[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 07/19/2021

Tue Jul 20 03:50:28 UTC 2021

Please watch the video at the very bottom.  All the way at the bottom.
Thank you!

Dear Federation Family,

Thank you for making our 2021 National Convention an outstanding success. I
was inspired by the commitment and work of this leadership group that made
the convention a success. I hope you came away with the same feeling.

We have a lot of work to do. As our chapters and affiliates come into
in-person gatherings throughout the rest of the year, we need to continue
to find innovative ways to build membership and strengthen our advocacy
programs.  Membership is the heartbeat of our transformation.
Congratulations to these states for making the top ten in new members
between the 2020 Convention and May 31, 2021:

   1. Georgia: 139
   2. Texas: 116
   3. North Carolina: 60
   4. Pennsylvania: 57
   5. New Jersey: 56
   6. Colorado: 40
   7. Maryland: 32
   8. California: 28
   9. Arkansas: 23
   10. Indiana: 23

Please email membership at nfb.org with the name and contact information of
your affiliate membership coordinator, if we do not have it already. If you
do not know if we have it, send it along.

I enjoyed meeting with many of you during the convention. I remind you that
I am eager to work with you throughout the year and to hear your concerns,
ideas, and priorities. I hope to hear from you soon.

*Critical Actions:*

*NFB21 Convention Highlights and Congratulations:*

The 2021 NFB National Convention highlights will be available at
nfb.org/nfb21
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2021-national-convention>.
Access the presidential report, resolutions, banquet speech, and more.
During convention, the National Federation of the Blind presents several
scholarships and awards. Congratulations to the winners:

·       Jordana M. Engebretsen of Idaho was named the 2021 Distinguished
Educator of Blind Students
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=22214&qid=> at the board of
directors meeting on Wednesday, July 7.

·       Thirty outstanding scholars received their NFB scholarships
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/celebrate-outstanding-blind-students-0>
 at the convention banquet, with Lizzy Muhammad-Park of Maryland winning
the top $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship.

·       Six outstanding innovators were presented with the Dr. Jacob
Bolotin Awards <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=22216&qid=> at the
banquet, with the top award of $20,000 going to Eye Learn of Detroit,
Michigan.

*News:*

*Federation at the US Senate Committee on Appropriations Regarding USPS:*

National Federation of the Blind member Rania Dima testified on July 13 at
the Hearing to Review the FY 2022 Budget Request for the USPS Office of
Inspector General and USPS Service Issues
<https://www.c-span.org/video/?513353-1/us-postal-service-fiscal-year-2022-budget-request>
 before the US Senate Committee on Appropriations. Rania is introduced by
Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), the chair of the subcommittee, at
approximately one hour and eleven minutes into the video.  She testified on
the importance of the timely delivery of “free matter for the blind”
materials that are supposed to be processed as first-class mail, and how
the current delays are impacting her ability to access Braille. Read
Rania’s story
<https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dima%20Testimony2.pdf>.

*Plan to Attend the June Presidential Release—Captioning and Spanish
Available:*

Mark your calendars! The next Presidential Release of the National
Federation of the Blind will be Monday, August 2, at 8:00 p.m., eastern.
After the remarks there will be an opportunity for questions. Submit
questions in advance tocdanielsen at nfb.org and put PR507 in the subject
line, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473. Closed captions and Spanish
interpretation will be available. Zoom details coming soon.

*Upcoming Hearing on Phasing Out Subminimum Wages*

On Wednesday, July 21, at 10:15 a.m., eastern, Anil Lewis, our executive
director for Blindness Initiatives, will be testifying in a joint hearing
before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and the Subcommittee on
Civil Rights and Human Services. Both of these are subcommittees of the
House Education and Labor Committee. More information on this hearing can
be found at
https://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/phasing-out-subminimum-wages-supporting-the-transition-to-competitive-integrated-employment-for-workers-with-disabilities
.

*2021 Blind Driver Challenge Update: Meet Dan Parker:*

Earlier this year, the National Federation of the Blind announced our
partnership with Cruise for the continued initiatives to accelerate
accessibility with regard to autonomous vehicles and to sponsor Dan Parker
in breaking a world record this fall. We are racing to the record and
more. Meet
Dan Parker in this two-minute video <https://youtu.be/S4WRQMc0ryY>.

*NFB Surveys:*

Please visit the NFB’s legal webpage
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program> to participate in our
many important surveys:

   - Rideshare Discrimination Survey
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/rideshare-discrimination-survey>
   - Access to Digital Library Services Survey
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/access_to_digital_library_service>
   - Education Technology Survey
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey>
   - Unemployment Benefits Survey
   <https://nfb.org/form/unemployment-benefits-survey?q=form%2Funemployment-benefits-survey>
   - Access to COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Survey
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/access-covid-19-vaccine-and-testing-survey?q=programs-services%2Flegal-program%2Faccess-covid-19-vaccine-and-testing-survey>
   - Travel Survey <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFBTravelSurvey>

*National Parents Day Is July 25:*

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blind parents
<https://nfb.org/our-community/blind-parents> are fully capable and have
been successfully raising children for generations. We strive to build a
strong network for blind parents. As a way to celebrate National Parents
Day, which is every year on the fourth Sunday of July, access the *Blind
Parents Connection Podcast*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast/blind-parents-connection-podcast>,
a Blind Parent Education Initiative supported by the Gibney Family
Foundation. We are excited to bring you episodes that provide tips and
support for blind parents, by blind parents.

*NFB Apparel Is Now Available from the Independence Market!*

The Independence Market is now carrying men’s and ladies’ apparel
consisting of NFB-logo polo shirts and jackets! The descriptions are as
follows:

Men’s cotton performance polo shirts: sizes small to 5XL (black, navy, red)
($24.00)

Ladies’ cotton performance polo shirts: sizes extra small to 2XL (black,
navy, and red); 3XL in black and navy only ($24.00)

Men’s nylon, lined jackets: sizes small to 5XL (black, navy, red) ($30.00)

Ladies’ nylon, lined jackets: sizes extra small to 2XL (black, navy, red);
3XL black only ($30.00)

*Thanks to the Missouri Affiliate:*

Thanks to the NFB of Missouri for a recent contribution to our NFB BELL
educational endeavors. We continue to build our movement together.

*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

   - July 19-30: BELL Session 2
   - August 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - August 9-20: BELL Session 3
   - September 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - October 1: Presidential Release, 12:00 p.m.
   - November 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - December 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.

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.

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

410-659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his

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

                         [image: Facebook]
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

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.

Attachments area
Preview YouTube video 2021 Blind Driver Challenge: Meet Dan Parker
2021 Blind Driver Challenge: Meet Dan Parker
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4WRQMc0ryY&authuser=0>
-- 
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

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.