[NFB-Krafters-Korner] OT: [NFB-Division-Leaders] National Federation of the Blind COVID-19 Policy Relating to Public Events

[Tammy Freitag]

For your information, I am sharing the following.  Updates as I
receive them.  Stay safe during this Virus scare!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "President, National Federation of the Blind"
<OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 21:07:33 +0000
Subject: [NFB-Division-Leaders] National Federation of the Blind
COVID-19 Policy Relating to Public Events
To: "President, National Federation of the Blind" <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>

Dear Colleagues,
Please give immediate attention to the below policy directive from the
Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind related to
the immediate postponement of public meetings of the organization. In
addition to this statement, you can hear an emergency Presidential
Release related to this matter at
https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-covid-19-policy-relating-public-events.

National Federation of the Blind COVID-19 Policy Relating to Public Events

The National Federation of the Blind is closely following the rapidly
evolving situation with respect to the novel coronavirus and its
associated illness known as COVID-19. Since we issued our initial
guidance on this situation on March 11, public officials across the
nation have escalated their response to the virus and issued new and
more aggressive directives. Generally, while specific directives as to
the size of permitted public gatherings vary across states and local
jurisdictions, public health officials agree that it is advisable to
engage in "social distancing" in order to prevent or mitigate the
spread of the virus, and people are being directed to minimize
proximity and/or physical contact with others outside the home as much
as possible. As a result, the National Federation of the Blind Board
of Directors met on March 13 and developed this policy directive
related to public meetings of the organization.
The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest
nationwide organization of blind people, with affiliates in all fifty
states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; hundreds of local
chapters; as well as statewide and national special-interest
divisions. Together these are comprised of some fifty thousand members
and countless volunteers and supporters who conduct various public
meetings and events. The health and safety of our members and friends
is our top priority, and we are also mindful of our obligation to
follow public health directives and to engage responsibly with the
general public. We also recognize the need for consistent guidance
across our organization as our affiliates, chapters, and divisions
consider or plan meetings and public events.
To that end, the President and Board of Directors of the National
Federation of the Blind hereby direct that all meetings, events, or
public gatherings that are currently planned by affiliates, chapters,
and divisions to take place within thirty days from today, March 13,
2020, are to be canceled or postponed until sometime after April 12,
2020. This includes, but is not limited to, statewide conventions or
meetings, local chapter meetings, and statewide or local division
meetings. Of course, where practicable, meetings to conduct the
ongoing business of the Federation may be held via phone call or
videoconference. Furthermore, the outreach and advocacy priorities of
the organized blind movement can and should continue despite the
disruption to public meetings, including monitoring unique barriers
that blind individuals encounter due to the extreme circumstances.
However, no official business of the organization should be conducted
via in-person gatherings during this period. The national leadership
will re-evaluate the situation on or shortly after April 12, 2020, and
issue additional guidance if needed.
We are issuing this directive to align with the best available public
health advice as well as with multiple state and local directives, and
to carry out our general obligation to protect the health and safety
of everyone in our Federation family. We wish everyone the best as
together we meet the challenges and make the sacrifices required by
this public health emergency.

Mark A. Riccobono, President
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314 |
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>


[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>

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-- 
Tammy Freitag, President
NFB Krafters' Division
H: 402-904-5105