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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>
There are so many great things happening across the country in the
National Federation of the Blind. Our national priorities are moving at
an increasingly fast pace and a number of our issues are receiving
considerable attention from other organizations this month. Be on the
alert for news regarding the Marrakesh Implementation Act, and see below
regarding victories on fair wages. I again extend my congratulations to
our leadership in the state of Washington for making Seattle the next
equal-pay zone by eliminating the use of exemptions to the standard wage
provisions. <br>
<br>
On our blind-parents front, the Colorado legislature has passed a
right-to-parent bill that Scott LaBarre believes will be the strongest in
the nation. The governor of Colorado needs to sign it for it to be
completely official, but he is expected to do so. I would like to thank
our leadership and members in Colorado for continuing to raise
expectations for the rest of the nation. We are on the brink of having
ten states that have passed versions of our model legislation. How many
more can we get done by the time of the national convention?<br>
<br>
I had a great visit to our Missouri affiliate where a number of
interesting programs are being conducted. In addition to being a leader
in our blind-parents work and our NFB BELL Academy, our affiliate is
mobilizing chapters in fitness-related outreach. I anticipate other
reports from affiliates about innovative ways national and local programs
are being combined to build the Federation.<br>
<br>
My appreciation goes out to James Brown of Tennessee for his service to
our affiliate. James decided not to run for re-election to the
presidency. Congratulations should be extended to the new president of
the NFB of Tennessee, Christina Clift, elected at the affiliate
convention last weekend.<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Deadline for Bolotin Award Nominations:<br>
The deadline is this Thursday, April 15. Go to
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">the Bolotin Award
webpage</a> for more information and send your nominations to
<a href="mailto:Bolotinaward@nfb.org">Bolotinaward@nfb.org</a>.<br>
<br>
Presidential Release:<br>
The
<a href="https://nfb.org/presidential-releases-en/presidential-release-471-april-2018">
April Presidential Release</a> is now available online. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Two Items on Subminimum Wage:<br>
Seattle’s city council unanimously voted last week to ban the practice
of paying the blind and other workers with disabilities less than the
city’s minimum wage.<br>
<br>
Also, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is hosting its annual
advocacy day in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, to advocate
for the passage of the TIME Act (H.R. 1377). As the leading advocacy
group for individuals with Down syndrome and with over 90 percent of its
members affected by Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, NDSS
will bring over three hundred of its members to the Capitol to tell their
members of Congress that now is the TIME to stop the payment of
subminimum wages to people with disabilities. This is a great opportunity
for members of the National Federation of the Blind to schedule follow-up
meetings with their representatives to cosponsor the TIME Act as well.
<br>
<br>
Free Literature:<br>
There are some publications that have been for sale through the
Independence Market, but that are now available free of charge (while
supplies last).
<ul>
<li><i>Jacobus tenBroek: The Man and the Movement,</i> edited by Kenneth
Jernigan, available in Braille (one volume) and print.
<li><i>Walking Alone and Marching Together: A History of the Organized
Blind Movement in the United States, 1940-1990</i>, by Floyd Matson,
available in Braille (eleven volumes) and print.
<li><i>Kenneth Jernigan: The Master, the Mission, the Movement,</i>
edited by Marc Maurer, available in Braille (two volumes) and print.
<li><i>NFB Songbook</i> (1991 edition), available in Braille (one small
volume) and print.
</ul>To request free Braille or print copies of the above books, please
contact the Independence Market by email at
<a href="mailto:independencemarket@nfb.org">independencemarket@nfb.org</a>
or by phone at 410-659-9314, extension 2216. Please note that you will
be asked to cover the cost of shipping the print versions of these
titles; they are not eligible for free matter shipping, because the font
is smaller than fourteen point. <br>
<br>
Podcast:<br>
The March podcast is available at
<a href="https://nfb.org/nations-blind/nations-blind-podcast-episode-24">
https://nfb.org/nations-blind/nations-blind-podcast-episode-24</a><br>
NFB-NEWSLINE:<br>
There are some new additions to the NFB-NEWSLINE list:
<ul>
<li><i>Stone Soup</i>, a literary magazine for children
<li><i>Sports Illustrated Online</i>, covers all major sports
<li><i>Sporting News</i>, referred to as “The Bible of Baseball”
<li><i>Globes Israel</i>, coverage of Israeli business
<li>Science X, a leading web-based science, research and technology news
service
<li>Medical Xpress, a web-based medical and health news service
<li><i>Concord Monitor</i>, the daily newspaper for Concord, New
Hampshire
</ul> <br>
Over the next few months, Scott White will be contacting each of the
state presidents to discuss marketing NFB-NEWSLINE in their state through
the local channel.<br>
<br>
Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots:<br>
Blind voters in Ohio must be able to cast absentee ballots privately and
independently, according to a recent directive from the Ohio Secretary of
State John Husted.<br>
<br>
The directive comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the
Sixth Circuit ruled that a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of
the Blind and three blind voters could go forward. Under the directive,
the state’s local boards of elections must make remote ballot-marking
systems available to voters who are blind or who have other disabilities
in time for the November 2018 election. These systems can be used
alongside Braille or screen reader technology. The ballot can then be
printed and mailed to the local board of elections, just like any other
absentee ballot. <br>
<br>
NFB EQ Application Deadline Approaching:<br>
Please be sure to encourage any blind high school students who may be
interested to apply to attend this year’s NFB EQ program, which will be
held at the NFB Jernigan Institute July 29 through August 4. With
applications closing on May 1, please take some time to reach out soon to
students you know. More information about the program and the application
itself can be found at
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">www.blindscience.org/nfbeq</a>
. <br>
<br>
Distinguished Educator of the Year:<br>
Likewise, the deadline for nominations for the Distinguished Educator of
the Year award is also rapidly nearing. For more information, go to
<a href="https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees">
https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees</a> or directly
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf">
access the nomination form</a>. Please submit all nominations by email to
<a href="mailto:president@nfb-oregon.org">Carla McQuillan</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>April 15, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">2018 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
competition</a>
<li>May 1, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">NFB EQ program
application</a>s
<li>May 1, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees">Distinguished Educator
of the Year nominations</a>
<li>May 31, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="https://convention.nfb.org/">preregistration for 2018 National
Convention</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:7.1.0.9.2.20180410200814.020cd4f0@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:7.1.0.9.2.20180410200814.020cd4f0@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180410200814.020cd4f0@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180410200814.020cd4f0@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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