<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif";font-size:14pt">Greetings all,</span><br></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">To stay connected with our National Office and the work
of our organization I am sharing President Riccobono's weekly notebook,
National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Please read and save for future reference.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Warmly, <br>
Linda Melendez, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>
732-421-7063<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">president@nfbnj.org</a><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">****<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_-5693012658052747800_OLE_LINK9"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">President’s
Notebook</span></a><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif""><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br>
410-659-9314<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Dear Federation Family,<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">January has started off with a flurry of activity. If
you missed it, we announced a significant increase to the Federation’s
scholarship program (read below), and we have been pursuing the question of
at-home COVID testing accessibility with an intense effort to get the attention
of the administration.<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">I was interviewed by the local ABC affiliate here in
Baltimore, and an article appeared today in the New York Times quoting me
on at-home testing accessibility issues. If you have not already activated
members in your affiliate/division on this topic, please do so. If you learn
about the accessibility of a particular kind of at-home COVID test, please
share that with our staff here at the national office. Karl Belanger (<a href="mailto:kbelanger@nfb.org" target="_blank">kbelanger@nfb.org</a>) is
taking the lead on compiling information about test accessibility.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Critical
Actions:<span></span></span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Help Push
for Answers Regarding At-home COVID-19 Tests<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The Biden administration announced that it will be
distributing free at-home COVID-19 tests to households in the United States. It
is critical that these tests be accessible nonvisually. Help push for answers
by engaging on Twitter. Twitter is a social media platform that provides a
public opportunity to demand that the Biden administration put accessible
systems in place for test distribution and work with us and test manufacturers
to make the tests accessible. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2530&reset=1" target="_blank" title="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2530&reset=1">Learn how you
can help in this recent email to members.</a><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">News:<span></span></span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Important
Scholarship Program Updates:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">As one of our longest-running and most important
initiatives, the National Federation of the Blind scholarship program helps
blind students reach their educational and employment goals and so much more.
Building on its strong foundation, we are now significantly enhancing the awards
granted and making the experience even more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful
for the finalists. <a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-enhances-largest-scholarship-program-blind-scholars" target="_blank">Read the press release on the scholarship program</a>.
Encourage students to apply. <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm22/bm2201/bm220113.htm" target="_blank">Share the Braille Monitor article, National
Federation of the Blind 2022 Scholarship Program</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Applications
Open—NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The National Federation of the Blind is offering one
three-week virtual program of the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition this summer
to prepare blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent
blind people by enhancing their education. Options are available for beginner,
intermediate, and advanced students July 18 through August 5, 2022. Space is
limited. In-person options coming soon! <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy" target="_blank">Applications
for NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition are now open</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Upcoming
Event—Digital Streaming Services:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Learn all about how you can enjoy music, movies, and
live television from practically any internet-connected device. Join the
National Federation of the Blind on January 25, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. eastern,
to discuss what these services offer, how accessible they are, and what to
consider when subscribing to a service. Take advantage of this free opportunity
and <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration" target="_blank">register for the accessibility boutique</a> today!<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">January
Presidential Release Available:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The January Presidential Release is available <a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank">on the NFB website</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">January Braille
Monitor Available:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The latest issue of the National Federation of the Blind
flagship publication is now available. Read about the 2022 National Convention,
voting, the scholarship program’s important updates, visual descriptions, and
many stories from members. <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm22/bm2201/bm2201tc.htm" target="_blank">Access the Braille Monitor now.</a><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Read the
Latest Blog Post:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Danielle McCann shares her insights to the questions she
receives about being blind from people who are experiencing significant changes
in their vision or are relatives of newly blind people. <a href="https://nfb.org/blog/its-ok-not-be-ok" target="_blank">Read our latest Voice
of the Nation’s Blind Blog, It’s OK Not to Be OK</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Where the
Blind Work Webinars:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">As part of our Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
initiative, the National Federation of the Blind presents another in a series
of Where the Blind Work webinars on Wednesday, January 26, at 8:00 p.m.
eastern, via Zoom. Hear from a panel of blind professionals in a variety of
fields and engage in Q&A. For information about how to register, please
contact Maurice Peret, coordinator of career mentoring and employment programs,
at 410-659-9314, extension 2350, or <a href="mailto:mperet@nfb.org" target="_blank">mperet@nfb.org</a><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">2022
Virtual Career Fair:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Attention job seekers, employers, and rehabilitation
professionals: In conjunction with the National Federation of the Blind’s
Washington Seminar, the 2022 Virtual Career Fair is to be held on February 7,
from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. eastern.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">This is your opportunity to identify potential qualified
candidates or career opportunities, increase your professional network, and to
learn about important business and workforce trends. Preparatory webinars for
job seekers and employers will occur on Monday, January 17, and Monday, January
24, at 7:00 p.m. eastern.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Job seekers should include a current resume with their
registration to be shared with employers. For information about how to
register, contact Dick Davis at <a href="mailto:dickblind@gmail.com" target="_blank">dickblind@gmail.com</a> or John Dubay at <a href="mailto:jdubay@leadsatscale.com" target="_blank">jdubay@leadsatscale.com</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Dates to
Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">February 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">February 7: Great Gathering-In, 5:00 p.m.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">February 7-10: <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/" target="_blank">Washington Seminar</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">March 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">March 31: Deadline to submit <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships" target="_blank">scholarship application</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">July 5-10: National Convention, New Orleans </span></li></ul><p></p>
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