[NFBNJ] President Riccobono's Notebook For The Week Of June 1 2020

Tue Jun 2 17:40:41 UTC 2020

    Greetings to all!

I wanted to share several items of interest from President Riccobono’s 
Notebook for the week of June 1, 2020.
I provided my comments after each item of interest.

Keep well.  Keep safe.  Keep believing!

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 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
-----

Note that we have just two more weeks to get members to register for 
convention. I thought I would share with you the registration stats as of 
last Thursday. Which affiliate will have the largest delegation? Will we 
break the attendance record? You all will answer these questions through 
your work in the next two weeks. More registration information is below. For 
now, here are the stats:

Total number of convention registrants – 2,473

Top ten states with registration numbers:

1. Maryland – 202

2. Texas – 184

3. California - 137

4. Ohio - 128

5. Colorado - 102

6. South Carolina - 93

7. Virginia - 86

8. New Jersey - 85

9. Louisiana - 82

10. Florida – 82

Comments: Shortly, I will receive a list of those that registered.  We will 
reach those that have not registered and inquire if they need any 
assistance.

Special Note: The national convention is open to all members and non 
members.

Thanks for your continued leadership and your outstanding work to connect 
and protect the blind of this nation. See below regarding some great 
victories from the past week.

Critical Actions:
Complete and Share the NFB-NEWSLINE® Survey by June 10:
As you know, we are deeply committed to delivering critical resources, 
information, and support to all blind Americans. As part of our continued 
effort to provide valuable programs and services, we are partnering with 
Deloitte, a third-party consulting firm, to better understand how media is 
consumed and how to optimize the NFB-NEWSLINE service. In order to capture a 
wide range of opinions and perspectives from our members, I ask that you 
distribute the survey link below to your members and encourage their 
participation. The survey should take roughly ten minutes to complete and 
will be open through June 10. To complete this survey via telephone, call 
one of our consultants, Sophie Lehrenbaum, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. 
and 4:00 p.m. eastern from Tuesday through Thursday. She can be reached at 
202-365-7605.

Please access the survey using the following link: 
http://sgiz.mobi/s3/nfbnewsline

Comments: An opportunity for your voices to be heard.

National Convention—Two Weeks Left to Register:
National Federation of the Blind members are requested and non-members are 
invited to register at no cost for the national convention, July 14 through 
July 18. Registration gives access to exclusive offers, convention 
announcements, door prizes, and other exciting content. The deadline to 
register is June 15. Learn more and register for the national convention 
today.

Other Options for Convention Registration:
Affiliates should be reaching out to members who may not have the means to 
register for convention. Some affiliates and chapters have asked about 
members who don’t have the means to register online. We appreciate that 
those who have asked have not used an affiliate or chapter president’s email 
address. This is the right approach as our system may end up overwriting or 
confusing individual records in our Connections database. There is an 
accessible fillable PDF on the convention page that can be completed on a 
computer and emailed to the Jernigan Institute. It doesn’t require an email 
address. Of course, the PDF can also be printed and mailed in through the 
postal service. If this is not a convenient option, affiliates could also 
opt to send us a spreadsheet with attendees’ information included. The 
spreadsheet is attached to this notebook, but you could also contact Susan 
Skaarer (sskaarer at nfb.org) if you’d like to receive a copy of the 
spreadsheet.

Comments: I will discuss with the outreach committee.

Convention Door Prizes:
The National Federation of the Blind is excited to continue our tradition of 
door prizes during the national convention in July. All affiliates and 
divisions who wish to make door prize donations can do so in two ways. 
Organizations and groups that want to donate products like Louisiana spices, 
Iowa scissors, or Wisconsin cheese curds (yes, please), please send an email 
to FSteam at NFB.org with a description of the prize(s), quantity being 
donated, and the name and contact information of the person in the affiliate 
or division who is responsible for providing the prize. To reduce shipping 
expenses, we will provide affiliates and divisions the winners’ information 
describing where prizes are to be sent. Affiliates and divisions will send 
product prizes directly to the winners.

Organizations and groups that want to donate cash prizes, please send an 
email to FSteam at NFB.org with the amount of the funds you are sending for the 
door prize and the exact name of the organization or group donating the 
prize. A check payable to “National Federation of the Blind” should be sent 
to NFB, ATTN: Conv – FS, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Please 
note in the memo on the check that it is for “Door Prize(s).” The national 
organization has controls in place and a relationship with a company to 
issue gift cards. Winners’ names will be collected during the convention and 
a list of winners, with addresses, will be provided to the company to 
process and mail Visa gift cards directly to the winners.

Comments: If any questions, please contact me at 973 743 0075 or email, 
nfbnj1 at verizon.net

News:
June Presidential Release Reminder:
The June Presidential Release of the National Federation of the Blind will 
be delivered on Thursday, June 4, 2020. After the remarks, there is 
opportunity for questions. Submit questions in advance to cdanielsen at nfb.org 
and put PR495 in the subject line, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473.

Comments: Please consider joining the call.

Details will be forthcoming.  Watch your in box.

Open-House Gathering—Calls for Prospective Members:
Share this event information with contacts who are interested in the 
National Federation of the Blind but are not members yet: On Wednesday, June 
10, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. eastern, the National Federation of the Blind is 
hosting another call for blind people to learn more about the benefits of 
membership. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear from active members 
and leaders on the myths and uncertainties of the Federation. Sign up by 
emailing membership at nfb.org or calling 410-659-9314, extension 2509.

Comments: I did forward this morning, check your in box.

The 2019 Annual Report Is Available:
Every year the National Federation of the Blind's annual report highlights 
progress made, milestones achieved, and powerful stories told by blind 
people living the lives they want. Review our 2019 Annual Report. None of 
these achievements would be possible without you, our members, partners, and 
supporters. Thank you for continuing to build the Federation.

Comments: If interested, check it out.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

·       June 1-12: NFB BELL® In-Home Edition

·       June 4: Presidential Release Live

·       June 10: Membership Open House

·       June 14: National Leadership Call during #COVID19

·       June 22-July 3: NFB BELL® In-Home Edition

·       July 27-August 7: NFB BELL® In-Home Edition

·        July 14-18: NFB National Convention, Everywhere

·       February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In

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

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.
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