[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 04/25/2023

Tue Apr 25 22:09:13 UTC 2023

*President’s Notebook*

*National Federation of the Blind*

*Mark A. Riccobono*

*officeofthepresident at nfb.org* <officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

*410-659-9314*

Fellow Federationists:

What does it mean when we say we want to be "strategic" in our work in the
organized blind movement. I encourage you to think about it as you apply it
to your work at the affiliate or division level of the Federation. The
Federation is in the process of completing its strategic plan to guide our
work for the next three years, and I thought we should think together about
what strategic means.

Strategic is defined as:

   - Relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and
   interests and the means of achieving them.
   - Carefully designed or planned to serve a particular purpose or
   advantage.
   - Similar: planned, calculated, deliberate, tactical, politic,
   judicious, prudent, clever, shrewd, well thought out
   - Opposite: random

As our organization grows in its scope and depth, we need to be careful
that we focus our energy and imagination toward the Federation's mission
and overall objectives. It is challenging sometimes because there are times
when we are asked to do things that are outside of our mission. We often
talk about "staying in our lane." Our efforts to be strategic should focus
us on our mission.

Remember "relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and
interests..." You can find the purpose of the Federation in Article II of
our Constitution. For our strategic plan we have boiled that down into a
more concise mission statement: "We work tirelessly to improve the lives of
blind people by fostering personal empowerment, coordinating nationwide
advocacy, and building a network of collective achievement."

What makes us unique and outstanding is that we are a membership-driven
organization, not an agency for the blind. In achieving our mission, the
key is using the right tools and tactics to achieve our aims. This is where
being strategic also means we must focus our energy on those tactics that
get us closer to our mission. This does not mean taking the easy road but
it does mean making the hard decisions about what we should and should not
be doing.

*Critical Actions:*

*Next Week: May Presidential Release:*

Attend the next Presidential Release #527 on Tuesday, May 2, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern. Submit questions for the Q&A sessions by sending an email to
cdanielsen at nfb.org with the subject line #PR527. Closed captions and
Spanish interpretations are available. Presidential Release Zoom ID: 959
0944 8660 <https://zoom.us/j/95909448660>.

*Deadline Approaching–Submit Nominations for Distinguished Educator of
Blind Students Award:*

The education of blind children is one of the National Federation of the
Blind's highest priorities. We are committed to offering and supporting
programs that enhance educational opportunities for this group. Please help
us recognize dedicated and innovative teachers who provide quality
education and meaningful experiences and opportunities for their blind
students. Nominate a teacher, counselor, or administrator of programs for
blind students. Deadline is May 1. Learn more about the Distinguished
Educator of Blind Students Award
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
.

*Deadline Approaching—Submit Nominations for Blind Educator of the Year
Award:*

The Blind Educator of the Year Award
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/blind-educator-year-award>
was established by the National Organization of Blind Educators, a division
of the NFB, in 1991 to recognize outstanding blind teachers. It is
presented at the NFB National Convention. Honorees must be present to
receive their award, which includes an inscribed plaque and a check for
$1,000. Submit your nominations for Blind Educator of the Year by May 1.
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/blind-educator-year-award>

*News:*

*Legislation Update:*

Between our two legislative priorities currently in Congress, we have
recently added six new cosponsors to our bills in the House of
Representatives. First, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
(H.R. 1328) gained four new cosponsors to bring the total number of
cosponsors up to forty-seven. The new supporters are Jennifer McClellan
(Virginia), Joyce Beatty (Ohio), Derek Kilmer (Washington), and Sharice
Davids (Kansas). Meanwhile, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated
Employment Act (H.R. 1263) gained two new cosponsors in the House to bring
the total on that bill up to seven. The new cosponsors are Ilhan Omar of
Minnesota and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii. Please continue to call or email your
member of Congress to ask them to support our legislation.

*Meeting with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing:*

On Thursday, April 13, I met with the director of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing (BEP), Len Olijar, to discuss the next generation of paper
currency in the United States. Our meeting was cordial and productive, and
I was even able to preview some of the raised tactile features that will be
implemented on the upcoming redesign of the ten-dollar bill, scheduled to
be released in 2026.

*Teachers of Tomorrow:*

Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 National Federation of the
Blind Teachers of Tomorrow cohort. NFB Teachers of Tomorrow is an immersive
professional-development program that connects teachers of blind and
low-vision students to the lived experiences of blind people. The program
will equip the participants with knowledge of the skills and attitudes that
can help blind students thrive in school and beyond. Please encourage
teachers of blind students in your affiliate to apply for this opportunity
and help circulate the application information to any university programs
that prepare teachers of blind students where you have contacts. For more
information, visit
https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow.

*Rideshare Guide Dog Refusals:*

Despite several recent meetings with Lyft stemming from our Resolution
2022-13
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2022-resolutions#13>
at last year’s national convention in New Orleans, the problem of guide dog
users being denied service persists. The most recent denial to receive
prominent media attention happened to Judge David Tatel, a senior judge at
the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC. Judge Tatel’s experience was
reported by Rachel Weiner in *The Washington Post* on April 20, 2023, in an
article titled “A federal judge was refused a Lyft ride with his guide dog.
He’s not alone.
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/04/20/blind-ride-share-guide-dogs/?utm_source=headtopics&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=2023-04-20>”

*Latest Podcast Episodes:*

The *Nation's Blind Podcast*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
highlights different themes related to blindness, independent living, and
news from the National Federation of the Blind. New episodes come out on
the tenth and twentieth of each month. Subscribe and listen by searching
for "Nation's Blind Podcast" in your podcast client. Access our recent
podcast episodes:
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
“US Currency to Become Easier to Use,” “The Myth of the Model
Federationist,” and “NFB Helps Win Battle for Blind Federal Employees.”
Transcripts included.

*Hear from Members in Our Blogs:*

The *Voice of the Nation's Blind Blog* features stories from our members,
news, and commentary on issues affecting our community. Read our latest
posts, “How the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act Has Turned Me
into an Impassioned Advocate,” by Debbie Wunder
<https://nfb.org/blog/how-medical-device-nonvisual-accessibility-act-has-turned-me-impassioned-advocate>
and “Taming the Accessibility Wild West,” by Amy Mason
<https://nfb.org/blog/taming-accessibility-wild-west>.

*Save the Date: 2023 Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 18:*

Join us on Global Accessibility Awareness Day for a one-hour seminar about
Section 508 for government employees with disabilities, their supervisors,
human resource professionals, and anyone else interested. Learn about what
it is supposed to do and how people with disabilities can work together to
leverage the new ruling. Stay tuned for more details.

*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

   - May 1: Deadline for nominations for Blind Educator of the Year Award
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/blind-educator-year-award>
   - May 1: Deadline for nominations for the Distinguished Educator of
   Blind Students Award
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
   - May 10: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - May 18: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
   - July 1-6, 2023: National Convention
   <https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship>;
   Houston, Texas
   - August 9: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.

-- 
Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
908-590-1747
president at nfbnj.org
*www.nfbnj.org* <http://www.nfbnj.org/>
*Facebook: **https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238*
<https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238>

To schedule a 30-minute meeting about the National Federation of the Blind
of New Jersey please click on the link below
https://calendly.com/nfbnj/30min
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