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<h1><b>Presidents 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>
Spring is going to arrive this week and with it comes all of the
anticipation of our national convention, our dynamic summer programs, and
the many innovative things our chapters are taking on. In case you have
been under a rock, the University of Maryland Baltimore County made
history as a number sixteen seed in the NCAA tournament, knocking off the
number one seeded team from Virginia—not to pick on any particular
affiliate. Speaking of an underdog achieving great things against
seemingly insurmountable odds, this happened the same week that we got
the Marrakesh Implementation Act to drop in the United States Senate (S.
2559). Both are examples of hard work, great preparation, dogged
determination, and taking full advantage of opportunities when they come.
There have been many times when the National Federation of the Blind is
thought to be the underdog, but this does not bother us. We continue to
move forward despite the critics. It is now time for us to prepare to get
Marrakesh passed in time to celebrate at our 2018 National
Convention.<br>
<br>
I want to remind you about the pending deadline for the Jacob Bolotin
Awards. I am certain you have been thinking about the innovative
projects, individuals, and organizations that are out there creating new
opportunities for the blind. Now is the time to put the ideas in writing
so we have plenty of nominations for our committee to consider next
month. The deadline is April 15—note that you can do your Bolotin
nominations and still have a couple of days to file your taxes since
they’re not due until April 17 this year. (But please do not wait until
the last minute on your nominations or your taxes.) It would be great if
we could get a nomination from every affiliate. It would make the
committee’s work really difficultbut since Federationists are used to
doing hard work, do not let that hold you back from sending in all of
your nominations.<br>
<br>
I wish to acknowledge the tremendous work of Joy Harris who stepped down
as president of the National Federation of the Blind of Alabama during
the affiliate convention last weekend. Joy has been a longtime leader and
her accomplishments are well documented in our organization. Joy is now
working on assisting our new president, Barbara Manuel, in getting up to
speed at the helm of our Alabama affiliate. Congratulations to Joy and to
Barbara. Please welcome Barbara to our affiliate leadership list and be
prepared to answer the questions that each of us have had as new
affiliate presidents.<br>
It is an extremely busy time here at the national office: we just
completed a weekend of meetings and we are getting ready to host our
annual tenBroek symposium, as well as other related meetings. We are also
looking forward to our Greater Philadelphia chapter visiting on Saturday.
I am hoping to take a couple of days off with the family during spring
break next week before heading full speed into the national convention
planning rush. Consequently, there will not be a notebook next week.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Scholarship deadline:<br>
The deadline to submit scholarship applications is March 31. Please
ensure that the students in your state have submitted all their forms by
then. Hopefully all the affiliate presidents will be finished with their
recommendation letters soon after that.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>Marrakesh Treaty Legislation Introduced:<br>
Senator Charles E. “Chuck” Grassley (R-IA) and Senators Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have
introduced the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, S. 2559. The entire
press release can be found at
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-legislation-implementing-marrakesh-treaty">
https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-legislation-implementing-marrakesh-treaty</a>
. <br>
<br>
Positions Open:<br>
We have three positions open at the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute: <a href="https://nfb.org/web-content-coordinator">web
content coordinator</a>,
<a href="https://nfb.org/social_media_coordinator">social media and
project coordinator</a>, and
<a href="https://nfb.org/logisticsassistant">facilities
maintenance/custodian</a>.<br>
<br>
2017-2018 Nationwide Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest:<br>
The competition was sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind of
Illinois in partnership with the National Association to Promote the Use
of Braille (NAPUB), which is an NFB division. Eighty-one students from
twelve states took part in the contest. The list of winners can be found
at
<a href="https://nfb.org/blind-students-win-braille-reading-contest">
https://nfb.org/blind-students-win-braille-reading-contest</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>National Convention:</b></h2>2018 National Convention Exhibit Hall
Affiliate and Division Registration:<br>
Now is the time to fill out the
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-convention-exhibitor-application">
registration form to reserve your state affiliate or division’s spot in
the 2018 National Convention Exhibit Hall</a>! Just select “NFB
Affiliate Exhibitor” as your exhibitor type. Last year our applications
exceeded capacity and we had to turn some people away, so please be sure
to register before the May 31 deadline. Contact Anna Adler at
<a href="mailto:aadler@nfb.org">aadler@nfb.org</a> or (410) 659-9314,
extension 2282, if you have any questions.<br>
<br>
Complete information about sponsoring and exhibiting, including the
exhibit hall dates and times is
<a href="https://nfb.org/sponsor-and-exhibitor-info">available
online</a>. If you know any vendors or service providers who may be
interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the national convention, please
encourage them to check us out and share the convention information with
them. <a href="mailto:aadler@nfb.org">Let Anna know</a> if she should
reach out or can help with follow up. Thank youwee’re looking forward
to another great convention!<br>
<br>
Other Important Links:<br>
- General Convention Info Page:
<a href="https://nfb.org/convention">https://nfb.org/convention</a><br>
- Exhibitor Application:
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-convention-exhibitor-application">
https://nfb.org/national-convention-exhibitor-application</a><br>
- Sponsor Application:
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-convention-sponsor-application">
https://nfb.org/national-convention-sponsor-application</a><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2>
<ul>
<li>March 22-23, 2018: <a href="https://nfb.org/law-symposium">Jacobus
tenBroek Disability Law Symposium</a>
<li>March 31, 2018: Deadline for scholarship applications,
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</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
<li>July 29-August 4, 2018:
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">NFB EQ</a>
</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:7.1.0.9.2.20180319200135.0204c770@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:7.1.0.9.2.20180319200135.0204c770@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180319200135.0204c770@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180319200135.0204c770@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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