[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 02/05/2024

Linda Melendez president at nfbnj.org
Tue Feb 6 21:10:27 UTC 2024


*President’s Notebook*

*National Federation of the Blind*

*Mark A. Riccobono*

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

*410-659-9314*



Dear Federation Family,

Thanks to each of you for a very successful time on the Hill. I encourage
you to send any feedback about the 2024 Washington Seminar to John Paré
<jpare at nfb.org> so we can use it in our debriefing and planning for 2025.
In the meantime, do not lose track of the fact that we have to keep the
pressure on Congress. Please assign members to follow up and continue the
work to secure cosponsors. We have plenty of time to get bills passed
before the November elections take over decision making in Washington, DC.



*Critical Actions:*

*February Presidential Release:*

The February Presidential Release
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
recording
and transcript are available for chapter meetings. Please note that we are
currently experiencing technical difficulties with our presidential release
podcast format. Please use the release webpage
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> or
NFB-NEWSLINE® to access the presidential release. The next live
presidential release is scheduled for February 29, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern. Zoom TBD.



*Washington Seminar:*

*2024 Washington Seminar Recap:*

Last week we held our annual Washington Seminar. Federation members
conducted over four hundred meetings with their senators and
representatives in Congress. The week began with our traditional Great
Gathering-In on Monday, January 29, where Representative Pete Aguilar
(CA-33), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, delivered remarks.
Representative Aguilar’s grandfather was a Randolph-Sheppard Vendor in the
San Bernardino County Courthouse, so he is very familiar with that program,
as well as some of the other issues blind Americans face.

On Tuesday, January 30, we had our annual Congressional Reception in the
Cannon Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building. This year’s
reception was sponsored by Waymo. Fifteen members of Congress attended the
reception, and most of them delivered remarks.

Thank you to everyone who traveled to Washington, DC, for this year’s
event, and we look forward to making next year’s Washington Seminar even
better.

*Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In:*

The Great Gathering-In is the very exciting opening session of the
Washington Seminar. You can access the remarks, watch the live stream, or
read the transcript.

Read Presidential Remarks about the Significance of Washington Seminar
<https://nfb.org/blog/significance-2024-washington-seminar>

Watch the Great Gathering-In live stream on YouTube
<https://www.youtube.com/live/tUzrJ7w0aOU?si=P7Tonn5_vxRvGDlS&t=66>

Read the Great Gathering-In Transcript
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/2024-great-gathering-transcript>



*Share Stories from Washington Seminar—Write an Article:*

We are looking to hear about your experiences during the 2024 Washington
Seminar. Who was at Washington Seminar for the first time? What stories did
members share with their representatives that can be shared more? If you or
someone in your affiliate is interested in writing an article about being
in DC, please send an email to story at nfb.org. If you are not sure about
writing, we can help! We are excited to help share your stories in future
communications.



*News:*

*Legislative Update:*

In the week following the 2024 Washington Seminar we gained seventeen new
cosponsors on our legislation between the House and the Senate. In the
House, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act gained
eight new cosponsors to bring the total number up to twelve. Also in the
House, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act gained eight new
cosponsors to bring the total number up to sixty-one. In the Senate, the
Access Technology Affordability Act gained one new cosponsor to bring the
total number up to eighteen. We may all be back home now that our time in
the nation’s capital is over, but that doesn’t mean that the work stops.
Please continue to follow up with your members of Congress and urge them to
cosponsor our legislation.



*#NFB24 Book Your Hotel:*

Join us for the 2024 National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind, July 3 through July 8, in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Centre. Our
2024 room rate for singles and doubles is $129; for triples and quads, the
rate is $139. Occupancy taxes and surcharges are an additional 13.5
percent. To book your room, call the hotel at 800-204-7234. Ask for the
“NFB Convention” block. At the time you make a reservation, a $146 deposit
is required for each room reserved. If you use a credit card, the deposit
will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case
with a $146 check. If a reservation is canceled before Saturday, June 1,
2024, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, refunds will not be
made.



*Submit Nominations for the 2024 Bolotin Awards:*

The National Federation of the Blind is accepting nominations of
individuals or organizations who are a positive force in the lives of blind
people and help us transform dreams into reality. Each application must
include a letter of recommendation. Learn more and submit a nomination for
the 2024 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards/application-information>
.



*Catch Up on Content and Share on Social Media:*

Highlights, news, and stories are available in the most recent *Braille
Monitor*, *Future Reflections*, *Nation’s Blind Podcast*, and *Voice of the
Nation’s Blind Blog*. The following are National Federation of the Blind
publications for you to access and share with Federationists. These
articles and episodes are great to share on affiliate and division social
media to create discussions on various topics.

February *Braille Monitor*
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2402/bm2402tc.htm>

*Future Reflections*, Fall 2023
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr42/4/fr4204tc.htm>

*Nation’s Blind Podcast*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
episode*,* “Washington Seminar”

Blog article*, “*Coming Full Circle: Investing in Myself and Our Community
with Mentors, Training, and Scholarships
<https://nfb.org/blog/coming-full-circle-investing-myself-and-our-community-mentors-training-and-scholarships>
*”*



*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

·  April 15, 2024: Deadline for Bolotin Award
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards/application-information>
 nominations

·  July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida



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/>
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