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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>
In one week we will be in the midst of the Washington Seminar. Please
remember to review our Washington Seminar page to get any information you
need about our work together in Washington, DC. I urge you to help
promote our career fair among blind people in our network. This is a
great opportunity for our members to get connected with jobs from a
variety of employers.<br>
<br>
Travel safe to Baltimore and Washington, DC, and here's to a great week
on Capitol Hill.<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Career Fair at Washington Seminar:<br>
Monday, February 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.<br>
Whether you'd like to transition into a meaningful career, you're a
student looking for your first job out of college, or you're an
experienced professional seeking advancement, stop by this career
fair.<br><br>
Please arrive prepared for a job interview:
<ul>
<li>Business attire highly recommended
<li>Polished résumé in electronic and paper formats
<li>Plan to participate in a prep call to learn what employers are
looking for. The call will be February 3 at 9:00 p.m. eastern. Register
to attend to get call information.
</ul><br>
We strongly encourage everyone to register online ahead of time. Please
fill out the
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=16059&qid=3300606">
career fair job-seeker registration form</a>. If you have any questions,
please contact Shawn Callaway at
<a href="mailto:callaway.shawn@gmail.com">callaway.shawn@gmail.com</a> or
202-352-1511.<br><br>
<h3><b>Note: You do not need to be attending the Washington Seminar to
attend the career fair.</b></h3><br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Scholarship Program Questionnaire:<br>
Each state president will soon receive a brief questionnaire regarding
the ways your state is promoting the national scholarship program. This
questionnaire will give the Scholarship Committee information about how
students across the country are being made aware of the scholarship
opportunity and will hopefully give your state some new ideas about
things you could try to spread the word. This brief survey may be
completed either by the state president or by the state scholarship
coordinator, if you have one. We would like to have the questionnaires
back by February 15 so we can look at the data and use it to help us
complete our final promotional push in March. Additionally, each member
of the scholarship committee will be assigned a state or multiple states
to follow up with regarding the information gathered in this
questionnaire. These committee members will reach out to you after
Washington Seminar to support your outreach efforts. <br><br>
<h3><b> </b></h3><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>National Convention 2020—First Timer’s Guide:</b></h3><br><br>
Each year one-third of attendees come to the NFB National Convention for
the first time, and some may not know what to expect. It is recommended
for each first timer to
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates">connect with
their local chapter and affiliate</a> prior to convention as well as
review the <i>First Timer’s Guide</i>. It covers the function of
convention; crucial elements of the agenda, exhibits, resolutions,
registration and banquet ticket purchase; and the many other aspects of
convention. Share the
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide">
<i>First Timer’s Guide</a></i>. <br><br>
<h3><b> </b></h3><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>Continue Submitting Uber and Lyft Experiences:</b></h3><br><br>
In an effort to resolve allegations of Uber and Lyft driver
discrimination against passengers with service animals, the National
Federation of the Blind continues to monitor rideshare experiences. If
you are an Uber or Lyft customer who has a service animal or travels with
someone who has a service animal, please complete the
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/uber-and-lyft-survey/uber-and-lyft-information">
Uber and Lyft survey</a> as often as you can.
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/uber-and-lyft-survey/uber-and-lyft-information">
Learn more about the survey and settlement</a>.<br><br>
<h3><b> </b></h3><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>Call for Presentations—Nonvisual Access Conference: The National
Federation of the Blind is seeking presentation proposals for the
Teaching Access Technology Using Structured Discovery Techniques seminar
that will be held at the Nonvisual Access Conference on April 14, 2020.
Share your expertise with other trainers! Presentation topics may include
training techniques, self-guided learning, theory of technology
education, and any additional relevant topics. Presentation may be thirty
to sixty minutes.
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference">
Learn more about the Nonvisual Access Conference.</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
Career Opportunities at the National Office:<br><br>
The National Federation of the Blind is seeking flexible, hard-working
individuals who will work with us to ensure independence and equality for
all blind Americans. Currently, we have the following openings: Archivist
and Research Specialist, Braille Proofing and Production Specialist, and
Facilities Maintenance and Event Staff.
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities">Learn more
about our career opportunities</a>. <br>
<br><br>
</b></h3><h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><h3><b><br><br>
<ul>
<li>February 10: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
<li>February 11: Career Fair at Washington Seminar
<li>March 26-27: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, Baltimore,
Maryland
<li>March 31: Deadline for
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program">
scholarship applications</a>
<li>April 14-17: <a href="http://www.blindmerchants.org">NABM BLAST</a>,
Chicago, Illinois
<li><a name="_Hlk31291201"></a>April 14-16:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference">
Nonvisual Access Conference</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
<li>June 21-27:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq">
NFB EQ</a>; St. Paul, Minnesota
<li>July 14-19: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
</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>
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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