[NFBNJ] President's Notebook - Week of 11/16/2020

Tue Nov 17 02:02:49 UTC 2020

Greetings!
Please read and share with others.
Much information, read PresidentRiccobono’s letter as it provides his 
thoughts on the past 80 years and the future of the National Federation of 
the Blind.
I usually provide  comments after each notice however, the notebook provides 
what I would provide.
Be safe.  Be well.

Remember, the 44th state convention of the National Federation of the Blind 
of New Jersey will be held from Wednesday November 18 through Sunday 
November 21.
Visit the state website for updated convention details, visit, www.nfbnj.org
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

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Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 11/16/2020

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

Dear Fellow Federationists,

This morning as I took my daily walk through Riverside Park (which sits just 
east of the Johnson Street side of our headquarters), I pictured in my mind 
the symbology of the moment. I was there just at the time that the sun was 
supposed to rise in Baltimore. I started thinking about what the sunrise 
might have been like on that day eighty years ago when Jacobus tenBroek woke 
up, and his plan for that day was to establish the National Federation of 
the Blind. Did he know he would be elected as the movement’s first President 
and that he would dedicate much of his remaining twenty-seven-and-one-half 
years to its advancement? Today was slightly chilly, but the sunrise brought 
a sense of warmth to the clear morning. Is that similar to what Dr. tenBroek 
felt—a lifting of the cold, hard times that blind people had experienced for 
decades?

As I walked south in the park, it occurred to me that the morning sunlight 
would shine on the Johnson Street side of our building perfectly, there 
being no major structures blocking the morning sun from our building The 
distance between the sun and our building is vast, and with the complexities 
of our lives now, 1940 seems just as distant from 2020. I imagined the sun 
hitting our building, and considered the hundreds of thousands of lives that 
have lived under that sun and contributed to the movement we share.

Eighty years is a short time. Yet for the blind it represents significant 
progress. In 1940 the very building that now serves as the headquarters for 
our efforts was producing materials for use in the Second World War. The 
workers inside could have never imagined it would later become the 
best-known facility for advancing the rights of the blind anywhere in the 
world. Furthermore, the sixteen people who gathered together to form the 
first membership of the Federation could not have imagined the twists, 
turns, victories, and setbacks we have faced over these eighty years.

As I came to the south end of the walkway in the park, I followed the path 
east into the morning sun. The warmth of the sun felt like hope: the kind of 
hope that we experience in this movement every day; the feeling that those 
sixteen people must have had when they came together to establish what has 
come to be the most powerful force for blind people.

It is fitting on this day to look back and to experience the warm feelings 
that come from all that we have accomplished. We should be proud of those 
who came before us and all they did to make it possible for us to walk this 
path.

Once we do that for a short time, we have a choice: we can continue 
celebrating the past or we can turn with renewed strength, face the future, 
and walk confidently in that direction with the light of our history 
supporting us and urging us to march forward. When I got to the east end of 
the path in the park, I did not hesitate, I turned and began to loop back 
around to the west to come to our building to begin another day marching 
alongside each of you to advance our collective movement.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am left with one thought as I enter our 
Johnson Street door with the sun at my back. I am thankful for the 
incredible blind people who made it possible through their daily sacrifice 
for us to be in this moment. I am equally thankful for the incredible blind 
people who allow us to walk confidently into the future. It is an honor to 
know we march together every day. It is a comfort to know you have my back. 
It is a joy to imagine what we will do together tomorrow.

I do not know if I will walk that same path twenty years from now, but I am 
confident in what our movement will be on our one hundredth anniversary--and 
for that I feel a great sense of pride. Until then, I am going to enjoy the 
struggle and the accomplishment of building with each of you every day. Take 
a moment to reflect on those Federationists who you have known personally 
who have helped us get to today. Then, with the warmth of that love, turn, 
link arms with me, and let’s march into the future together. When I say “let’s 
go build the National Federation of the Blind,” what I mean is let’s enjoy 
the honor of working together to transform our dreams, and the dreams of 
those who have not yet discovered our movement, into reality. The warmth of 
the movement started before we got here. If we do it right, the warmth will 
go beyond us into a future where others will reflect fondly on what we have 
done to make their lives better every day.

Critical Actions:
Deadline November 17—Blind and Low-Vision Voter Experience Survey:
Blind and low-vision voters who voted in the 2020 general election but have 
not yet completed our survey are urged to take it by the deadline, November 
17. This year it consists of two separate surveys:

·      If you voted absentee or by mail using an accessible, electronic, 
ballot-delivery system or a traditional paper ballot, please complete the 
survey for blind and low-vision voters who voted absentee or by mail at 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YJJL7GN.

·      If you are a blind or low-vision voter who voted at an early voting 
center or at a polling place on Election Day, please complete the survey at 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NGFMPF2.

Questions about the blind voter survey may be directed to Lou Ann Blake at 
lblake at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2221; or Jeff Kaloc at 
jkaloc at nfb.org or at 410-659-9314, extension 2206.

News:
Federation Celebration: Read Our History:
On this day in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind was founded by 
blind delegates from seven states across the country. We invite you to read 
and share the following publications that trace our rich history of the 
organized blind movement:

  a.. Building the Lives We Want
  b.. Walking Alone Marching Together

Teachers of Tomorrow Program:
If you are preparing for a career in teaching blind students, or if you are 
an early career educator looking to enhance your teaching, then the National 
Federation of the Blind invites you to apply for a spot in the first cohort 
of our Teachers of Tomorrow program. This immersive, professional 
development program connects teachers of blind and low-vision students to 
the lived experiences of blind people, equipping participants with knowledge 
about the skills and attitudes that can help blind students thrive in school 
and beyond. The program is free to participants thanks to a partnership 
between the National Federation of the Blind and the Gustavus and Louise 
Pfeiffer Research Foundation. For more information or to apply visit 
https://www.nfborg/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow.

New Podcast Episode—Continued Fight for Fair Wages:
Our Nation’s Blind Podcast’s hosts, Anil Lewis and Melissa Riccobono, talk 
with Stephanie Flynt, government program specialist for the National 
Federation of the Blind. They discuss the continued momentum to eliminate 
the practice of paying workers with disabilities subminimum wages, including 
recent reports from the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the 
National Council on Disability. Listen to the latest episode now!

Applications Now Open for 2021 Bolotin Awards:
National Federation of the Blind is accepting nominations of individuals or 
organizations who are a positive force in the lives of blind people and 
advance the goal of helping us transform dreams into reality. Each 
application must include a letter of recommendation. Learn more and submit a 
nomination for the 2021 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards.

Free White Cane Program—Share with New Contacts:
The National Federation of the Blind believes that no blind person should be 
without a white cane, regardless of their ability to pay for it. The Free 
White Cane Program is available for any blind individual in the fifty 
states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Share information about 
the Free White Cane Program, choosing a cane size, and cane travel training.

Smart Cities Summit:
The Smart Cities Summit that was scheduled for December 10 is being 
rescheduled in January 2021. The new date will be announced as soon as it is 
determined.

Thanks to Our Iowa Affiliate:
Thanks go out to NFB of Iowa for a recent donation. Continued affiliate 
support is so appreciated.

Reminders:
Thanksgiving Holidays:
This is a reminder that the national headquarters of the National Federation 
of the Blind will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, so that 
the staff can enjoy the holiday with family and friends, albeit with smaller 
gatherings than usual.

Year end Santa Letters:

Every year Santa Claus turns the staff at the National Federation of the 
Blind into his honorary elves to help him send letters and activities in 
Braille to young children (those under the age of ten) across the United 
States. Between November 9 and December 16, parents can submit a request for 
a letter at http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters. The form can also be printed 
and faxed to 410-685-2340 or emailed to communityrelations at nfb.org. 
Beginning Monday, November 30, the Braille letters from Santa will start 
going out to children. The Braille letter will be accompanied by a print 
copy as well and some other fun holiday activities. The deadline for letter 
requests is December 16. Learn more about Santa Letters.

Dates to Keep in Mind:
  a.. December 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  b.. December 1: Braille Readers Are Leaders reading starts
  c.. December 13: Open-House Gathering call, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  d.. December 15-17: Dare to Be Remarkable, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. eastern
  e.. January 18, 2021: Braille Readers Are Leaders registration (and page 
count) deadline
  f.. February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In
  g.. March 31, 2021: Scholarship application deadline
  h.. April 15, 2021: Bolotin Awards nominations deadline
  i.. July 6-11, 2021: NFB National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana

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

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his

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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