[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 01/08/2024

[Linda Melendez]

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

Dear Federation Community,

Happy New Year to each of you. I hope this message finds you swinging into
the new year with joy and good health. As you heard on last Thursday’s
Presidential Release Live, we have not wasted any time in 2024 to start
making progress in the organized blind movement.
2024 Washington Seminar Fact Sheets:
The fact sheets for our three legislative priorities are available on
the Washington
Seminar page <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> of
our website. They are now available in four formats: HTML, Word, BRF, and
audio files. We recommend that you review these fact sheets to ensure that
you are well-prepared to advocate for our issues when you meet with your
members of Congress.
January Presidential Release Chapter Version:
The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #534
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is
available. Please note that the February Presidential Release will not be
live. Please attend the Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> on Monday,
January 29, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., eastern. The February Presidential Release
recording will be made available by February 2, 2024.
Member Profile:
We are hearing good things from the members that are accessing their member
profile. All members with unique email addresses should have an account.
The login is the member’s email address that we have connected to their
membership. If someone hasn't logged in yet, they can go to nfb.org and
select Members. Their username is the email address associated with their
membership. Select Change Password to set it. If anyone has questions, they
should send an email to membership at nfb.org
2023 Donation Tax Summaries:
Thank you to everyone who supported the Federation in 2023. Annual PAC
summaries will be sent out later this month. If you also made a general
donation and would like that total added to your letter, or if you have any
questions, please contact outreach at nfb.org
Do You Know Someone Who Uses Our Advocacy Toolkits?:
We are seeking to identify someone who is using one of our advocacy
toolkits listed below. If you know of someone who has used one of our
toolkits, please contact Patti Chang at pchang at nfb.org  or 410-659-9314,
extension 2422. Our current toolkits are:


   - Blind Parent’s Essential Guide to Effective Communication from Public
   and Private Schools
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/blind-parents-essential-guide-effective-communication>
   - Higher Education Accessibility Online Resource Center
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/higher-education-accessibility-online-resource>
   - ·Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit Version 2.0
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/self-advocacy-higher-education-toolkit>
   - Self-Advocacy in Employment Toolkit
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/self-advocacy-employment-toolkit>
   - Herramientas de autodefensa en el empleo
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/self-advocacy-employment-toolkit/herramientas-de>
   - High-Stakes Testing Self-Advocacy Toolkit
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/high-stakes-testing-self-advocacy-toolkit>

Catch Up on Content:
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.


   - January* Braille Monitor*
   <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2401/bm2401tc.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*,* “AI and the Blind”
   - Blog articles*,* *Reflecting on the Power of Collective Action*
   <https://nfb.org/blog/reflecting-power-collective-action> and *All
   Braille Readers Are Leaders: A Blind Parent’s Journey*
   <https://nfb.org/blog/all-braille-readers-are-leaders-blind-parents-journey>

*Dates to Keep in Mind: *(all times eastern)

   - Monday, January 29, 2024: Great Gathering-In
   - Tuesday, January 30, 2024: Congressional Reception (Washington Seminar)
   - January 29-February 1, 2024: Washington Seminar
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar>
   - 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

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

   - Wednesday, February 7, 8:00 p.m.
   - Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.
   - Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.
   - Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.
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