[NFBMO] FW: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] NFB Washington Seminar 2022 Gone Virtual

[Dennis Miller]

From: NFB-Legislative-Directors [mailto:nfb-legislative-directors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Walls, Kyle via NFB-Legislative-Directors
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 1:22 PM
To: NFB Legislative Directors List
Cc: Walls, Kyle
Subject: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] NFB Washington Seminar 2022 Gone Virtual

 

Dear Legislative Directors:

 

Please see the below email that President Riccobono sent to affiliate leaders earlier today. 

 

Be great,

Kyle

 

 

Dear Affiliate Presidents:

 

In light of recent events surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the rapid spread of the virus in Washington DC, we are going to cancel the in-person portion of the 2022 Washington Seminar and convert to an all-virtual format. Given that the Washington Seminar is one of the Federation’s marquis events, this was a difficult decision for me and one that I did not approach lightly. In making this decision my top three concerns were: the health and safety of our members and staff; the success and impact of the Washington Seminar event, and; the financial impact to Federation members.

 

In recent weeks we have seen Maryland, DC, and Virginia all declare states of emergency related to the pandemic. Washington DC and the surrounding areas are currently experiencing unprecedented community spread of the virus among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. To bring our members from all across the country into the middle of that during a time that many medical experts predict will be the peak of the spread poses serious risks to the health and safety of Federation members. 

 

Additionally, on January 3, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician for Congress urged the House and Senate to move to a “maximal telework posture.” Even if we could get everyone from across the country to DC and guarantee their health and safety, we can’t guarantee that scheduled in-person meetings with members of Congress or staff won’t be canceled at the last minute. If conditions get worse, as they are predicted to do, we may end up in a situation where we have members from across the country in the hotel without any meetings to go to. We believe that canceling all in-person activities at this point provides adequate time to plan for virtual meetings and has a high rate of success for Federation members to speak with their member of Congress or staff. 

 

Finally, the decision to convert to an all-virtual Washington Seminar at this time will, we hope, provide a greater likelihood that Federation members will be able to obtain refunds on airfare and hotel accommodations. 

 

It is for these reasons that we have made the difficult decision cancel the in-person portion of the 2022 Washington Seminar and convert to an entirely virtual format. We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy, and we continue to anticipate a national convention in New Orleans this summer. Until then, we have a lot of important advocacy work to do. 

 

Considering the cancellation of any in-person presence for Washington Seminar, it makes less sense for us to host our invited presidents at the national office the weekend before. We will be hosting some virtual trainings for invited presidents and a meeting for all presidents during the weekend prior to the Washington Seminar week. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Invited Presidents: Saturday, February 4 1 – 6 PM Eastern

All Presidents: Sunday, February 5 – 1 – 4 PM Eastern 

 

More details about the full schedule for Washington Seminar related meetings coming soon.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his

 

 

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

 

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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. 

 

 

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