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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>
<br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
It is June and that means we are in the final month of planning for our
national convention. I am feeling the excitement of the convention
anticipation. There will be a lot of information about the convention
coming your way, so please read your convention-related emails closely. A
reminder to our first-time delegates that we have a call on Wednesday
evening to help with your convention preparation.<br>
<br>
The final Presidential Release before the convention should be coming out
early tomorrow. <br>
<br>
During our calls with chapter presidents we are finding that a number of
our chapter presidents are not aware of our listserv specifically for
chapter presidents. When you have a new president in one of your
chapters, please be sure to ask David Andrews,
<a href="mailto:david.andrews@nfbnet.org">david.andrews@nfbnet.org</a>,
to add them to the listserv and to remove the previous president. This is
a good way to get new presidents plugged into a leadership community
quickly, and to help them find answers to their questions.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Annual Report:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/annual-report-and-financials/2018-annual-report">
2018 Annual Report</a> is available for review. The annual report
reflects highlights of several programs, stories from members, and the
audited financial statements. <br>
<br><br>
Scholarship Breakfast:<br>
Thank you to those states that have already contributed to fund the 2019
scholarship breakfast. If your state has not yet donated, there is still
need for your support. The breakfast is the only opportunity the
scholarship finalists have to meet and talk with the entire committee in
an informal setting without prepared remarks or microphones. As such, it
is a critical event in the week-long scholarship experience and gives the
committee some of their best opportunities to come to know each finalist,
and for the finalists to come to know the committee and the Federation.
<br><br>
Please make your contributions payable to the NFB of Colorado and mail
them to Lisa Bonderson / LaBarre Law Offices, P.C. / 1660 S Albion, Suite
918 / Denver, CO 80222.<br>
The scholarship committee would appreciate receiving all funds by June
15. <br>
<br>
<br>
Legislative Update:<br>
Congress is back in session this week and will continue to work up to the
Independence Day holiday. Before we gather in Las Vegas for our national
convention, it is critical that members of Congress hear from us
regarding the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (H.R. 873 and
S. 260.) Please call your representative and senators and ask them to
cosponsor H.R. 873 or S. 260. Currently we have forty-one cosponsors in
the House and six in the Senate. You can contact the offices in question
by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. If you send an email,
please copy <a href="mailto:gcazares@nfb.org">Gabe Cazares</a> in your
correspondence.<br>
<br>
<br>
Lyft at Convention:<br>
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Lyft to hold an
autonomous vehicle demonstration at national convention. A select number
of attendees will have the opportunity to ride in the Lyft vehicles and
provide important feedback on the technology. Participants will be
randomly selected from our list of preregistered attendees. However, the
opportunity for riding in Lyft’s autonomous vehicles is still available
for people in Las Vegas. If attendees use Lyft during their time in Las
Vegas, they can check the option on the app to participate in the
autonomous vehicle rideshare service. Please note: not all Las Vegas Lyft
cars are autonomous vehicles. <br>
<br>
<br>
NFB Camp Registration:<br>
The deadline for NFB camp registration is June 15. The registration is at
<a href="https://nfb.org/nfb-camp-registration-form">
https://nfb.org/nfb-camp-registration-form</a>. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>June 16-22, 2019:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science">
NFB EQ</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
<li>June 25, 2019:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/accessibility-boutiques">
Accessibility Boutique - Nonvisual Accessibility of G-Suite Products</a>,
Baltimore, Maryland
<li>July 7-12, 2019:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention">NFB
National Convention</a>, 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>
<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><br>
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