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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>
Spring is in full swing in Baltimore, and we can feel the fresh new start
in the air. We can also feel it in our building where our demolition of
the fourth floor of the Barney Street wing will be complete this week and
construction of the interior space will begin. <br>
<br>
I want to make you aware that the board of directors has recently
approved changes in our code of conduct policy. We will be sending out a
memo to all affiliates about the code and how it applies to the
affiliates. The important thing for you to know is that it is not
necessary for every affiliate to have its own code. Since the national
policy applies to all leaders and members, the board decided to adopt one
single code across the Federation. In early May you will receive a memo
about this change and how to implement it at the local level.<br>
<br>
A few notes below about current happenings. Our scholarship committee is
meeting this weekend, so you can anticipate getting lots of questions
from applicants about the decisions. Keep in mind that you should not
share any news until the official press release comes out from the
national office.<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Blind Parents Podcast:<br>
The <i>Blind Parents Connection Podcast</i> is a component of the Blind
Parent Education Initiative supported by the Gibney Family Foundation and
brought to you by National Federation of the Blind. We just released the
first episode, “Blind Parents Connection Episode 1: Resources,” which
you can access from our
<a href="https://nfb.org/our-community/blind-parents"><u>blind parents
webpage</a></u>. Listen to future episodes by subscribing to the
<i>Nation's Blind Podcast</i> in your podcast client. <br>
<br>
Governor Ridge’s Op-Ed:<br>
Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania, is currently the chairman of
the National Organization on Disability. He wrote
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/17/opinion/disability-budget-cuts-trump.html">
<u>an NY Times op-ed piece</a></u> addressing proposed budget cuts to
programs that affect people with disabilities. <br>
<br>
<br>
Zoom Conference Platform: <br>
A number of you have asked about the Zoom platform for conference calls.
As you know we have moved to using Zoom for teleconferences for the
national organization. We have analyzed whether we might be able to get
better pricing by bundling all affiliates together that want to use Zoom,
but we do not think it will be cost effective for us to manage Zoom
accounts through the national organization. Our experience is that Zoom
is a very accessible and cost-effective way to have a powerful and
reliable tool for conference calls. If it would be helpful to enough
affiliates, we could put together a national informational call for
affiliates, via Zoom of course, to talk about how you might use it for
affiliate business. If this would be helpful, please send an email to
Ross Kirschner at
<a href="mailto:rkischner@nfb.org"><u>rkischner@nfb.org</a></u>.<br>
<br>
<br>
NFB BELL Academy Dates:<br>
One correction to the previously listed NFB BELL Academies:
<ul>
<li>7/22-8/2 Kansas City, MO (not Columbia, MO)
</ul><b> <br>
</b><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li><a name="_Hlk527968851"></a>May 1, 2019:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award">
<u>Distinguished Educator Award</a></u> nomination deadline
<li>June 16-22, 2019: <a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq"><u>NFB
EQ</a></u>, Baltimore, Maryland
<li>July 7-12, 2019: <a href="https://nfb.org/convention/2019"><u>NFB
National Convention</a></u>, Las Vegas, Nevada
<li>February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
</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>
Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
(410) 659-9314 |
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org"><u>
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a></u> <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><br>
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