[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 06/25/2018
joe ruffalo
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
Mon Jun 25 18:43:19 UTC 2018
Greetings to all!
I decided to forward the entire notebook for this week.
Please pay attention to many items of interest pertaining to those attending
and not attending the national convention, important advocacy efforts to
assist those with diabetes and a shoutout to Andrew Reese and the Vehicle
Donation program.
Keep well
Warmly,
Joe
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 We 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,
The clock is ticking… exactly six days from the moment I am writing this I
will be sitting at the Baltimore Washington International Airport with my
family (call us the Riccobono Five) waiting to board a plane to head to
Orlando for our 2018 National Convention. Even as we make the final
preparations, our work continues. Today is the anniversary of the Fair Labor
Standards Act and, as you know, this eighty-year-old civil rights bill for
workers does not include equal treatment for people who are blind.
Nevertheless, we are making tremendous progress and all of those
Federationists who have come before us must certainly be proud of our
continued success.
Going into the national convention, I am well aware that our movement
thrives because of our combined effort. I am excited to be with you again,
to rekindle relationships, enjoy some good stories, and plan for our work
ahead. Please note a number of pre-convention items below.
Please travel safely to Orlando and be sure to drop in to the Presidential
Suite.
Critical Actions This Week:
Join the Pre-Convention Excitement!:
* Listen to our newest Nation’s Blind Podcast mini-episode on “How to
Dress for
Convention<https://nfb.org/nations-blind/nations-blind-podcast-bonus-episode-5>”
and share your thoughts and advice on social media.
* Read about hosting a banquet listening
party<https://nfb.org/blog/article/3607> in the Voice of the Nation’s Blind
Blog if you can’t make it this year.
* Get easy-to-find links to all the latest convention information at
www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.
* Follow along and chime in on social media with #nfb18.
* For your friends and family that are not able to attend this year’s
convention, we will be streaming part of it, including the board of
directors meeting, general sessions, and the banquet. More information can
be found at
nfb.org/convention/2018/stream<https://nfb.org/convention/2018/stream>,
including how to access the Spanish streaming. This year, we are partnering
with 195 The Globe, an internet radio station run by blind Federationists,
for our English stream.
Raffles and Drawings–Posting:
Because of the myriad regulations around raffles, drawings, and gaming we
will not advertise raffles, drawings, and other gaming on our webpage. If
your state submitted information to post to
https://nfb.org/convention/exhibit-hall-announcements, it will be edited to
exclude raffles and drawings. We do apologize for the inconvenience.
News:
CMS Reversal:
Thanks to the advocacy of the Federation and our Diabetes Action Network, a
Medicare coverage
decision<https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx?articleid=52464+>
regarding continuous glucose monitors (CGM) was reversed, effective as of
June 7, 2018. There will be a blog post out later this week with more
details. The original coverage policy denied Medicare beneficiaries
reimbursement for their CGM if they used a mobile application in conjunction
with the device, which was in practical terms the only way that blind CGM
users could effectively use the device. The new coverage
policy<https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jadme/policies/dmd-articles/continuous-glucose-monitors-use-of-smart-devices>
was posted last week and we can now inform our members with diabetes who are
also Medicare beneficiaries that they now have access to this important
innovation in diabetes management technology.
Assistance Line and Quiet Room for Convention Attendees:
As you know, convention is both an exciting and busy time for all of us. For
some of our members and new attendees it can also be overwhelming and
potentially anxiety provoking. In order to assist convention attendees who
may be experiencing feelings of anxiety or of being overwhelmed, several
measures have been put in place for this year’s convention. We need your
help in making sure that convention attendees who are feeling this way do
not fall through the cracks as this is a super busy time for everyone. To
that end, please make sure to put the following into your affiliate action
plan before and during convention:
1. Please make sure that everyone you know of who is attending
convention from your affiliate knows how to get in touch with you and with
other leaders from your affiliate.
2. Encourage attendees to contact you or another leader within your
affiliate if they need your help.
3. If you are contacted by someone feeling anxious or obviously
overwhelmed, try to help from your end first. Let them know that it is quite
normal to feel this way and that they will be okay. Taking time to speak in
person, in a quiet place usually helps. Please do so, if at all possible.
4. Rather than direct those in need of a quiet place to wind down to
the Host Affiliates Suite we have established a “Quiet Room.” The
Ambassadors will be on alert for anyone needing assistance particularly
during those times when the majority of convention goers will be out and
about. They will direct those in need of a place to ground themselves and
regroup to the Quiet Room. There will be someone on hand to help those in
mild distress or in need of a quiet place for a few minutes. The Quiet Room
is not intended to be used as a hangout or meeting room. Please help make
sure that this room is reserved for its intended use.
5. If you feel that you are not equipped to help, for those who are
experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, please contact the assistance
number for help: 443-457-3401. The number will be staffed by someone who can
help develop a plan of action with you.
6. If there are reports of harassment of any kind or of events that
need to be reported such as unwanted sexual advances or physical violence
from anyone attending our convention, please stay with the person who has
confided in you and immediately call the assistance line at 443-457-3401.
Your help in making certain that everyone attending our convention is safe
and that any issues are taken care of appropriately is greatly appreciated.
While we don’t expect for issues to arise, we want to be prepared in case
they do.
Vehicle Donations Up for May:
May vehicle donations were up. A special shout-out to New Jersey for a
vehicle that netted the Federation more than $5,000. Thanks to all who help
solicit cars, trucks, and the like. Please keep working toward obtaining
vehicle donations. If you want ideas, you can visit
https://nfb.org/vehicle-donation-materials. If someone wants to gift a car,
please ask them to visit https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call
855-659-9314. This program is especially helpful as it brings in
unrestricted funds to help us build the Federation.
Reminders:
Portrait Studio at Convention:
This year we have a new backdrop for our portrait studio. We would like to
get current photos of all board members and state and chapter leaders in
front of it for 2018. These photos will be used on our new website, in the
Braille Monitor, etc., and can make great profile photos anywhere you need
one. Anyone is welcome to take advantage of this opportunity, but we are
requesting leaders make it a priority. Please plan to drop by the portrait
studio at one of the following times to have your photo taken:
July 3 Seminar Day: Portrait Studio Open: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
July 5 Board Meeting Day: Portrait Studio Open: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
July 6 Opening Session: Portrait Studio Open: One hour before general
session starts.
July 8 Banquet Day: Portrait Studio Open: One hour before banquet.
Dates to Keep in Mind:
* 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>
* October 11-12, 2018: Tactile Graphics Symposium
* March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
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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