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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>
The spirit of the holidays is being felt at our national headquarters.
During the past week our staff decorated for the season, making the place
look spectacular—as always. Last Thursday we heldd a dinner for our
partners and supporters that included hot cider, making the fourth floor
smell just like the best of your family holiday dinners. Before our
supporter’s dinner, I and other Federation leaders spent time with some
of our key partners discussing what we might do together in 2018. Those
meetings were taking place as the earthquake centered in Delaware rolled
through the building. Some of you have asked if we were impacted. The
fact that some in the building felt the quake and others were surprised
that it happened is an indication that the quake was only a minor event
in Baltimore. During our dinner Thursday night we showed our thank you
video, which can be found at
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O41xcFDMCZk&feature=youtu.be">
this page</a>. This is a great link for you to share with those in your
local affiliate who have contributed to the work of our organization this
year.<br>
<br>
On Friday and Saturday, the Board of Directors of the National Federation
of the Blind met to review our progress and make plans for the next year.
This jam-packed meeting included the Federation Thanksgiving—a gathering
where our leaders and our staff come together to share food and
fellowship. On Friday, over two hundred letters were shipped out as part
of our partnership with Santa Claus to provide Braille letters from the
jolly old fella. This is only the first shipment of letters—there is
still a little time to get requests in. This partnership might be the
reason that the guy in the red suit left some packages for our young
participants in the Federation Thanksgiving. <br>
<br>
The year is not yet over. We have a lot of work to do before the holidays
come. This includes some advocacy in Washington, DC. Please continue to
keep up on the notes that are coming to you and help to amplify our calls
for action. Those affiliate presidents who registered to come to the
retreat on January 27-28 in Baltimore will receive a survey in the next
twenty-four hours. Please complete this survey before the week is over.
If you do not receive the link, it means that we did not receive notice
that you are coming. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Upcoming
Action:<br>
The Senate passed their version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act early
Saturday morning. The bill will go to conference committee today, and we
will be distributing the list of conference committee members later today
or tomorrow. The Senate version maintains the additional standard
deduction for the blind and the House version does not. The difference
means that this will be one of the items that needs to be resolved in
conference. The National Federation of the Blind remains concerned about
the possibility that the bill could trigger “PAYGO” rules that could
result in dramatic cuts to vocational rehabilitation and IDEA funding.
Read our
<a href="https://nfb.org/organization-says-senate-tax-bill-disastrous-education-employment-blind-americans">
press release</a> from last week to learn more about this item. We will
need to flood the conference committee with our messaging so keep a
lookout for our next legislative alert.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>December Presidential Release: <br>
Presidential Release #467 is now available. You can find it, and all the
Presidential Releases, on
<a href="https://nfb.org/presidential-releases">this page</a> of the NFB
website. President Riccobono records the release each month to share
Federation news with local chapters. Please remind chapter leaders to
share it at chapter meetings.<br>
<br>
Donor Appreciation Video:<br>
We have released a new video to share with our supporters to thank them
for their generosity and let them know what their contributions have
helped us accomplish in 2017. The video is now on our home page and also
on <a href="https://youtu.be/O41xcFDMCZk">YouTube</a>. Please share it
with donors in your state and local area. <br>
<br>
Website Maintenance:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind website will be down for maintenance
starting the evening of Wednesday, December 6, and is expected to be back
online by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 7.<br>
<br>
Updated NFB Connect App:<br>
If you haven’t already, visit the iTunes App Store and download the
updated NFB Connect app. Among other performance improvements and
enhancements, you will now receive notifications when new content is
posted to the <i>Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog</i> and be able to
access our Twitter feed right from the app. You can download the improved
NFB Connect app by copying and pasting this link into Safari on your iOS
device:
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nfb-connect/id968434124?mt=8">
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nfb-connect/id968434124?mt=8</a>. Also,
please give us feedback about the app so that we can continue to make
improvements and add new features.<br>
<br>
DYDIC Screenings:<br>
Thank you to the twenty-one affiliates who have screened the film <i>Do
You Dream in Color</i> in their communities during Meet the Blind Month
and beyond. This film is a powerful way to amplify our messages about the
ability of blind people to live the lives we want, and the importance of
equal educational access and opportunities for blind students. During
October and the early part of November, screenings took place in Alabama,
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. The
reports we have received indicate that many positive discussions with
students, parents, educators, community leaders, and the general public
have been sparked by this film. In addition, we have heard that blind
people have been inspired to pursue their own dreams that push the
boundaries of traditional expectations. To learn more about the film,
visit
<a href="http://www.doyoudreamincolor.com">www.doyoudreamincolor.com</a>
.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2>
<ul>
<li>January 29, 2018: Great Gathering-In
<li>January 28-February 1, 2018:
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a>
<li>March 31, 2018: Deadline for scholarship applications,
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</a>
<li>March 22-23, 2018: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
<li>April 15, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">2018 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
competition</a>
<li>July 3-8, 2018: National Federation of the Blind National Convention,
Orlando, Florida
</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>
<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:7.1.0.9.2.20171204212652.053ac558@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:7.1.0.9.2.20171204212652.053ac558@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171204212652.053ac558@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171204212652.053ac558@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>
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