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<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>I have forwarded President Riccobono’s Notebook that is forwarded to the
affiliate presidents.</DIV>
<DIV>I decided to forward all information as some is quite urgent and some is
provided for your interest and consideration.</DIV>
<DIV>Please take careful attention to the section titled, Critical
Action.</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share with others.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President
<BR>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your
unwanted vehicle to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call
855 659 9314<BR></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org
href="mailto:OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org">President, National Federation of the
Blind</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, November 06, 2017 12:04 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org
href="mailto:OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org">President, National Federation of the
Blind</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> NFB President’s Notebook - week of
11/06/2017</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<H1><A name=OLE_LINK7></A><A name=OLE_LINK8></A><A name=OLE_LINK9><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7">President’s
Notebook<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></A></H1>
<H1><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7">National
Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></H1>
<H1><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7">Mark A.
Riccobono<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></H1>
<H1><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><A
href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></H1>
<H1><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7">(410)
659-9314<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7"><o:p><FONT
size=3></FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link7"></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link8"></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: ole_link9"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dear Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I wish to call your attention to a very pressing item today.
There is immediate need to get the word out about the elimination of the blind
exemption in the tax proposals that are moving on Capitol Hill now. Please take
a moment to call Congress, distribute the call-to-action to other members, and
encourage our members to make calls as soon as possible. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>There were many affiliate conventions this weekend. I want to
thank the NFB of Connecticut for their hospitality this weekend. I also wish to
acknowledge the nearly two decades of service that Jim Antonacci gave as
president of our Pennsylvania affiliate. This past weekend, Jim successfully
passed the torch of leadership to Lynn Heitz. Thank you to Jim and welcome to
Lynn. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The 2018 National Convention will be held from July 3-8 at
the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando Florida. We are seeking an affiliate or a
team of affiliates to serve as our host committee for 2018. If you are
interested, please reach out to me as soon as possible. More details about the
convention will appear in the December <I>Braille Monitor</I>.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<H2>Critical Actions This Week:<o:p></o:p></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">Action Needed Regarding the
Proposed Tax Bill:<BR>The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (H.R. 1) was introduced
last Thursday, November 2, in the United States House of Representatives.
Beginning in tax year 2018, this bill will repeal the standard deduction for
blind people valued at $6,350 for the 2017 tax year. Please call your
representative and urge him or her to maintain this critical tax deduction for
the blind as soon as possible. The House Ways and Means Committee begins mark up
on this bill today, Monday, November 6. The best way to contact your member of
Congress is to call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the
office in question. Emailing your member of Congress is also a good idea. If you
do so, please copy <A href="mailto:JPare@nfb.org">JPare@nfb.org</A>.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<H2>News:<o:p></o:p></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">Presidential Release:<BR>The
November release is available at <A
href="https://nfb.org/presidential-releases">https://nfb.org/presidential-releases</A>.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><o:p><FONT
size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">NFB Scholarship Program:<BR>We
are accepting scholarship applications from November 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018.
This annual program offers thirty scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000 to
eligible students, from high school seniors beginning their freshman year in the
fall semester of 2017, up through graduate students working on their PhD
degrees. Go to <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</A> for complete
rules and requirements.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><o:p><FONT
size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">Santa Letter Program:<BR>Santa’s
coming, Santa’s coming, and he’s sending Braille letters to children all over
the country. That’s right it’s the time of the year for the NFB Santa Letter
Program. Beginning next Monday, November 13, parents can submit an application
for their young blind child to receive a Braille letter from Santa. This letter
also comes with a coloring page, a recipe, a craft, and song lyrics. The print
for each of these items is sent along as well. Once the program is open, you
will be able to apply at <A
href="https://nfb.org/santa-letters">https://nfb.org/santa-letters</A>. The
program runs until December 15. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">Tactile Art Program:<BR>As of
October 27, 2017, we have had 415 applicants for the Tactile Art Program, with
at least a quarter of those participants completing the pre-survey as well. We
hope to have five hundred tactile art kits out by the end of the year.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph>Independence Market Closures:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph>The Independence Market will be closed Friday,
November 10, and Monday, November 13. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">NAPUB Call:<BR>The National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) is pleased to announce its
first telephone conference/presentation/discussion on issues surrounding Braille
in the United States. On Thursday, November 9, NAPUB will be pleased to have
Curtis Chong share his experiences with the Orbit Reader 20. The Orbit Reader 20
is a twenty-cell, eight-dot refreshable Braille display. The call will
take place at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. The
call-in information is (605) 472-5772, code 154426#. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=Default style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><SPAN
style='BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; COLOR: windowtext; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in'>BRAL
Contest:<BR>The NFB of Illinois, in partnership with the National Association to
Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) is pleased to extend the 2017-18 Braille
Readers Are Leaders (BRAL) contest to any NFB affiliate that wishes to
participate. </SPAN><SPAN
style='BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; COLOR: windowtext; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in'>If
your affiliate submits $100 to the NFBI, an unlimited number of children in your
state can enter the contest. The kids can start reading on December 15, so that
amount should be received by the NFBI before that date. Contact Patti Chang at
</SPAN><A href="mailto:pattischang@gmail.com"><SPAN
style='TEXT-DECORATION: none; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; COLOR: windowtext; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in'>pattischang@gmail.com</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; COLOR: windowtext; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in'>
for transaction details. The NFB of Illinois will take care of the
administrative details for the contest, including providing and mailing out all
prizes. Each participating affiliate, however, will be responsible for
publicizing the contest within its own state. </SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif'>The complete contest rules,
registration form, and the reading log form will be available by November 8 on
the website, </SPAN><SPAN class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif'><A
href="http://www.nfbofillinois.org">http://www.nfbofillinois.org</A></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif'>.</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">Autonomous Vehicle Summit:<BR>On
Wednesday, October 25, we hosted a meeting of automakers, advocates, disability
organizations, and ride-sharing providers regarding the development of
autonomous vehicles. The intention of the meeting, titled “The Promise:
Autonomous Vehicles and the Disability Community” was to reinforce the necessity
that these future cars be made accessible to all people, especially those with
disabilities. As stated in a <A
href="https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-and-automakers-host-conference-promise-autonomous-vehicles-and-disability">joint
press release from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the NFB</A>:
“Autonomous vehicles offer disabled Americans opportunities for increased
mobility and independence, as well as reliable transportation that could vastly
increase employment opportunities.” <o:p></o:p></P>
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