and I am looking forward to being
out on the road with members in local communities. Please continue to
invite me to engage in local activities, and I will do my best to be in
all of the places I can and definitely in all of the places where I am
most needed.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Please Sign the Petition:<br>
Jamie Principato, who
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/national-convention-highlights">spoke</a> at
our national convention last summer about her experience with
inaccessible technology, has launched a
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-remove-barriers-to-classroom-equality-ensure-accessibility-of-instructional-materials?recruiter=75359047&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink">
petition</a> calling on congressional leaders to move swiftly to pass our
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act. The
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-remove-barriers-to-classroom-equality-ensure-accessibility-of-instructional-materials?recruiter=75359047&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink">
petition</a> further calls upon President Trump to unequivocally commit
to supporting this legislation by urging its passage.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Presidential Release:<br>
The February Presidential Release has been posted to our website at
<a href="https://nfb.org/podcast/presidential-releases-en/rss.xml">
https://nfb.org/podcast/presidential-releases-en/rss.xml</a>.<br>
<br>
Presidential Release Sources:<br>
One item that was mentioned at the retreat was that all members don't
know how they can access the Presidential Release individually. We have
produced a one-page document, attached to this message, that describes
the different methods by which it can be heard.<br>
<br>
Washington Seminar Follow Up:<br>
In case you need additional information so that you can follow up on the
Washington Seminar issues back home, the fact sheets can be found at
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar#Legislative%20Agenda%20and%20Fact%20Sheets">
https://nfb.org/washington-seminar#Legislative%20Agenda%20and%20Fact%20Sheets</a>
. <br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
· March 23, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6317&qid=1522699">
eBooks and EPUB accessibility event</a><br>
· March 30-31, 2017:
<a href="http://nfb.org/law-symposium">Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium</a>
<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>
· May 1, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf">
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award</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 23-29, 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/">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170207191352.08c326a0@visi.com.4" width=210 height=76 alt="National Federation of the Blind">
</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170207191352.08c326a0@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170207191352.08c326a0@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170207191352.08c326a0@visi.com.7" width=24 height=24 alt="Youtube">
</a><br>
<br>
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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