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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 Federationists,<br>
<br>
Last night I had the opportunity to speak to some of our students who
will be attending the Washington Seminar next week. It was clear from
their enthusiasm that they are ready to help us articulate and achieve
our legislative priorities for 2019. Keep in mind that mentoring these
young folks to understand our organization and to feel they are integral
to the movement should be our top priority. It gave me great hope to
experience the wonderful pool of young leaders you all have cultivated at
the local level. Thank you for all of your work.<br>
<br>
Those traveling to Washington Seminar should be prepared to expect longer
lines than usual at security due to the difficulties of the government
shut down. I do not want anyone to miss their flight because they did not
account for this disruption.<br>
<br>
Safe travels to all, Mark<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Washington Seminar Social Media - #NFBInDC:<br>
Washington Seminar is almost here! Whether or not you will be joining us
in Washington DC, follow our activities on the Hill. This year we have a
new hashtag for social media. In your posts about Washington Seminar,
please use the hashtag #NFBInDC. We are looking forward to seeing your
pictures and hearing about your DC activities on social media.<br>
<br>
Greyhound Secret Shopper Participants:<br>
Congratulations to the states that have participated thus far in the
NFB’s Greyhound secret shopper program: Alabama, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Missouri. We are now halfway
through the secret shopper program, and the data we have gathered has
been critical to monitoring whether Greyhound call center operators are
waiving call center booking fees for blind customers who experience
difficulty booking tickets through Greyhound's website or mobile apps.
For more information on this important program, contact Valerie Yingling
at <a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a> or
<a href="https://nfb.org/legal#Travel">visit the NFB's legal program
webpage</a>. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders:</b></h2><br><br>
National Convention Hotel Block is Open:<br>
We are excited to be hosting our convention at the beautiful Mandalay Bay
Resort and Casino. As is the case every year, we have once again arranged
for exceptional room rates. Unlike in years past, the same enviable rate
of $99 per night applies to singles and doubles as well as triples and
quads. Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent,
respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived for
NFB convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and
toll-free calls, and fitness center access may apply. <br>
<br>
To make reservations for the 2019 convention, you can call the hotel at
877-632-9001. The hotel will take a deposit of the first night’s room
rate for each room and will require a credit card or a personal check. If
you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card
immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, half of
the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>January 28, 2019: Great Gathering-In;
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a>
begins, Washington, DC
<li>March 28-29, 2019: <a href="https://nfb.org/law-symposium">Jacobus
tenBroek Law Symposium</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
</ul><br>
<h2><b><a name="_Hlk527968851"></a>
· March 31, 2019:
<a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships">NFB scholarship application</a>
deadline</b></h2><a name="_Hlk527968851"></a><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>· April 15, 2019:
<a href="https://nfb.org/programs/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards">Dr. Jacob
Bolotin Award</a> application deadline </b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>June 16-22, 2019: <a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">NFB
EQ</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
<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>
<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>
<br>
<br>
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