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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>I have provided highlights from the President’s Notebook.</DIV>
<DIV>Please review all that is offered and and forward to others.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Warmly, Joe </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>National Federation of the Blind</DIV>
<DIV>Mark A. Riccobono</DIV>
<DIV>officeofthepresident@nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV>410-659-9314</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Fellow Federationists,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You can tell we are in the heart of fall now as the activity around the
Federation is quite intense. I am heading to one of the ten affiliate
conventions happening this next weekend along with other visits to meetings
for
the Federation. I appreciate the continued feedback that you all provide; it
is
very helpful to make sure our national organization is providing the
assistance
you need in building the local organization. If you have things that require
my
immediate attention, I urge you to call or text me as my travel schedule
makes
it difficult to keep up with the inbox. There are many notes for you this
week.
I encourage you to take pieces of this and incorporate them into your
affiliate
communications.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Most importantly, in case you missed it, our first vice president, Pam
Allen, was recently recognized with a community award for her outstanding
service, which is driven by her understanding and expression of the
Federation
philosophy. It is nice to witness the community coming to acknowledge what
we
already know about one of our most outstanding leaders. This video is worth
sharing with others<<A
href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qRNqK_98Vn0">https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qRNqK_98Vn0</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Critical Actions This Week:</DIV>
<DIV>Convention Dates Have Changed:</DIV>
<DIV>The 2020 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind
will
be held July 14-19 in Houston, Texas. While the convention was originally
planned for two weeks earlier, the Federation agreed to move its convention
to
accommodate activities in the city of Houston. We believe this change will
further enhance the program, exhibits, and dynamic content provided at
America's
civil rights and resource convention of blind people and their families.
More
information regarding convention arrangements will be published in the
December
issue of the Braille Monitor.</DIV>
<DIV>News:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest:</DIV>
<DIV>Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, administered
by
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with
the
National Federation of the Blind, will open Friday, November 1. The contest,
with categories for children and adults, will run through January 18, 2020,
and
reading logs must be submitted by February 1, 2020. Details, including entry
information, can be found at <A
href="https://actionfund.org/BRAL">https://actionfund.org/BRAL</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Presidential Release:</DIV>
<DIV>The November release will be available on Friday in the usual
locations.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>National Highway Transportation Safety Administration NPRM
Comments:</DIV>
<DIV>There has been a lot of discussion about updates to the Pedestrian
Safety
Enhancement Act (PSEA) in recent weeks, and I wanted to reiterate the
National
Federation of the Blind’s stance on the issue of multiple possible alert
sounds.
The National Federation of the Blind has always supported the idea that car
companies might want to provide more than one sound that is compliant with
the
regulations set forth under the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which was
signed into law on January 4, 2011. We supported this language because
multiple
sounds have the potential to create greater societal acceptance, and any
sound
that manufacturers provide must be compliant. Our most recent comments to
the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-no-nhtsa-2019-0085.pdf">https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-no-nhtsa-2019-0085.pdf</A>>
reinforce this position. Federation leaders are welcome and encouraged to
add
their comments to the department’s request for feedback.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OSERS National Instructional Materials Access Standard (NIMAS)
Comments:</DIV>
<DIV>I have also provided comments to the US Department of Education
regarding
the accessibility of digital educational content and instructional
materials, as
well as the continued instruction and utilization of Braille in the
classroom.
The letter is available on our website<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-id-ed-2019-osers-0111.pdf">https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/nfb-response-to-docket-id-ed-2019-osers-0111.pdf</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Scholarship Program–Call for Applications Starts November 1:</DIV>
<DIV>A note from Cayte Mendez: Every year, the National Federation of the
Blind
awards more than $120,000 to blind scholars across the fifty states, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in recognition of their achievements
and
professional aspirations. The scholarship program is our commitment to
academic
excellence and leadership among blind students, and each winner is awarded
on
the basis of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. The
application process opens this week, November 1. Review the scholarship
application checklist<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist</A>>
and the scholarship program FAQs<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-faqs">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-faqs</A>>.
Share this opportunity that invests in the future of blind people. Learn
about
the eligibility and requirements of the 2020 scholarship program<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV>Santa Braille Letters:</DIV>
<DIV>It is time for Santa letters. Between November 11 and December 16,
parents
can go online at www.nfb.org/santa-letters<<A
href="http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters">http://www.nfb.org/santa-letters</A>>
and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be
printed
and faxed to 410-685-2340 or emailed to
communityrelations@nfb.org<mailto:communityrelations@nfb.org>.
Beginning
Monday, December 2, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to
boys
and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by
a
print copy (for mom and dad to read) as well as some other fun Christmastime
activities. The deadline for letter requests is December 16 to ensure that a
return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. For more information,
visit www.nfb.org<<A
href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV>Dates to Keep in Mind:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> * January 9-11, 2020: BELL® Academy Training
Seminar</DIV>
<DIV> * February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington
Seminar begins</DIV>
<DIV> * March 26-27, 2020: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium,
Baltimore, Maryland</DIV>
<DIV> * April 14-17, 2020: NABM BLAST<<A
href="http://www.blindmerchants.org">http://www.blindmerchants.org</A>>;
Chicago, Illinois</DIV>
<DIV> * July 14-19, 2020: NFB National Convention,
Houston,
Texas</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is
not
what holds you back.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mark A. Riccobono, President</DIV>
<DIV>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</DIV>
<DIV>(410) 659-9314 |
officeofthepresident@nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>[National Federation of the Blind]<<A
href="https://nfb.org/">https://nfb.org/</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
[Facebook] <<A
href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</A>>
[Twitter] <<A
href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice</A>>
[Youtube] <<A
href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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