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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>I have provided President Riccobono’s Notebook for the week of December
9,
2019.</DIV>
<DIV>A good number of updates and happenings to consider.</DIV>
<DIV>Joe </DIV>
<DIV> </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'><B>From:</B>
<A title=OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org
href="mailto:OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org">President, National Federation of
the
Blind</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 09, 2019 4:57 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> NFB President’s Notebook - week of
12/09/2019</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>President’s Notebook</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>Dear Fellow Federationists,</DIV>
<DIV>Last week we opened our Barney Street wing, which was remodeled during
the
past nine months. You can read about the new space in an upcoming issue of
the
Braille Monitor, and you will get to stay in it during our presidents
gathering.
Our opening event was a great success and there is no doubt that the new
space
reflects the strength, warmth, and community we find in our movement.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The December Presidential Release is available now. It includes
critical
information about rooms for our Washington Seminar so please make sure it
gets
to all of those who need it for their chapter meetings.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our partners at the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
want
affiliates and chapters of the National Federation of the Blind to know that
there are still Braille calendars for 2020 available for free. To request
calendars, email
actionfund@actionfund.org<mailto:actionfund@actionfund.org>, or call
410-659-9315.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>News:</DIV>
<DIV>This Sunday: Open-House Gathering for Prospective Members:</DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind hosts an open-house-gathering call
to
discuss membership with those who are interested or unsure of becoming a
member.
It is an opportunity to hear from active members and leaders on the myths
and
uncertainties of the Federation. The next call is scheduled for December 15
at
4:00 p.m. eastern. Sign up by emailing
membership@nfb.org<mailto:membership@nfb.org> or calling 410-659-9314,
extension 2509.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Voting Letter to Secretaries of State:</DIV>
<DIV>Currently, the majority of states do not provide blind and low-vision
voters with an accessible way to mark an absentee ballot. As an activity
under
our Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant from the US Department of Health and
Human Services, we recently sent a letter to the secretary of state for
these
states to remind them of their obligation to provide accessible absentee
voting
as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recent
court
decisions in cases brought by the NFB in Maryland and Ohio. The letter is
attached for your information. If you receive any feedback from your
secretary
of state or state elections officials in response to this letter, or if you
have
questions about accessible absentee voting, please contact Lou Ann Blake,
deputy
director of Blindness Initiatives at
lblake@nfborg<mailto:lblake@nfb.org>
or 410-659-9314, extension 2221.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Braille Monitor: Convention Bulletin 2020 and More:</DIV>
<DIV>Whether you plan to eat more green vegetables or to visit the gym
beyond
the month of January, there is one goal that must be on your New Year list:
resolve to be in Houston this July for the National Federation of the Blind’s
2020 National Convention. Check out the latest issue of the Braille Monitor
that
includes many details for the 2020 National Convention, Washington Seminar,
open
enrollment for various scholarships and awards, stories for the holiday
season,
and more. Read the December Braille Monitor<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm19/bm1911/bm1911tc.htm">https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm19/bm1911/bm1911tc.htm</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>AIM High Legislation Dropped:</DIV>
<DIV>Last week, Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN) and Congressman Joe Courtney
(D-CT)
introduced the Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act,
also
known as the AIM HIGH Act (H.R. 5312). More information is available in our
press release found on our website<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-aim-high-act-0">https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-aim-high-act-0</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tips and Tools for an Accessible Smart Home:</DIV>
<DIV>The idea of a “smart home” is becoming less science fiction and more of
a
reality. On December 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. the National Federation
of
the Blind is hosting an accessibility boutique via Zoom teleconference that
will
cover security systems, appliances, in-home applications, and entertainment
systems. Register today<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques</A>>!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Reminders:</DIV>
<DIV>Last Week to Request Santa Letters:</DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind provides Braille Santa letters to
young children across America. Along with the Braille letter, Santa includes
a
print letter so that parents who might not read Braille can follow along. He
also includes other fun holiday activities. Deadline to submit request is
December 16. Submit your Santa letter request today!<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dates to Keep in Mind:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> * December 16, 2019: Deadline for Santa
letters<<A
href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters</A>></DIV>
<DIV> * January 9-11, 2020: NFB 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> * June 21-27, 2020: NFB EQ; St. Paul,
Minneapolis</DIV>
<DIV> * July 14-19, 2020: NFB National Convention,
Houston,
Texas</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>
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