[NFBNJ] Highlights From MarkRiccobono Items Of Interest

[joe ruffalo]

Greetings to all!
I have pasted several items of interest to those on our distribution list.
Enjoy Thanksgiving!

**

President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org
(410) 659-9314


Dear Fellow Federationists,

This starts the Thanksgiving week, and it is always a time of reflection and 
family. I appreciate the many dedicated hours each of you puts into our 
organization. I know that there are many tasks that an effective affiliate, 
chapter and division  president undertakes that go unnoticed. I also know 
that the joy of our work and the opportunity to work together makes it all 
worth it. I am thankful to all our members for the leadership you provide 
and the sacrifices you make. I am also keenly aware that our families are an 
important part of making it possible. Thus, I hope each of you has an 
opportunity to enjoy some family time this week. For my part, I have filled 
out the shopping list, gathered my Braille recipes, secured the turkey and 
the wood for smoking it, and have planned the fun activities the Riccobonos 
will enjoy together this week. I do plan to be in the office until Wednesday 
at noon, so please reach out if you need anything. After that I hope to have 
a few days off the grid before a busy close to the year.



Thank you for all you do and for your friendship.



Critical Actions This Week:
Giving Tuesday:
#GivingTuesday is right around the corner. Entering its fifth year, 
#GivingTuesday is a global initiative for philanthropic activity. People all 
over the world give through social media on the day after Cyber Monday. You 
can all influence others. Please mark your calendars for November 29, 2016. 
Let’s see if we can make this our biggest #GivingTuesday ever. We are asking 
you to donate and to share, retweet, and paste our “asks” on your social 
media. We are using #NFBdonate2016 as our hashtag. Our social media campaign 
for #GivingTuesday will direct people to our donation page through Twitter, 
Facebook, and Instagram. For more information, please read our Voice of the 
Nation’s Blind blog post on giving options.

**

2017 Washington Seminar Student Funding Application:
The National Association of Blind Students is offering to assist students 
that want to attend Washington Seminar but that don't have the financial 
resources to do so. With a goal of bringing as many students as possible to 
Washington, DC, in January, the program will supplement other funding 
sources (e.g., local chapters, affiliates, personal finances) to cover the 
costs of attending. Please refer students to the link below: 
https://docs.google.com/a/wfu.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5Y8yw5JW1jjFJ1bBo22pIi-u1mf97i4lQNYCQONiiR9490g/viewform?c=0&w=1



Braille Letters from Santa:
Between November 14 and December 16, parents of young children under the age 
of ten can visit https://nfb.org/santa-letters and fill out the Santa 
Braille letter request form. The form can also be printed and faxed to (410) 
685-2340. Beginning November 28, the Braille letters from Santa will start 
going out to blind boys and girls across the country.



KNFB Reader Sale:
Attention!  Attention!  Starting November 24, get KNFB Reader for the lowest 
price of 2016: only $64.99, 35 percent off the regular price. It makes the 
perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season. Please share this opportunity 
with your family, friends, and co-workers. For information on giving KNFB 
Reader as a gift, visit www.nfb.org/KNFBReader#GIFT.



Spanish Release:
The Spanish version of the November Presidential Release is now available at 
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/spanish/pr_455_spanish.mp3.



Reminders:
Voter Survey:
Last chance! Now that you have exercised your fundamental right to vote, 
please complete our 2016 Blind and Low-Vision Voter Experience Survey. If 
you cast your ballot at an early voting center, your local polling place on 
Election Day, or by absentee ballot that you received by regular mail, 
please complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJ5N38X. If you 
used a personal computer or tablet to mark your ballot, please complete the 
survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JM9CMY6.


Once again, thanks for all you do to change what it means to be blind!
Joe Ruffalo, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
973 743 0075
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
www.nfbnj.org