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<h1><b><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a>President's
Notebook</b></h1><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><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>
Happy White Cane Awareness Week—I figure thaat since we started with
October 15 at the beginning of the week we might as well carry it through
the rest of the week. I had the opportunity to travel to Louisville and
Atlanta last week. It is always great to be out on the road hearing what
Federationists are saying and what is being said about us. The increased
impact of our work is definitely being felt, and our ranks are growing in
many places. I just returned from our Georgia affiliate convention where
many new and dynamic things are occurring. It is always energizing to be
in the center of where growth is happening.<br>
<br>
I want to extend my sincerest thank you to each of you for the great work
done on our Cardtronics testing. We gathered a lot of data in a short
amount of time. We will meet our commitments, and we will hold the
leaders of Cardtronics to theirs. Thank you for your leadership in
helping to motivate people to help with this project. Please extend my
thank you to each of the testers in your affiliate.<br>
<br>
Note there is an important deadline this week.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
National Federation of the Blind Aira Booster Program:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind leads the nation in raising
expectations for blind people. Our dynamic philosophy gives us the
foundational understanding of the real problems of blindness and the
confidence to test and refine various tools that have the potential to
enhance independence. Aira Tech Inc. has committed to working closely
with the National Federation of the Blind as it builds its technology
platform to provide instant access to information. Through the guidance
of Federation leaders, Aira has made it clear that their technology is
not intended to replace the basic skills and techniques that blind people
use to participate fully in all aspect of society. This technology
platform is an excellent opportunity for the Federation to help steer
technology development based on our authentic experience, share our
philosophy, and raise expectations. (For thoughts about the blind and
technology, please review
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/convent/2017/banquet-speech-2017.html">
Innovation, Blindness, and the Emerging Pattern of Thought</a>.) To
assist with this effort, we are establishing a corps of Aira technology
boosters in our Federation affiliates. Each affiliate should appoint an
individual to participate on our booster team. <br>
<br>
What will boosters do?<br><br>
1. Receive information and training
regarding how technologies like Aira fit into the philosophy of the
National Federation of the Blind.<br><br>
2. Coordinate feedback across the
nation so that the Federation continues to guide the development of the
Aira platform in an authentic way.<br><br>
3. Share ideas, tips, tricks, and
information about the Aira platform.<br><br>
4. Advise the President of the
National Federation of the Blind of opportunities to leverage this effort
to build the Federation.<br><br>
<br>
Kevin Worley of Colorado is coordinating the Federation's Aira booster
team. Please share the contact information for your appointed booster
with Kevin as soon as possible. Kevin can be reached at
<a href="mailto:kevanworley@worleyenterprises.com">
kevanworley@worleyenterprises.com</a> or (303) 929-2369.<br>
<br>
<br>
Cardtronics Testing Update:<br>
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cardtronics ATM testing
project, and congratulations to the first ten states to finish their
assigned ATMs: Alaska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Arkansas, Delaware,
Wyoming, Missouri, Indiana, Utah, and Tennessee. The information that
testers gathered is critically important and will help Cardtronics to
proceed with ensuring that its entire fleet of ATMs is fully accessible
to the blind.<br>
Please note that testing is now closed. If there is a tester in your
affiliate who visited an ATM but did not enter his or her findings into
the online questionnaire, please contact Valerie Yingling today. She can
be reached at <a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a> or
(410) 659-9314, extension 2440.<br>
<br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall Conventions</a>
<li>November 1, 2017: <a href="http://nfb.org/scholarships">2018
Scholarship Application</a> period begins
<li>November 6-8, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/dare-be-remarkable-call-presentations">Dare to
Be Remarkable Conference</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
<li>November 15, 2017: <a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">2018
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award competition</a> begins, deadline April 15
<li>January 29, 2018: Great Gathering-In, Washington, District of
Columbia
<li>March 22-23, 2018: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium,
Baltimore, Maryland
</ul> <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>
<b> <br>
<br>
</b>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:7.1.0.9.2.20171016211755.0203d0c0@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:7.1.0.9.2.20171016211755.0203d0c0@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171016211755.0203d0c0@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171016211755.0203d0c0@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>
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