[NFBNJ] NFB Highlights From The President’s Notebook - week of 10/28/2019

[joe ruffalo]

Greetings to all!
I have provided  highlights from the President???s Notebook.
Please review all that is offered and and forward to others.

Warmly, Joe

**

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


Dear Fellow Federationists,



You can tell we are in the heart of fall now as the activity around the 
Federation is quite intense. I am heading to one of the ten affiliate 
conventions happening this next weekend along with other visits to meetings 
for the Federation. I appreciate the continued feedback that you all 
provide; it is very helpful to make sure our national organization is 
providing the assistance you need in building the local organization. If you 
have things that require my immediate attention, I urge you to call or text 
me as my travel schedule makes it difficult to keep up with the inbox. There 
are many notes for you this week. I encourage you to take pieces of this and 
incorporate them into your affiliate communications.



Most importantly, in case you missed it, our first vice president, Pam 
Allen, was recently recognized with a community award for her outstanding 
service, which is driven by her understanding and expression of the 
Federation philosophy. It is nice to witness the community coming to 
acknowledge what we already know about one of our most outstanding leaders. 
This video is worth sharing with 
others<https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qRNqK_98Vn0>.

Critical Actions This Week:
Convention Dates Have Changed:
The 2020 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be 
held July 14-19 in Houston, Texas. While the convention was originally 
planned for two weeks earlier, the Federation agreed to move its convention 
to accommodate activities in the city of Houston. We believe this change 
will further enhance the program, exhibits, and dynamic content provided at 
America's civil rights and resource convention of blind people and their 
families. More information regarding convention arrangements will be 
published in the December issue of the Braille Monitor.
News:

Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest:
Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, administered by 
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with 
the National Federation of the Blind, will open Friday, November 1. The 
contest, with categories for children and adults, will run through January 
18, 2020, and reading logs must be submitted by February 1, 2020. Details, 
including entry information, can be found at https://actionfund.org/BRAL.



Presidential Release:
The November release will be available on Friday in the usual locations.


National Highway Transportation Safety Administration NPRM Comments:
There has been a lot of discussion about updates to the Pedestrian Safety 
Enhancement Act (PSEA) in recent weeks, and I wanted to reiterate the 
National Federation of the Blind???s stance on the issue of multiple possible 
alert sounds. The National Federation of the Blind has always supported the 
idea that car companies might want to provide more than one sound that is 
compliant with the regulations set forth under the Pedestrian Safety 
Enhancement Act, which was signed into law on January 4, 2011. We supported 
this language because multiple sounds have the potential to create greater 
societal acceptance, and any sound that manufacturers provide must be 
compliant. Our most recent comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-no-nhtsa-2019-0085.pdf> 
reinforce this position. Federation leaders are welcome and encouraged to 
add their comments to the department???s request for feedback.



OSERS National Instructional Materials Access Standard (NIMAS) Comments:
I have also provided comments to the US Department of Education regarding 
the accessibility of digital educational content and instructional 
materials, as well as the continued instruction and utilization of Braille 
in the classroom. The letter is available on our 
website<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-id-ed-2019-osers-0111.pdf>.

Scholarship Program???Call for Applications Starts November 1:
A note from Cayte Mendez: Every year, the National Federation of the Blind 
awards more than $120,000 to blind scholars across the fifty states, the 
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in recognition of their achievements 
and professional aspirations. The scholarship program is our commitment to 
academic excellence and leadership among blind students, and each winner is 
awarded on the basis of academic excellence, community service, and 
leadership. The application process opens this week, November 1. Review the 
scholarship application 
checklist<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist> 
and the scholarship program 
FAQs<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-faqs>. 
Share this opportunity that invests in the future of blind people. Learn 
about the eligibility and requirements of the 2020 scholarship 
program<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>.
Santa Braille Letters:
It is time for Santa letters. Between November 11 and December 16, parents 
can go online at www.nfb.org/santa-letters<http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters> 
and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be 
printed and faxed to 410-685-2340 or emailed to 
communityrelations at nfb.org<mailto:communityrelations at nfb.org>. Beginning 
Monday, December 2, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to 
boys and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be 
accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read) as well as some other 
fun Christmastime activities. The deadline for letter requests is December 
16 to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. 
For more information, visit www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.
Dates to Keep in Mind:

  *   January 9-11, 2020: BELL?? Academy Training Seminar
  *   February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
  *   March 26-27, 2020: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland
  *   April 14-17, 2020: NABM BLAST<http://www.blindmerchants.org>; Chicago, 
Illinois
  *   July 14-19, 2020: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas



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.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20191030/6254ce3c/attachment.html>