[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 09/11/2023

Tue Sep 12 00:12:04 UTC 2023

President’s Notebook

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

Dear Federation Family,

I am writing this message from the shore of Lake Michigan. Weather left me
in Wisconsin for one more day than I had planned. As many of you know,
Milwaukee is my hometown. No matter the changes, it always has a feeling of
home. I feel the same way about Federation gatherings. This past week I had
the opportunity to gather for the first time with the Chicago chapter for
the Presidential Release Live. Although it was a completely new experience,
it felt very much like home. I deeply appreciate our Illinois leadership
for hosting a series of great Federation activities during the past week.

As we are now fully into the fall convention season, I invite each of you
to consider what you can do to make your Federation events feel even more
welcoming and like home. The business of the organization is extremely
important as it impacts the fabric of our lives. However, we should
remember that we are not “merely” a social organization. This does not mean
we are not social. We should remember that it is the personal connections
that we build locally and across the nation that make all the difference.
This is what allows us to plug into the social network at any Federation
family event.

As I write this message seated at the kitchen table of friends I have known
in this movement for almost three decades now, I am reminded how important
those connections are to our collective success. As new people come into
our movement, it is important that we extend to them the same warmth that
is felt in our thirty-year-long relationships. During the past couple of
weeks, Federation members have shared with me those moments where the
affiliate or chapter that they first came to did not make them feel
welcome. Fortunately, many of us overcome those first impressions but we
should remember that many do not. It reminds me to both focus on the
welcoming part of our brand but also not give up on people who do not
connect with us after the first, second, or even tenth interaction.

Here's to a fall convention season full of connections.

Critical Actions:

Spam Text

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September Presidential Release Chapter Version Available:

The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #530 chapter
version
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is
available. Please mark your calendars for the next Presidential Release
scheduled for October 3, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom from
Louisville, Kentucky.

News:

Member Profile:

The self-service Member Profile tool launched last week, and we appreciate
the feedback we've received from those who have explored it. If there are
members within your chapter, division, or affiliate who have not received
the email invitation to log in to the profile, please collect their names,
email addresses, and the group they are a member of and send them to
subscriptions at nfb.org so that we can provide the profile invite.

Congress Is Back in Session:

Following their annual August recess, both the House and the Senate are
back in session starting Tuesday, September 12. This is a perfect time to
contact your senators and representatives and urge them to cosponsor some
of our key pieces of legislation before the end of the year. In the House
of Representatives, please ask your representative to cosponsor both the
Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328) and the Access
Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 3702). In the Senate, please ask your
senators to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 1467). If
you would like to know whether your representative or senators are already
cosponsors on the above legislation, please contact Lindsey Walsh in our
Advocacy and Policy Department at lwalsh at nfb.org.

Submit Blind Equality Achievement Month Activities:

Throughout October, members of the National Federation of the Blind conduct
activities in our local communities such as white cane walks, film
screenings, and social events. Please submit your affiliate or
chapter-related #BlindMonth activities, including the white cane
proclamations
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day>,
with a brief description to web at nfb.org. They will be posted on the Blind
Equality Achievement Month page at nfb.org/blind-month.

Celebrating Ten Years of the Marrakesh Treaty:

On Wednesday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m., the US Copyright Office is
co-hosting an event with the National Library Service for the Blind and
Print Disabled. The leaders of these organizations will discuss their
personal knowledge of the development of the Marrakesh Treaty and share
their understanding of its relevance and impact domestically and
internationally. The featured speakers are Shira Perlmutter, the Register
of Copyrights and Director of the US Copyright Office, and Jason Broughton,
the Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print
Disabled. Nancy Weiss, one of the members of the 2013 United States
Delegation to the Diplomatic Conference where the Marrakesh Treaty was
adopted, will moderate the discussion panel. To register to attend the
event virtually please visit:
https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_2Ft4K6BJS_mmgHpl4fqJ7w

Route 66 Ride for Literacy Celebration:

NHL referee Dan O’Rourke has completed the National Federation of the Blind
Route 66 Ride for Literacy. He traveled over 2,700 miles by bike from Santa
Monica, California, to Chicago, Illinois. The celebration and comments from
President Riccobono, Dan O’Rourke, the Illinois affiliate, and Chicago
chapter are available on the Nation’s Blind YouTube
<https://www.youtube.com/live/3GFldPGreeY?si=-wCul3dPD_XqjQZj> Channel.
Please share this ride with your friends and family to raise awareness on
the importance of Braille literacy and connecting with our community.

Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)

   -     October: Blind Equality Achievement Month
   - November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

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.
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