[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President's Notebook March 17, 2026

[Dorothy Griffin]

Dear Federation Family,

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
*Main Convention Hotel Booked: Overflow Hotels Available:*

Our national convention in Austin is clearly going to be popular. Our room
block at the JW Marriott Austin is already completely booked. The good news
is that there are room blocks with plenty of space at several nearby
hotels, including the nearby, and recently opened, Austin Marriott
Downtown. The hotels are all within a couple blocks’ walk to the JW
Marriott. Visit our Prepare for National Convention webpage
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention-prep> to explore your
options. Our 2026 Convention hotel rate is $139 per night for singles and
doubles. Triples and quads are available for $155 per night. Sales tax and
a tourism fee total a combined 19.7 percent. You may call 800-627-7468 to
book your room at the Austin Marriott Downtown. Specify our room block
code, BL1, to ensure you receive our convention room rate.


*News and Events:**March Presidential Release Is Available:*

The March Presidential Release Live, chapter recording, and transcripts
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> are
available. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter
meeting agenda and discuss it among members. The next chapter release will
be available by March 29.
*New NFB Song Available for Download:*

The National Federation of the Blind song, “Who Are We? NFB,” by The
Litigators is now available to listen to or download on the NFB songs
webpage
<https://nfb.org/resources/jacobus-tenbroek-library/collections/nfb-songs> or
on your favorite music platform.


*March Braille Monitor:*

Read the March issue of the *Braille Monitor*, our flagship publication and
the magazine of the organized blind movement. Access *Braille Monitor* Vol
69 No 3 March 2026
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2603/bm2603tc.htm>


*Future Reflections**:*

Read the latest *Future Reflections*, a quarterly magazine for parents and
teachers of blind children that offers stories, resources, and information.
Access *Future Reflections* Volume 45 Number 1 Winter 2026
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr45/1/fr4501tc.htm>


*Nation’s Blind Podcast: *

Listen to the latest episode of the *Nation's Blind Podcast* titled, "We
Can Have Our Pi and STEM, Too." In this episode, Melissa and Anil are
joined by Ashleigh Moon, our STEM2U coordinator. They celebrate Pi Day and
discuss accessible ways for blind students and blind adults to practice
STEM. Subscribe to the *Nation’s Blind Podcast* wherever you get podcasts,
or download this episode at
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x8k92ksm9xt8vj4b/STEM_episode_Edited60zhc.m4a.



*Access On **Podcast:*

Tune into episode 66 of *Access On*, which is devoted to NVDA, the
open-source screen reader for Windows from NV Access. We welcome Mick
Curran, who came up with the idea of NVDA and started developing it twenty
years ago. We’re also joined by Gerald Hartig and Quentin Christensen for a
wide-ranging discussion about NVDA’s past, present, future, philosophy, and
user experience.
Subscribe to *Access On* wherever you get podcasts, or download the MP3 of
this week’s episode at https://buff.ly/y9Se1rQ.



*Walking Alone and Marching Together **Podcast:*

Tune into episode twenty of our *Walking Alone and Marching Together* podcast
entitled, "Episode 20: Chapter 6 - Restoration, The Beginning Years of the
Second Jernigan Presidency, Part 3." Listen at*https://buff.ly/cCJGZgg*
<https://buff.ly/cCJGZgg?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyN3AxakJTR1A2NGlVaDRGeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6HlrJbA-qCXtAgbMT62yKICPLKYs5KYi_GIjUGM65h_jfhrky56uM5MTf_Ww_aem_FDiA2p03NfLLxTkveC9qYQ>
 or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Amazon Music.
*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

   - July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas
   - July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas
   - July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois
   - July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois



Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls

   - Wednesday, May 6
   - Wednesday, August 5
   - Wednesday, November 4



Chapter Presidents Calls

   - Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, June 14
   - Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13
   - Thursday, December 10 and Sunday, December 13



The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.



-- 
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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.
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