[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 08/28/2022

Wed Aug 30 21:01:33 UTC 2023

Dear Federation Family,

*Critical Actions:*

*September Presidential Release—On the Road:*

The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #530
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> will
be broadcast from Chicago, Illinois, on September 7, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern. Closed captions and Spanish interpretations will be
available. Presidential
Release Zoom ID: 929 8267 9807 <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/92982679807>.

*News:*

*2024 Washington Seminar:*

While I won’t say that it’s right around the corner, the 2024 Washington
Seminar is quickly approaching. Consider this notification as a kind of
“save the date.” Next year’s Washington Seminar will be held at the Holiday
Inn Washington – National Capitol from Monday, January 29 through Thursday,
February 1, 2024. As is tradition, the Great Gathering-In will be on that
Monday (January 29, 2024) at 5:00 p.m. That’s only five months away, so be
sure to stay tuned for updates in the near future regarding hotel
reservation and additional scheduling details.

*Service Animals on Airlines:*

Amanda Morris, a journalist for *The Washington Post*, recently published
an article detailing the problems that blind Americans are encountering
when trying to fly on commercial airlines with their service animals. The
article can be read in the August 28 edition of *The Washington Post*
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/28/airline-regulations-service-animals/>.
In the article, Morris recounts the experience of Federation member
Elizabeth Schoen, who was recently denied boarding a JetBlue flight because
of her service dog.

*Route 66 Ride for Literacy Update:*

The National Federation of the Blind Route 66 Ride for Literacy with Dan
O’Rourke is still going strong. Dan crossed from Oklahoma to Kansas to
Missouri over the weekend. He has celebrated the ride so far with
Federationists along the way. There is one more pitstop party in Missouri
on August 31 before the final celebration in Chicago on September 8. Please
share this ride with your friends and family to raise awareness on the
importance of Braille literacy and connecting with our community. Follow
the Ride for Literacy atnfb.org/route66.

*Lift Up with Lyft Round Up:*

The National Federation of the Blind has joined Lyft’s Round Up program.
Please go to the menu in your Lyft app, choose “Donate,” and select the
National Federation of the Blind to have each fare rounded up to the
nearest dollar with 100 percent of your contribution going to raise
expectations and make dreams come true.

*LEGO Braille Bricks:*

Lego Braille Bricks, which have previously only been available to
educational partners serving the blind through the LEGO Foundation, are now
available for sale in the United States. Pre-orders are now being accepted
for the new LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille
<https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2023/august/lego-braille-bricks-play-with-braille->set,
which contains over 250 of the Braille Bricks in five colors. Braille is a
key pathway to literacy, and engaging blind and low-vision children with
fun and creative Braille tools puts them on the path to success. LEGO
Braille Bricks are a cool way for blind and non-blind friends and family to
learn about and create with Braille together. LEGO is already an integral
part of the lives of many young people, including my own family. By making
Braille part of the LEGO experience, the company is creating exciting
opportunities for education, inclusion, and innovation. We are thrilled to
be a partner in the introduction of LEGO Braille Bricks to the American
market.

*Submit Blind Equality Achievement Month Activities:*

Throughout October, members of the National Federation of the Blind conduct
activities in our local communities such as white cane walks, film
screenings, and social events. Please submit your affiliate or
chapter-related #BlindMonth activities, including the white cane
proclamations
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day>,
with a brief description to web at nfb.org. They will be posted on the Blind
Equality Achievement Month page at nfb.org/blind-month.

*Reminders:*

*Honor Roll Call:*

For affiliates and divisions still intending to make roll call donations,
please send an email to rollcall at nfb.org detailing the amount to go to each
fund (Kenneth Jernigan Fund, Sun Shares, White Cane Fund, and Jacobus
tenBroek Memorial Fund). Please mail checks payable to National Federation
of the Blind and send to 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230,
Attention: Fiscal Services – Roll Call, and write Roll Call in the check
memo. If you want to send the funds by ACH directly to our bank, please
contact Bridgid Burke, bburke at nfb.org or call 410-659-9314, extension 2271.
For those affiliates and divisions that made pledges, please remember we
ask that all pledges be fulfilled by August 31.

*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

   - August 31: Deadline for affiliates to request calendars
   <actionfund at actionfund.org>
   - September 14 and 17: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind
   Equality Achievement Month)
   - October: Blind Equality Achievement Month
   - November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the
   Year Ahead)
   - July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

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

Mastodon: @President at nfb.social

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.

-- 
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.
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