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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>I have forwarded President Riccobono’s notebook for December 4, 2017.</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">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
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
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><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>Subject:</B> NFB President’s Notebook - week
of 12/04/2017</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>President’s Notebook<o:p></o:p></H1>
<H1>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></H1>
<H1>Mark A. Riccobono<o:p></o:p></H1>
<H1><A
href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</A><o:p></o:p></H1>
<H1>(410) 659-9314<o:p></o:p></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<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>The spirit of the holidays is being felt at our national
headquarters. During the past week our staff decorated for the season, making
the place look spectacular—as always. Last Thursday we held a dinner for our
partners and supporters that included hot cider, making the fourth floor smell
just like the best of your family holiday dinners. Before our supporter’s
dinner, I and other Federation leaders spent time with some of our key partners
discussing what we might do together in 2018. Those meetings were taking place
as the earthquake centered in Delaware rolled through the building. Some of you
have asked if we were impacted. The fact that some in the building felt the
quake and others were surprised that it happened is an indication that the quake
was only a minor event in Baltimore. During our dinner Thursday night we showed
our thank you video, which can be found at <A
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O41xcFDMCZk&feature=youtu.be">this
page</A>. This is a great link for you to share with those in your local
affiliate who have contributed to the work of our organization this
year.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>On Friday and Saturday, the Board of Directors of the
National Federation of the Blind met to review our progress and make plans for
the next year. This jam-packed meeting included the Federation Thanksgiving—a
gathering where our leaders and our staff come together to share food and
fellowship. On Friday, over two hundred letters were shipped out as part of our
partnership with Santa Claus to provide Braille letters from the jolly old
fella. This is only the first shipment of letters—there is still a little time
to get requests in. This partnership might be the reason that the guy in the red
suit left some packages for our young participants in the Federation
Thanksgiving. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The year is not yet over. We have a lot of work to do before
the holidays come. This includes some advocacy in Washington, DC. Please
continue to keep up on the notes that are coming to you and help to amplify our
calls for action. Those affiliate presidents who registered to come to the
retreat on January 27-28 in Baltimore will receive a survey in the next
twenty-four hours. Please complete this survey before the week is over. If you
do not receive the link, it means that we did not receive notice that you are
coming. <o:p></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">Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Upcoming
Action:<BR>The Senate passed their version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act early
Saturday morning. The bill will go to conference committee today, and we will be
distributing the list of conference committee members later today or tomorrow.
The Senate version maintains the additional standard deduction for the blind and
the House version does not. The difference means that this will be one of the
items that needs to be resolved in conference. The National Federation of the
Blind remains concerned about the possibility that the bill could trigger
“PAYGO” rules that could result in dramatic cuts to vocational rehabilitation
and IDEA funding. Read our <A
href="https://nfb.org/organization-says-senate-tax-bill-disastrous-education-employment-blind-americans">press
release</A> from last week to learn more about this item. We will need to flood
the conference committee with our messaging so keep a lookout for our next
legislative alert.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<H2>News:<o:p></o:p></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in">December Presidential Release:
<BR>Presidential Release #467 is now available. You can find it, and all the
Presidential Releases, on <A href="https://nfb.org/presidential-releases">this
page</A> of the NFB website. President Riccobono records the release each month
to share Federation news with local chapters. Please remind chapter leaders to
share it at chapter meetings.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph>Donor Appreciation Video:<BR>We have released a new
video to share with our supporters to thank them for their generosity and let
them know what their contributions have helped us accomplish in 2017. The video
is now on our home page and also on <A
href="https://youtu.be/O41xcFDMCZk">YouTube</A>. Please share it with donors in
your state and local area. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph>Website Maintenance:<BR>The National Federation of the
Blind website will be down for maintenance starting the evening of Wednesday,
December 6, and is expected to be back online by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday,
December 7.<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">Updated NFB Connect App:<BR>If
you haven’t already, visit the iTunes App Store and download the updated NFB
Connect app. Among other performance improvements and enhancements, you will now
receive notifications when new content is posted to the <I>Voice of the Nation’s
Blind Blog</I> and be able to access our Twitter feed right from the app. You
can download the improved NFB Connect app by copying and pasting this link into
Safari on your iOS device: <A
href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nfb-connect/id968434124?mt=8">https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nfb-connect/id968434124?mt=8</A>.
Also, please give us feedback about the app so that we can continue to make
improvements and add new features.<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">DYDIC Screenings:<BR>Thank you to
the twenty-one affiliates who have screened the film <I>Do You Dream in
Color</I> in their communities during Meet the Blind Month and beyond. This film
is a powerful way to amplify our messages about the ability of blind people to
live the lives we want, and the importance of equal educational access and
opportunities for blind students. During October and the early part of November,
screenings took place in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West
Virginia. The reports we have received indicate that many positive discussions
with students, parents, educators, community leaders, and the general public
have been sparked by this film. In addition, we have heard that blind people
have been inspired to pursue their own dreams that push the boundaries of
traditional expectations. To learn more about the film, visit <A
href="http://www.doyoudreamincolor.com">www.doyoudreamincolor.com</A>.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>