<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="gmail-gmaildefault" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><b><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"></span></b></span><b style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">President’s Notebook</span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
</span></b><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><b>officeofthepresident@nfb.org</b></a></span><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="line-height:150%;color:rgb(17,85,204)"><br>
</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">410-659-9314<br>
</span></b><b><span style="line-height:150%"><span></span></span></b></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:150%"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dear Federation
Family,<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:150%"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></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:150%"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">In two weeks,
we will all be back together again in convention assembled. If you are like me,
you have to shake off the dust to remember what it is like to plan for travel
and the various details of being in person. The muscle memory does fade.
Remember to pace yourself and focus on the fact that the most important thing
is our having a positive in-person experience together. Let your affiliate
president know if there are aspects of our coming together that you need
assistance with during the next weeks. I do encourage you to study the agenda
as there are a number of changes in our format.<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:150%"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"> <span></span></font></span></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Convention:<span></span></font></h1>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Social Media 101:<span></span></font></h1>
<h3 style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:150%">To prepare for #NFB22, on June
21, 2022, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, the National Federation of the Blind is
hosting an introduction into social media–specifically Facebook and Twitter We
will be covering engagement tips and technical navigation of these two
platforms. </span><span style="line-height:150%"><a href="https://zoom.us/j/91855174270" target="_blank">The Zoom Meeting ID is 918 5517 4270</a></span></span><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-weight:normal">. This is a great opportunity for social media coordinators
within your affiliate or division. Please share.</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 size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">There will be
time for Q&A; however, please feel free to send questions in advance to
Danielle McCann at </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="mailto:dmccann@nfb.org" target="_blank">dmccann@nfb.org</a></span><span style="line-height:150%"> or 410-659-9314, extension 2246. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2738&reset=1" target="_blank">Read more details on the
Social Media 101</a></span><span style="line-height:150%">.<span></span></span></font></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Get to Know the #NFB22
Sponsors and Exhibitors:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">We greatly
appreciate the </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/sponsors" target="_blank">2022 National Convention
Sponsors</a></span><span style="line-height:150%"> who support the work of
the Federation, and we are grateful for the dynamic and exciting experience of
the exhibit hall each year. The National Federation of the Blind is hosting two
pre-convention showcases to meet the sponsors and exhibitors:<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="gmail-m9081052023553251484msolistparagraph" style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">Join the sponsor showcase virtual preview on
Monday, June 27, at 8:00 p.m., eastern time. Hear from each of the sponsors,
what they offer, and how you can connect with them at the convention and
beyond. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://zoom.us/j/92969058502" target="_blank">Zoom
Meeting ID is 929 6905 8502</a></span><span style="line-height:150%">.<span></span></span></font></li><li><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">Join the exhibitor showcase virtual preview
on Tuesday, June 28, at 8:00 p.m., eastern time. Learn about each exhibitor,
what they will offer in the exhibit hall, and how you can connect with them if
you won’t be attending in person. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://zoom.us/j/98430318608" target="_blank">Zoom Meeting ID is 984 3031 8608</a></span><span style="line-height:150%"> </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"> </span></font></li></ul><p></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">#NFB22 Virtual Experience
Details and Banquet Party Form:<span></span></font></h1>
<p style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">The 2022
National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind is almost
here. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=481" target="_blank">Registration for the NFB22
virtual experience is still open</a></span><span style="line-height:150%">. We encourage
you to promote the virtual experience with chapter members who are not going to
New Orleans—it’s a great way to be connected to the organized blind movement
during the week of July 5 through July 10. There will be a virtual experience
component each day of the convention with exclusive activities, including door
prizes. For members who will be attending the virtual experience and hosting a
banquet party, we would love to know about your party for the chance to say
hello from convention. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/banquet-party-form" target="_blank">Complete
the National Convention Virtual Experience Banquet Party Form by June 30</a></span><span style="line-height:150%">. <span></span></span></font></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">News:<span></span></font></h1>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Developing Entrepreneurs
within the NFB:<span></span></font></h1>
<p style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">The National
Federation </span><span style="line-height:150%">of </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">the Blind is proud to announce a partnership with Synergies Work
and SmartJob</span><span style="line-height:150%">s</span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">. This
partnership </span><span style="line-height:150%">has been developed to
assist </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">entrepreneurs within the NFB through Synergies
Work's i2i Entrepreneurship Program. Th</span><span style="line-height:150%">is is </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">a ten-week, i2i Entrepreneurship Program that provides learning
labs, one-on-one mentorship, and impact grants.</span><span style="line-height:150%"><span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">Synergies Work is
the largest incubator accelerator program committed to enabling entrepreneurs
with disabilities build sustainable businesses by bridging the opportunity gaps
between the disability and the business community.</span><span style="line-height:150%"><span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="line-height:150%;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%;color:black">If you're an
entrepreneur who is looking to launch or grow your business, you can learn more
about this partnership at </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FYhzhC2k16yIpK48ySnFlF3%3Fdomain%3Dsynergieswork.org&data=05%7C01%7Calewis%40nfb.org%7C41e6f2374f7e4c6a695208da4fc57cef%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637910006880021553%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CdY87ROUpGDwL%2BA6dnXvG6v51Sv4tlGpWGXbGKSm%2B%2Bo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">SynergiesWork.org/i2i</a></span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"> or by attending the information session on June 22, at 5:00
p.m., eastern. </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2F5uopC4xYgATBYnlkTBuyki%3Fdomain%3Dus02web.zoom.us&data=05%7C01%7Calewis%40nfb.org%7C41e6f2374f7e4c6a695208da4fc57cef%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637910006880021553%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=g9DN3rtlZnPR1%2Biv0H31uED0SWB%2BfbVjbPuoYdkRflc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Register
online.</a></span><span style="line-height:150%"> <span></span></span></font></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Social Security
Administration Kiosks:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:150%">The NFB
continues to seek information about the accessibility of the Social Security
Administration’s current visitor-intake-processing methods. If you have visited
an SSA field office since their reopening in April 2022, or plan to visit an
office soon, please contact Valerie Yingling at 410-659-9314, extension 2440,
or </span><span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="mailto:legal@nfb.org" target="_blank">legal@nfb.org</a></span><span style="line-height:150%">. We are specifically gathering information on whether the field
offices are using kiosk, web-based, or human check-in processes, and whether
these processes are accessible to blind individuals. <span></span></span></font></p>
<h1 style=""><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dates to Keep in Mind: (all
times eastern)</font></h1><h1 style=""><ul><li><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">June 21, 2022: <span style="line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2738&reset=1" target="_blank">Social Media 101</a></span></font></li><li><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">June 27, 2022: Get to Know the
Sponsors!</font></li><li><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal"> </span><span style="line-height:150%">June 28, 2022: Meet the
Exhibitors</span>July 5-10: 2022 <span style="font-weight:normal;line-height:150%;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention" target="_blank">National Convention</a></span><span style="font-weight:normal;line-height:150%">, New Orleans</span></font></li></ul></h1>
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