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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>
It is back-to-school day in Baltimore. Although we still have a few weeks
until fall officially hits us, we are clearly now in the fall convention
season. We are making lots of plans for building the Federation through
our affiliate conventions this fall. As new ideas are developed in your
affiliates, please share your innovative approaches with other affiliate
leaders. I also welcome your feedback on ways that we can better support
your affiliate from the national organization.<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Critical:</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Closed Thursday and Friday:<br>
<a name="_Hlk523843903"></a>We will be closed Thursday and Friday this
week for staff development. </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
ATAA and Marrakesh Treaty Update:<br>
With regard to ATAA, we are up to eighty cosponsors in the House and
twelve in the Senate. The NFB of Illinois has done an exceptional job as
we recently gained Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Peter
Roskam as cosponsors. Congressman Roskam is particularly important
because he is the former chair of the Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Tax Policy. Also, we know that the Joint Committee on
Taxation is working to score the bill. A relatively low score is pivotal
to moving this bill forward. We need more cosponsors in both the House
and the Senate, especially House members on the Ways and Means Committee.
<br>
<br>
With regard to the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, we specifically
need to urge House Judiciary Committee members to move swiftly to place
S. 2559 on the suspension calendar. If your representative is a member of
the House Judiciary Committee, please urge them to express their support
for the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act to the committee chairman.
<br>
<br>
These two issues are our critical focus for the remainder of this session
of Congress. The Advocacy and Policy team will be distributing more
detailed information next week.<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
2019 National Convention Website:<br>
It's not too early to start planning for the 2019 National Convention.
Visit
<a href="https://nfb.org/convention/2019">
https://nfb.org/convention/2019</a> for updates and details.<br>
<br>
Rice Krispies Treats:<br>
Beyond anyone's expectations, the initial supply of Rice Krispies Treats
audio boxes and Braille stickers was depleted in less than three weeks!
There are no more available at this time. If you would like to encourage
Kellogg’s to order more, please call Kellogg’s Consumer Affairs at
800-962-1413. You can also send an email through the
<a href="https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/contact-us.html">Rice
Krispies Contact Us page</a>.<br>
<br>
American Action Fund 2019 Braille Calendar:<br>
The 2019 calendar is now available. Calendars can also be ordered online
at
<a href="https://actionfund.org/braillecalendar">
https://actionfund.org/braillecalendar</a> or by sending an email to
<a href="mailto:calendars@actionfund.org">calendars@actionfund.org</a>
.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders:</b></h2><br><br>
<a name="_Hlk523843924"></a>State Convention Aira Site Access:<br>
<a name="_Hlk523835303"></a>If you are holding your state convention this
fall, you will have received an email regarding free Aira site access,
exclusively for NFB state conventions, for the convention attendees.
Please be sure to include information about this free service in your
convention materials. <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>October 11-12, 2018: Tactile Graphics Symposium
</ul><br>
<h2><b>· November 1,
2018: NFB scholarship application period begins</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>· November 15,
2018: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application period begins</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
<li>July 7-12, 2019: NFB National Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
</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, 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="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" width=210 height=76 alt="National Federation of the Blind">
</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" 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>
<br>
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