<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Greetings
all,<br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">To help
stay connected with our National Office and the work of our organization I am
sharing some of President Riccobono's weekly notebook, National Items of
Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind.<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Please
read and save for future reference.<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br>Warmly,<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Linda Melendez, President<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">732-421-7063<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;line-height:115%">Email: </span><a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">president@nfbnj.org</span></a><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">****<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><a name="m_6239756815756701985_m_-3487882468646559765_m_5573230349796465530_m_1412506259006487073_m_-397005143975677"><span style="line-height:115%">President’s Notebook</span></a><span style="line-height:115%"> <br>
Week of January 18, 2021<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono <span></span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dear Fellow
Federationists,<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Here's hoping
everyone had a great day of service for the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Our headquarters was closed yesterday in honor of the holiday, and I know our
diversity and inclusion work coming up in 2021 will be consistent with the
values that Dr. King worked toward every day. An important part of our work
this year is to provide anti-bias training to our leaders; more information
coming soon.<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">As we speed
toward Washington Seminar, I just wanted to note that the Super Bowl is on
February 7. I note that Pam Allen's Buffalo Bills and my Green Bay Packers are
still in the hunt. Hats off to Pam and the other Bills fans for stepping up to
honor Baltimore's quarterback who suffered a concussion during the game. This
outstanding gesture of kindness and generosity is what we need more of in this
great nation. We have a lot of work to do before Sunday's games, so let's go
build the Federation with love, hope, and determination.<span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><h3 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">2021 Washington Seminar Legislative
Priorities – Fact Sheets:<span style="color:rgb(31,55,99);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">The fact
sheets for our </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington-seminar-agenda" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">2021 legislative priorities</span></a><span style="line-height:115%"> have been posted to the website. This year we have decided
to bring four issues to Capitol Hill: the Access Technology Affordability Act,
the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, the Twenty-First Century Mobile
Apps and Website Accessibility Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Voting
Rights Act. With these priorities, we strive to remove obstacles to economic
opportunity, home-use medical devices, websites, and civil rights.<br><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington-seminar-agenda" target="_blank">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington-seminar-agenda</a> <br><span></span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><h3 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">COVID-19 Memorial:<span style="color:rgb(31,55,99);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">The
Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is hosting a memorial to remember and
honor the lives lost to COVID-19. On January 19 at 5:30 p.m. eastern, Americans
are invited across the country to come together for a national moment of unity
and remembrance. As part of the memorial, the National Federation of the Blind
has on our building’s rooftop digital sign an image of a lit candle on a black
background with the words “In remembrance” above it. We send our love to blind
Americans, family, friends, and everyone impacted by COVID-19. Learn more about
the memorial at </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><a href="https://bideninaugural.org/covidmemorial/" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">https://bideninaugural.org/covidmemorial/</span></a><span><u><span style="line-height:115%;color:rgb(5,99,193)">. <span></span></span></u></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><h3 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Presidential Inauguration:<span style="color:rgb(31,55,99);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">Audio
Description, live closed captioning, StreamText captions, and ASL are available
for the National COVID-19 Memorial (January 19) and the Inauguration of Joe
Biden and Kamala Harris (January 20). For the audio description, ASL, and
caption links, visit </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><a href="https://bideninaugural.org/accessibility/" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">https://bideninaugural.org/accessibility/</span></a><span style="line-height:115%">. </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%"><br></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">For the schedule of events, visit <br></span><a href="https://bideninaugural.org/schedule/" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">https://bideninaugural.org/schedule/</span></a><span style="line-height:115%">.<span></span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><h3 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Apply for 2021 Bolotin Awards:<span style="color:rgb(31,55,99);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">The National
Federation of the Blind is accepting nominations of individuals or
organizations who are a positive force in the lives of blind people and help us
transform dreams into reality. Each application must include a letter of
recommendation.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%"></span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards/application-information" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">Learn more and submit a nomination for the
2021 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards</span></a><span style="line-height:115%">. <span></span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></span></p><h3 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Scholastic’s Dragon Masters:<span style="color:rgb(31,55,99);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">Dragon
Masters is a book series from Scholastic written by Tracey West. The series is
about the adventures of a variety of eight-year-old boys and girls who are
teamed up with dragons. In book sixteen of the series, Tessa is the Dragon
Master to the Sound Dragon, Sono. Tessa is clever, brave, and blind. Access BRF
files of the book series at </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.actionfund.org/resources/dragon-masters" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:115%">https://www.actionfund.org/resources/dragon-masters</span></a><span style="line-height:115%">.<span></span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span></p><h2 style="margin:2pt 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dates to Keep in Mind:<span style="color:rgb(47,84,150);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></font></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">(all times
eastern)<span></span></font></span></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">February
     1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">February
     8: <span style="color:windowtext"><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar" target="_blank">Washington Seminar</a> </span>Great
     Gathering-In<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">March
     1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">March
     24-26: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">March
     31: <span style="color:windowtext"><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist" target="_blank">Scholarship application</a> </span>deadline<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">April
     1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">April
     15: <a href="https://www.nfb.org/bolotin" target="_blank">Bolotin Awards</a> nominations deadline<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">May
     2: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">June
     1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></font></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">July
     6-11: NFB National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana<span></span></font></li>
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