[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 04/16/2018

Mon Apr 16 20:47:50 UTC 2018

Greetings to all!
A few days ago, I forwarded my monthly notes to all on our distribution 
list.
I have pasted President Riccobono’s weekly notebook distributed to affiliate 
leaders.  I decided to forward to all as it provides much material for your 
review and sharing.

We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference
Joe Ruffalo, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
973 743 0075
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
www.nfbnj.org
Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want.
Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.
Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
www.carshelpingtheblind.org
or call 855 659 9314

**

President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

I hope this message finds you doing well and with your taxes filed. We are 
now entering that window of time where the preparations for our national 
convention compete with all of the other great things that are happening. We 
are juggling many things while preparing for the convention, including an 
important hearing on the Marrakesh Implementation Act this week. Your 
convention ideas are still welcome.

In preparation for the national convention, I note that we have some new 
delegates to the convention. If our new delegates are interested in having a 
call to discuss the responsibilities of the delegates, please let me know. 
In the meantime, I encourage all affiliates to be thinking about their gifts 
to the national organization. We cannot continue to raise expectations 
without the funds to allow us to be in the right places at the strategically 
right time. Contributions from affiliates to the national organization make 
a difference in our having funds to carry out the work directed by the 
convention.

Critical Actions This Week:
Marrakesh Treaty Update:
On Wednesday, April 18, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will be 
holding a hearing regarding the Marrakesh Treaty. The hearing will be held 
at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Dirksen Office Building, room 419. Scott LaBarre 
will be testifying on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. Those 
in the local area who are available should consider attending. The hearing 
will also be live-streamed at 
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/treaties-041818.

News:
Proposals for Tactile Graphics Symposium Presentations Now Being Accepted:
The Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium will take place at 
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute on October 11-12, 
2018. Proposals for general session and breakout session presentations will 
be accepted until May 7, 2018. For additional information about the 
symposium, please visit 
https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium.

Links to News:
There was an article about the subminimum wage ban for which the NFB of 
Washington advocated in Seattle that can be found at 
http://kuow.org/post/seattle-bans-subminimum-wages-people-disabilities.

Also, over the weekend there was an article and video about a new Braille 
standards proposal in 
DC<https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-council-bill-aims-to-introduce-braille-education-to-kids/65-538135933>.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

  *   May 1, 2018: Deadline for NFB EQ program 
applications<http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq>
  *   May 1, 2018: Deadline for Distinguished Educator of the Year 
nominations<https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees#DistinguishedEducatorBlindChildren>
  *   May 31, 2018: Deadline for preregistration for 2018 National 
Convention<https://convention.nfb.org/>
  *   July 3-8, 2018: National Federation of the Blind National 
Convention<https://nfb.org/convention>, Orlando, Florida
  *   July 29-August 4, 2018: NFB EQ<http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq>

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<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

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

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

Disclaimer 
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