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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>
<br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
The month of May is flying past and there are many pressing matters
impacting the members of the Federation. As you know, the convention is
around the corner and registration will close next week. With Monday
being a holiday, I urge everyone to work hard to make sure all members
are aware of the closure of preregistration next week. There are a number
of other items below that require your attention.<br>
<br>
Please continue to give our legislative work attention. Last week we
nearly doubled our cosponsorship for our AIM legislation. Can we do that
again this week? I believe we can. Keep pressing the offices and the team
at the national office will do its part to help get it done. As you know,
it is always the local influence that is meaningful to the members of
Congress.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your work on behalf of blind people across the nation. I
hope you have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. Thank you to all of those
in our Federation family who have served in the military and who have
lost loved ones in military service.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Students, Convention Banquet, and New Opportunity: <br>
From Kathryn Webster - As we all know, members of our Federation family
join together during the final moments of national convention for the
annual banquet of the National Federation of the Blind. It is our goal
for each and every convention attendee to partake in this most memorable
event. For students, many are absent due to the cost associated with the
event itself. This is a missed opportunity for not only our students but
for our organization, as the annual banquet is one of the most
significant pieces of our family reunion. This year, we are launching a
banquet subsidy program to encourage students to attend our banquet, as
well as feel financially comfortable with doing so. The subsidy will
offset the cost by $40, which means students are responsible for paying
$20 out of pocket if purchased during the preregistration period, or $25
out of pocket if purchased after preregistration closes. President
Riccobono has graciously agreed to help support the effort with $20
toward each subsidy from our national treasury, with the national student
division putting forth the other half ($20). We are eager to make it more
feasible for students to attend the banquet. <br>
Unfortunately, we are unable to subsidize banquet tickets for all
students. This is where the affiliate presidents come in. We are
requesting your help in determining which student from your state will
receive this subsidy. We ask that you, as the affiliate president, select
one well-deserving student who (1) needs the financial assistance to
attend and may otherwise not be able to; and (2) will fully embody the
experience and energy our banquet provides, making this investment
worthwhile on all counts.<br>
<br>
Please email Kathryn Webster, NABS President, at
<a href="mailto:nabs.president@gmail.com">nabs.president@gmail.com</a>,
or call (203) 273-8463 by Monday, May 29, with questions or to recommend
one of your students for this incredible opportunity. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
NFB National Convention Preregistration Deadline:<br>
The deadline for preregistration is in nine days on Wednesday, May 31! Go
to<a href="http://nfb.org/convention"> nfb.org/convention</a> to
preregister online or to download the accessible fillable PDF form for
mailing your preregistration. <br>
<br>
Also remember to make your hotel reservations by calling the Rosen
Shingle Creek at (866) 996-6338.<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders:</b></h2><br><br>
Convention Fundraising Announcements:<br>
Convention is right around the corner, and with it come many fundraising
announcements. In an effort to make the information more readily
available to convention attendees and cut down on the number of listserv
emails during the busy convention season, we’ve put together a
<a href="https://nfb.org/fundraising-announcement-form">fundraising
announcement form</a> for affiliates and national-level divisions. If you
will be selling candy, raffle tickets, or other items to benefit the NFB
at the convention and would like to let folks know, fill out the form at
<a href="https://nfb.org/fundraising-announcement-form">
nfb.org/fundraising-announcement-form</a>. All announcements will be
posted at
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-fundraising-announcements">
nfb.org/national-fundraising-announcements</a>. If you have any
questions, please contact the communications team at
<a href="mailto:communicationsteam@nfb.org">communicationsteam@nfb.org</a>
. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
·
<a href="http://nfb.org/state-conventions">Spring conventions</a><br>
· June 4, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/dot-dash">6K Dot Dash</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/">
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</a><br>
<br>
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<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170523221229.02136868@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
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</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>
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