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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 Presidents,<br>
<br>
What an incredible job done by all of you in advancing our legislative
agenda last week. Congratulations to the team. We demonstrated that we
stand together, we will not back down, and we move things forward. <br>
<br>
I have said it many times, but especially today I want to extend my
personal thank you for the tremendous leadership you provide as a
president of one of our state affiliates or national divisions. Your
volunteer commitment of time, energy, love, and leadership makes a
difference in the world. This morning on my walk into the office, I was
listening to a little Eric Clapton, specifically the song “Change the
World.” You all exhibit what a group of people can do together when
they commit their hearts and minds to a common mission better than any
other group I can think of.<br>
<br>
I am still sorting through the notes you all left during our seminar, and
we will be following up. I welcome further feedback and ideas all of you
have about how we continue to build our leaders. <br>
<br>
Many of you have affiliate conventions, leadership training, and other
significant affiliate projects coming up this spring. I wish you all the
best in those programs and hope that you put the learning gleaned at our
retreat into practice at those gatherings. The sooner you activate on new
information, the stronger it becomes in your practice.<br>
<br>
Thank you all for your work in our movement but most importantly for your
true friendship in our Federation family. I anticipate our next
opportunity to gather together.<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Washington Seminar Update:<br>
Thanks to all of our members who participated in this year’s Washington
Seminar. Here are some of the highlights:
<ul>
<li>Representative Bobby Scott, chair of the House Education and Labor
Committee, spoke at our Great Gathering-In. He pledged his commitment to
the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act and to our other
educational initiatives.
<li>Representative Steny Hoyer, the House Majority Leader; Representative
Mike Thompson, the chair of the Tax Policy Subcommittee; Representative
John Sarbanes; Senator Ben Cardin; and Senator Bob Casey all spoke at our
Congressional Reception. We also had a substantial increase in the number
of cosponsors for each of our bills. In the House, the Access Technology
Affordability Act went from forty-nine to sixty-three cosponsors. And in
the Senate, it went from fifteen to seventeen cosponsors. The GAIN Act
went from four to thirteen cosponsors. Finally, AIM HIGH went from four
to twelve cosponsors in the House.
</ul>If your representative or senators have not yet cosponsored our
legislation, please urge them to do so. <br>
<br>
<br>
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award:<br>
The deadline to submit applications for the Distinguished Educator of
Blind Students award is May 1, 2020. More information can be found on the
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award">
website</a>. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>March 26-27:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/jacobus-tenbroek-disability-law-symposium">
Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium</a>, 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 15: <a href="https://www.nfb.org/bolotin">Dr. Jacob Bolotin
Award</a> application deadline
<li>May 1:
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award">
Distinguished Educator Award</a> nomination deadline
<li>April 14-17: <a href="http://www.blindmerchants.org">NABM BLAST</a>,
Chicago, Illinois
<li>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: <a href="https://www.nfb.org/convention">NFB National
Convention</a>, 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>
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<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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