[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook for the Week of November 4, 2024

[NFBNJ President]

President’s NotebookNational Federation of the BlindMark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314



Dear Federation Family,



Welcome to a busy November after an extremely productive Blind Equality
Achievement Month. Obviously, top of mind today is the November 5 elections
and ensuring all blind voters have the opportunity to cast a private and
independently verifiable ballot. Please remember to promote
http://www.nfb.org/vote. See below for the reminder about our Election Day
activities and follow-up data collection.



I hope that each of you are encouraging your chapter presidents to review
our Presidential Release in advance and use it as a source of dialogue at
chapter meetings. I have revised the format based upon your feedback and
want to make sure that it is truly helping to build at the local level.



One final reminder that I need for our affiliate presidents to
complete our RSVP
form <https://nfb.org/all_presidents_meeting> for our 2025 retreat. The
deadline is Sunday evening and we will start formulating plans next week
based upon the response. Thank you to those who took the time to do this
already.


Critical Actions:*Bay Bridge Run—Last Call for Runners/Walkers:*

We need your help. We need just five more walkers/runners for our Bay
Bridge event to have a tent to help spread our message at the end of the
event in Maryland. Virtual participation is allowed so we can participate
from all around the country. The National Organization of Parents of Blind
Children invites you to join us for the Bay Bridge Run on November 10. It’s
not too late to register and join Team NFB Dreamers for this 10k walk/run
as we bridge the gap between blind people and our dreams. Please visit
https://nfb.org/BayBridge to learn more and to register. You can also find
our Participant Toolkit
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/bay-bridge-run/bay-bridge-run-participant-toolkit>
for
use in your fundraising efforts. If you have any questions or need
assistance registering, please contact Rachel at rheld at nfb.org or
410-659-9314, extension 2423.


*Upcoming Presidential Release:*

The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release chapter version
is now available. The chapter version is intended to be played during each
chapter meeting throughout the month. Access the chapter version and live
details
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>.



The next Presidential Release Live will be Monday, November 11, at 7:30
p.m., eastern. Zoom details are below.

Presidential Release Live Zoom:

Via Zoom Meeting ID is 992 8465 7783 <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/99284657783>

One tap mobile: +13017158592,,99284657783#


News:*Election Information on NFB-NEWSLINE®:*

We have added the All Politics Now publication to our Breaking News Online
Category on NFB-NEWSLINE. Additionally, we have implemented a candidate
search option for the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The searches are done across top newspapers, breaking news, international
outlets, and magazines. To access this information via telephone, select
option 1 from the main menu, then option 5 for the 2024 candidate searches.
If using the NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app, go to the Information Sources tab,
select "All Publications," and then "Candidate 2024 Searches." For
subscribers using Web News on Demand, choose "Publications Organized
Alphabetically" and select “2024 Candidate Searches.”


*Blind Voters Survey and Election Day Hotline:*

Our online Blind Voters Survey is available, and we encourage anyone who
has already voted to complete it so that your experiences, whether positive
or negative, can be documented. There are three versions of the survey
depending on how you voted: Voted in person
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDJGSS8>, voted absentee
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VYYJDXT>, or the Spanish language survey
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7J3G7FH> (which includes both in-person and
absentee voting options). Our Election Day Hotline will be operational on
Tuesday, November 5. The hotline number is 877-632-1940.


*Letter to the US Department of Education:*

Earlier this year, the United States Department of Education announced that
it would be dismantling the Digital Accessibility Unit. On Wednesday,
October 30, we sent a letter to the Department of Education
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-us-secretary-education-regarding-dismantling>
to
communicate our displeasure and frustration with this decision. The letter
can be read in its entirety on the Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of our
website.


*Letter Regarding the Accessibility of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations:*

In September, the United States Access Board published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the accessibility of electric vehicle charging
stations. We sent our comments to the Access Board
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-proposed-rule-regarding-accessibility>
on
Friday, November 1. While we were, in general, very supportive of their
proposals to ensure the accessibility of the charging stations, we also
encouraged them to make sure that nonvisual accessibility was a priority.
Our comments can be read in their entirety on the Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of our
website.


*Communication with Uber Regarding Self-Identification for Riders with
Guide Dogs:*

On October 31, I sent an email to Uber regarding their unlawful
implementation of self-identification for riders who use guide dogs
<https://nfb.org/blog/rideshare-advocacy-unlawful-implementation-self-identification>.
In short, we believe this could increase the discrimination that guide-dog
users experience and provide no way for the platform to terminate those
drivers who illegally refuse to transport riders with guide dogs. The full
email was posted to our *Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog
<https://nfb.org/blog>*.


*2025 Washington Seminar Registration:*

For 2025, we are trying something new with regard to the Washington
Seminar. We are asking that all attendees complete a registration form, so
that we can keep those who are attending better informed about the events
taking place that week. There is no fee associated with registration for
the Washington Seminar, and the form is quick and easy to complete. It can
be found on our Washington Seminar page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> along with
many other helpful pieces of information about the 2025 Washington Seminar.


Reminders:*Hotel Contract Review Training:*

Ever wondered about what you need to be looking for when reviewing
contracts with our hotels for conventions and other venues? Want to be sure
you understand hotel attrition policies and hold harmless clauses? We have
a training coming up on December 17 at 8:00 p.m. eastern for you. Please
mark your calendars with the following Zoom information: Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/7733076440?pwd=RSs1M1ZYcWk5WVFOdEFIOEF5UkpmZz09&omn=95782327506

Meeting ID: 773 307 6440
Passcode: 72632
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,7733076440#,,,,*72632#
Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

   - November 6: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement at 8:00 p.m.
   - November 7: Call for Presidents interested in National Youth Programs
   at 8:00 p.m.
   - November 10: Bay Bridge Run
   - December 17: Hotel Contract Review Training at 8:00 p.m.
   - December 19 and 22: Chapter Presidents Calls at 8:00 p.m.
   - February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In
   - February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar
   - July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana

 The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.



Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Please engage with me through Riccobono Personal AI
<https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile>
Mastodon: @President at nfb.social
Pronouns: he, him, his
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