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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>
As Hurricane Michael makes land fall, we are keeping in mind all of the
people living in the Panhandle of Florida and hoping that the storm does
not cause too much damage. As we learn about the potential impact to our
members, we will let you know if assistance is needed.<br>
<br>
You have previously received information about our partnership with Lyft
to assist people in getting to the polls on Election Day. It has taken
some time to get data from Lyft about how this partnership will work. The
time is now for you to plan and act if you want your affiliate to take
advantage of this partnership. If you wish to have your affiliate
included in the Lyft-NFB Election Day partnership you need to do the
following by October 19, 2018:<br>
<br>
* Make a plan for how your affiliate would use a small number of
promotional codes to assist blind people who need extra support to get to
the polls using Lyft on Election Day. The key here is using these to
benefit blind people who must need the support. If you simply use these
to reward blind people who would have already been going to the polls and
who have easy access to their polling location, you have missed the
opportunity to expand our reach and fulfill the intent of this
partnership.<br>
<br>
* Be prepared to promote the project in social media.<br>
<br>
* Be prepared to report back to the national office regarding the
outcomes of the program on Election Day, including sharing any stories
about the impact.<br>
<br>
* Send an email to Julie McGinnity, NFB program assistant, at
<a href="mailto:jmcginnity@nfb.org">jmcginnity@nfb.org</a> stating that
your affiliate wishes to opt in, who will be managing the codes on behalf
of the affiliate, and giving a brief description of your plan and how it
will benefit blind people who do not have easy access to the polls.
Please include how many codes you believe you could use with your plan,
assuming that each promotional code might be valued at up to $15.<br>
<br>
If your email is not received by 5:00 p.m. eastern on Friday, October 19,
2018, we will assume your affiliate has no interest in participating and
we will not include you in the Election Day program.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Marrakesh Treaty:<br>
President Trump signed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act into law
earlier today. The Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, S. 2559, provides
for the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to
Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise
Print Disabled. We are now communicating with the Department of State to
determine when the treaty instrument will be signed and delivered to the
World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. <br>
<br>
PSAs:<br>
We have produced seven new public service announcements for airplay on
radio stations across the country, including two in Spanish. You can hear
them at <a href="http://nfb.org/psas">nfb.org/psas</a>. Watch for an
email from Chris Danielsen about how you can help ensure that these spots
are played on radio stations in your community.<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:
<a href="https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium">
Tactile Graphics Symposium</a>
</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>
<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>
<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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