[NFBNJ] Week of December 6 President Riccobono's Notebook and National Items of Interest

[Linda Melendez]

Greetings all,

To stay connected with our National Office and the work of our organization
I am sharing President Riccobono's weekly notebook, National Items of
Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind.

Please read and save for future reference.

Warmly,  Linda Melendez, President National Federation of the Blind of New
Jersey 732-421-7063 Email: president at nfbnj.org

****

*President’s Notebook*

*National Federation of the Blind*

*Mark A. Riccobono*

 The NFB Board of Directors had its annual in-person, two-day meeting over
the weekend. We will call it a socially distanced in-person meeting since
the participants were spread out from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Two full
days is a lot of Zoom time, but there was plenty to discuss, and I am
grateful that we have this batch of leaders that carried us through this
unusual year. More importantly, we have crafted some great plans for 2021.

 You are likely wondering about the 2021 National Convention. The board
discussed this in detail, and we are gathering some more data before making
a final decision on the format for the convention (fully virtual or an
in-person component in New Orleans with a virtual participation method). As
you can imagine, there are a lot of factors to consider, but the board's
priority is ensuring that the broadest number of people can safely
participate. Before you start making plans or start complaining about the
decision, wait until we release the final plan for what we are doing. I
anticipate you will have that by the time we get to our Washington Seminar.

 National Items of Interest:

Blind Students’ Rights to Independence, Training, and Education Act–State
Model Bill:

We are excited to unveil our newest piece of model state legislation, the
Blind Students’ Rights to Independence, Training, and Education (BRITE)
Act. This would ensure that blind students receive adequate instruction and
become proficient in the use of Braille, access technology, and orientation
and mobility skills, as well as requiring school districts to offer
instruction in these areas outside of school hours. The model bill has been
posted on our website.

 Independence Market Holiday Hours

The Independence Market will be closed starting at 5:00 p.m. eastern on
Wednesday, December 23, and will not reopen until Monday, January 4, at
8:00 a.m. eastern to give our hard-working staff time to enjoy the holidays
with family. Don’t forget to place your order for our accessible measuring
cups or Braille UNO® cards so you can still do all of your tasty holiday
baking and have fun with family! Don’t delay, order today!

 New Nation’s Blind Podcast Episode–“Deafblind and Living the Lives They
Want”:

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Anil Lewis and Chris
Danielsen talk with Alice Eaddy, president of the Deafblind Division of the
National Federation of the Blind, and Marsha Drenth, the division’s first
vice-president. Access the Nation’s Blind Podcast now.

 Open-House Gathering–Share with Prospective Members:

On Sunday, December 13, at 8:00 p.m. eastern, the National Federation of
the Blind is hosting an open-house gathering for people to learn about
becoming members of the Federation. Share with prospective members this
opportunity to learn more from leaders about the Federation and why
membership is crucial. Sign up by emailing membership at nfb.org or calling
410-659-9314, extension 2509.

 Ho, Ho, Ho! Tis Time for a Letter From Santa

As Santa's elves, we want to remind you that you only have until December
16 to request a Braille letter from Santa through the National Federation
of the Blind's Santa Letter Program.

Just imagine the smile on the face of a blind child receiving a letter in
Braille from Santa Claus! Along with the Braille letter, Santa includes a
print letter so that those who might not read Braille can follow along.
Santa also includes other fun holiday activities.

Request your Santa letter now, so that the elves at the National Federation
of the Blind have enough time to get them in the mail before Santa's big
day!

Accessibility Boutique:

The National Federation of the Blind is hosting an accessibility boutique
that will cover accessible smart home products. The boutique will be held
on Tuesday, December 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m. eastern, via Zoom. Smart home
products are designed to help control items in your home, from security to
entertainment. Take advantage of this free opportunity to learn the latest
tips and tools. Register for the Smart Home Accessibility Boutique today.

Upcoming Event–Smart Cities Summit:

The National Federation of the Blind Smart Cities Summit is a one-day
online event on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The goal is to bring
policymakers and technology developers together to collaborate and create
accessible infrastructure for smart cities. Review the agenda and register
for the Smart Cities Summit today!

Scholarship Program–Start Applications Now:

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. Each scholarship winner is awarded based on their academic
excellence, community service, and leadership. The application process is
open and we encourage students to start the process now. Review the
scholarship application checklist and the scholarship program FAQs. Share
this opportunity that invests in the future of blind people. Learn about
the eligibility and requirements of the 2021 scholarship program and start
the application process now.

The questions contact Lia Stone, Chair NFBNJ Scholarship Committee at (917)
570-3166 or evangeliastone at gmail.com

Still Time to Register for Braille Readers Are Leaders—A Contest for
Children and Adults:

This contest is designed to encourage the contestants to read more Braille,
helping them to improve their reading skills and win prizes. The National
Federation of the Blind is partnering with the American Action Fund for
Blind Children and Adults to present the 2020-2021 Braille Readers Are
Leaders contest to encourage Braille literacy and reading for pleasure.
Children and adults across the United States compete against their
same-grade peers to read the most Braille pages between December 1, 2020,
through January 18, 2021. Registration is still open. Learn more about the
Braille Readers Are Leaders contest.

Braille Readers Are Leaders Solidarity Challenge:

In a recent conversation, Anil Lewis and Everette Bacon both acknowledged
that they simply do not take the time to read Braille on a regular basis to
improve their Braille skills. Recognizing that he is not the most
competitive person, Anil offers this solidarity challenge for likeminded
leaders in the Federation to join him in participating in the upcoming
Braille Readers Are Leaders program. The only prize he is striving to
receive is a renewed commitment to improving his Braille skills. He has
registered for the program, and challenges other leaders in the Federation
to join with him in solidarity to achieve the same goal.
https://www.actionfund.org/programs/braille-readers-are-leaders

Dates to Keep in Mind:

December 13: Open-House Gathering call, 8:00 p.m. eastern December 15-17:
Dare to Be Remarkable, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. eastern January 4: Presidential
Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern

January 18: Braille Readers Are Leaders registration (and page count)
deadline

January 28: February 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern February
8: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In March 1: Presidential Release
LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern March 24-26: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium March
31: Scholarship application deadline April 1: Presidential Release LIVE,
8:00 p.m. eastern April 15: Bolotin Awards nominations deadline May 2:
Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern June 1: Presidential Release
LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern July 6-11: NFB National Convention, New Orleans,
Louisiana

-- 
Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
732-421-7063
Email: president at nfbnj.org
*Website: **www.nfbnj.org* <http://www.nfbnj.org/>
*Facebook: **https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238*
<https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238>
*Twitter: **@NFBNewJersey* <https://twitter.com/nfbnewjersey>
*YouTube: **NFBNJTransformDreams*
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKEDbjGsCYHMlwd4gqpBPjg>

*Live the life you want.*
The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey is a community of
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s
blind. Everyday we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.
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