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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>
Fellow Federationists:<br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind continues to be in the news and on
the move, and it is all fueled by your leadership at the affiliate level.
Let me start this notebook by thanking Charlene Smith of West Virginia
and Joy Breslauer of Montana who have both transitioned the affiliate
presidency to new affiliate presidents: Sheri Koch and Jim Marx
respectively. I appreciate the service of these two women and their
commitment to the successful transition of leadership in our affiliates.
Please be sure to welcome our new presidents to the state affiliate
leadership listserv.<br>
<br>
We had a great night celebrating the National Federation of the Blind at
Orioles Park at Camden Yards last week. We have included some of the
great national coverage we received. I know some of you participated in
the online auction of the Braille jerseys. We are now hoping to get the
other Major League Baseball teams to participate in something similar in
2019—I am particullarly hoping for the future world champion Milwaukee
Brewers.<br>
<br>
While there is much news this week, it is important that we take a moment
to celebrate getting the Marrakesh Implementation Act through the House
of Representatives on unanimous consent. While the president of the
United States still has to sign the bill and the State Department still
needs to send the instrument of ratification to the World Intellectual
Property Organization, the heaviest of the lifting has been done. It is
thanks to the tremendous team of local advocates and skilled leaders like
Scott LaBarre, the visionary leadership of our Immediate Past President
Marc Maurer, and the tactical moves of our staff, especially John Pare
and Gabe Cazares, along with a supporting cast of many that made this
possible. Congratulations and thank you to each of you for your
dedication and persistence.<br>
<br>
One reason I am sending this today is that I am out much of next week
visiting technology companies in Israel. The impact of the Federation is
felt globally, and our relationships with companies and organizations
around the world is part of what helps us be effective in our activities
within the United States. <br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Marrakesh Treaty Update:<br>
<a name="_Hlk525894516"></a>After almost a decade of negotiations,
drafting, and advocacy, the Marrakesh Treaty is closer than ever before
to becoming a reality in the United States. On Tuesday September 25,
2018, at 7:19 p.m. EST, the US House of Representatives unanimously
passed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559). The bill will
now go to the president for his signature. This is a major victory for
the members of the National Federation of the Blind; because of our hard
work, soon blind people all across the globe will enjoy a vast collection
of accessible materials. Special thanks to Scott LaBarre who has been
serving as the principal negotiator on the Federation’s behalf for all
of these years. Read our press release about this tremendous development
at
<a href="https://nfb.org/us-house-representatives-passes-marrakesh-treaty-implementation-act">
https://nfb.org/us-house-representatives-passes-marrakesh-treaty-implementation-act</a>
.<br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind Night at Camden Yards:<br>
The Orioles organization dedicated the September 18 game to the National
Federation of the Blind in honor of our forty-year anniversary in
Baltimore. Our members passed out Braille alphabet cards and the Orioles
player and coach jerseys had the names in Braille. One of those shirts
will be sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the rest were auctioned
off, with the proceeds coming to our national office. I was honored to
throw out the first pitch. You can read some of the press coverage of the
evening in the links below.<br>
WJZ, Baltimore CBS affiliate:
<a href="https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2018/09/19/orioles-braille-jerseys-national-federation-of-the-blind/">
https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2018/09/19/orioles-braille-jerseys-national-federation-of-the-blind/</a>
<br>
<i>Washington Post</i>:
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2018/09/19/orioles-become-first-u-s-pro-team-to-incorporate-braille-on-uniforms/?utm_term=.d17a64087c3c">
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2018/09/19/orioles-become-first-u-s-pro-team-to-incorporate-braille-on-uniforms/?utm_term=.d17a64087c3c</a>
<br>
<i>People</i> magazine online:
<a href="https://people.com/sports/orioles-braille-jerseys-first-pro-sports-team/">
https://people.com/sports/orioles-braille-jerseys-first-pro-sports-team/</a>
<br>
<br>
Last Chance to Register for the Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers
Symposium:<br>
Registration for the Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium
will close on October 7. Parents of blind and low-vision children,
teachers (both K-12 and post-secondary), and disability support services
staff should not miss this exciting opportunity to learn about
innovations in the production of tactile graphics (both high-tech and
low-tech), the use of tactile graphics in the classroom, how to teach
tactile literacy, what constitutes good design, and more! The Tactile
Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium will take place October
11-12, 2018, at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute.
For more information, to view the agenda, and to register, please go to
the
<a href="https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium">
Tactile Graphics Symposium webpage.</a> <br>
<br>
Meet the Blind Month: <br>
Meet the Blind Month is almost here. We have updated our related
webpages: <br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/meet-blind-month">
https://nfb.org/meet-blind-month</a><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/white-cane-awareness-day" eudora="autourl">
https://nfb.org/white-cane-awareness-day</a><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/free-cane-program">
https://nfb.org/free-cane-program</a> <br>
Continue to email information about events you have planned to
<a href="mailto:kanderson@nfb.org">kanderson@nfb.org</a> or share them
with us via social media, and we’ll add them to the
<a href="https://nfb.org/meet-blind-month">website</a>. You may use the
updated <a href="http://www.nfb.org/wcad">www.nfb.org/wcad</a> URL in
local communications if you wish. <br>
<br>
Braille Readers Are Leaders:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, in partnership with the
NFB Jernigan Institute and the American Action Fund for Blind Children
and Adults, again announces the annual nationwide Braille Readers Are
Leaders (BRAL) contest for kids. Students must be K-12 and must reside in
a state registered for the contest. Entrants compete to read the most
Braille pages, going against other students in similar grades across all
participating states. The contest runs for seven weeks, encouraging
students to be proud of their Braille reading ability and to work to
improve their Braille skills—while possibly winning prizes iin the
process. <br>
<br>
If you have questions, email the contest administrator, Deborah Stein, at
<a href="mailto:dkent5817@att.net">dkent5817@att.net</a> (please put
“Nationwide BRAL Question” in the subject line) or phone 773-203-1394
<br>
<br>
Terri Rupp Article:<br>
In case you haven’t seen the article yet, Terri Rupp was featured in
<i>Good Housekeeping</i> magazine:
<a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a23132554/terri-rupp-blindness-optic-nerve-atrophy/">
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a23132554/terri-rupp-blindness-optic-nerve-atrophy/</a>
<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><a name="_Hlk523813585"></a>
· 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>January 28, 2019: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
<li>March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
<li>July 7-12, 2019: <a href="https://nfb.org/convention/2019">NFB
National Convention</a>, 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>
<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>
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<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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