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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>
Although it is cold outside, I can distinctly feel the bright shining sun
coming through the front windows of the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute as I write to you today. It is something like twelve
degrees outside, which is warmer than in other parts of the country. Yet
the warm sun contributes to the hope and opportunity that I feel as we
begin the new year of our movement.<br>
<br>
We plan to tackle a number of big things this year. Your help in that
effort is essential to our success. Communication is always critical in
our work. I encourage you to continue to use this notebook as a guide in
focusing on the top national issues of the week. I also invite you to
share your ideas for what I can do to more effectively help you manage
your work as leaders of our organization.<br>
<br>
This year we are planning to undertake some new program development,
spark a new fundraising initiative, and begin designing and remodeling
the next-generation space at our national headquarters. All of this will
be in addition to the work we are doing every day to raise expectations
and build a stronger organization. Later this week I will make our
January Presidential Release where I will discuss some of the priorities
for this year from my perspective. At our gathering at the end of the
month, I anticipate learning about what is happening at the local level
and how to help you transform your dreams into reality.<br>
<br>
Best wishes for a prosperous 2018 in the Federation Family.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Alert: <br>
If you learn of any instances of previous NFB scholarship applicants
being called and asked for personal information by an individual claiming
to be the President of the Federation, please report them to me with all
relevant information that you have about the situation. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Ban of Blind People on Mt. Everest: <br>
A number of Federation members have reached out regarding reports
circulating in the news about the ban on blind people climbing Mt.
Everest. This notebook is going out prior to our official statement on
this matter, but you can be confident that we will be speaking out
against this arbitrary application of low expectations. You will be able
to read our official statement later today or early tomorrow.<br>
<br>
Braille Certification Training Program: <br>
We are pleased to inform you that the National Federation of the Blind
has been awarded the contract from the Library of Congress, National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, to conduct the
courses leading to Library of Congress certification in Braille
transcribing and proofreading. Our previous contract expired in July
2017, and we regrettably had to put our work on hold until the new
contract was awarded. We have been actively participating in the
competitive bid process for the past six months, and we are pleased to
have been chosen to administer the program once again. We would greatly
appreciate your patience while we work as quickly as possible through the
backlog that has accumulated. For more information about the program,
please visit:
<a href="https://nfb.org/braille-certification">
https://nfb.org/braille-certification</a>.<br>
<br>
Tours of the NFB Jernigan Institute: <br>
We have decided not to offer formal tours of our national headquarters
during Washington Seminar this year. Demand for tours has not been
significant during the past few years probably due to many more people
visiting our national office for other meetings. We are likely to offer
tours during the 2019 seminar. <br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<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: <a href="https://nfb.org/law-symposium">Jacobus
tenBroek Disability Law Symposium</a>
<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: <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">National
Federation of the Blind National Convention</a>, 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>
<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:7.1.0.9.2.20180102191715.020195d0@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:7.1.0.9.2.20180102191715.020195d0@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180102191715.020195d0@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180102191715.020195d0@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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