<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><b> </b><span class="gmail-gmaildefault"><b><span style="color:black"></span></b></span><b><span style="color:black">President’s Notebook<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
</span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><b>officeofthepresident@nfb.org</b></a><b><br>
410-659-9314<br>
</b></span><b><span></span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">Dear
Federation Family,<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">Thank
you! You all made our 2022 National Convention in New Orleans so amazing. Our
host affiliate was fabulous, and each of you stepped up along with our
ambassadors, dealt with unforeseen circumstances, and brought many positive
interactions to the convention. <span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">I want
to emphasize the opportunity we announced at the NFB board meeting during
convention for a chapter in your affiliate to host the October Presidential
Release Live. <span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">“Host a
Presidential Release LIVE in your affiliate! By chapter, affiliate, or even
region, we are asking you to submit a brief proposal to have the October
Presidential Release LIVE in your area. We will come to you! Please email <span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:membership@nfb.org" target="_blank">membership@nfb.org</a></span> your
pitch on what the release setup would be and any details that would help us
determine that your chapter is the right host for this opportunity. Why should
we come to you? Be creative and share stories on how it will help your chapter
build the Federation. Ideally the release would take place on September 30,
October 1, or October 2, 2022. Deadline to submit your proposal is Sunday,
August 28, and we will announce the accepted proposal on the September release.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><br></font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Revised
Constitution:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><span class="gmail-m4603038076744151291heading3char">The newly updated constitution,
approved by the Convention, has been posted at </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/constitution" target="_blank">https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/constitution</a></span><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">.<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Mark
Your Calendar for August Presidential Release:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">The
next <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank">Presidential Release</a></span> of
the National Federation of the Blind is scheduled for August 2, 2022, at 8:00
p.m., eastern time. Zoom details coming soon.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">#NFB22
Highlights Coming Soon:<span></span></font></h1>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">The 2022 NFB National Convention highlights, in various formats,
will be available by July 30. Access the Presidential Report, resolutions,
banquet speech, and YouTube archives:<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26642&qid=" target="_blank">Spirit, Togetherness, and Service:
The Signature of the Blind People's Movement</a></span></font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26643&qid=" target="_blank">2022 Presidential Report</a></span></font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26644&qid=" target="_blank">2022 Resolutions</a></span></font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26645&qid=" target="_blank">YouTube Playlist of General
Sessions</a></span></font></li></ul><p></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black">Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone
who made #NFB22 a success. </span><b> </b><span></span></font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Read
Our Latest Post on Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">Longtime
Federationist, Todd Elzey, wrote about his employment experiences and
excitement for the promotion of self-employment opportunities in the recent
post, <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/entrepreneurism-solution-unemployment-and-underemployment-blind" target="_blank">“Entrepreneurism: A Solution to
Unemployment and Underemployment of the Blind.”</a></span><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"><span></span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July Braille
Monitor Available:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">The
latest issue of our flagship publication is now available. Read about the
coverage on the “We’re With U!” concert, discussion on chapter chatter, stories
from members, and more. <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm22/bm2207/bm2207tc.htm" target="_blank">Access the<i> Braille Monitor</i> now.</a></span><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"><span></span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">We
Did It!:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">Thanks
to all of you and a gift from Netflix, we reached our goal of $50,000 in the
Give $20 campaign. HumanWare will match that gift. Everyone who contributed,
spread the word, and otherwise made this possible can be pleased by the
results.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thank
You to the #NFB22 Sponsors—More Virtual Opportunities Available:<span></span></font></h1>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black">We greatly appreciate the <a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/sponsors" target="_blank">2022 National Convention Sponsors</a></span><span class="gmail-m4603038076744151291msohyperlink"><u><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"> </span></u></span><span style="color:black">who
support the work of the Federation. Continue the #NFB22 learning experience
with <a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2022-national-convention-virtual-experience#1" target="_blank">more virtual seminars presented by
our sponsors</a>:</span><span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 19,
2:00-4:30 p.m., eastern: Digital Accessibility at Target: From Shopping to
Employment. <span style="color:black"><a href="https://target.zoom.us/j/94951605699?pwd=cDVHRlIvTmZrNDZjV1ZhWERvTE5VZz09" target="_blank">Join the Digital Accessibility at
Target Meeting</a></span>. Meeting ID: 949 5160 5699. Passcode: 341747</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> July
25, 3:00–4:00 p.m., eastern: Job Training Without Limits, presented by
Clusiv. <span style="color:black"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85835889308?pwd=bGVlRzRCKysrRXUwZ1Jld1BoWW02QT09" target="_blank">Join the Job Training Without
Limits, presented by Clusiv</a></span>.</font></li></ul><p></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Independence
Market:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;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">The
Independence Market was unfortunately closed all last week. It reopened today
(July 18), and we are working to complete our backlog as soon as possible. We
appreciate your patience. </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Self-Employment
Opportunities with Synergies Work:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">The
National Federation of the Blind has partnered with Synergies Work, an Atlanta
nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs with disabilities, to empower blind and
low-vision entrepreneurs across the country to launch new businesses and grow
existing enterprises through <span style="color:black"><a href="https://synergieswork.org/i2i/" target="_blank">Synergies
Work's Idea to Incubation (i2i) Program.</a></span> No
experience required but space is limited.</font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif">CENA
Event:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"><span style="color:black">Learn some
of the basic-but-powerful techniques experts use every day to build
accessibility into their documents. Join the NFB’s Center of Excellence in
Nonvisual Access on July 26, 2022, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., eastern, to learn how
to make Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files accessible for all. <a href="https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg" target="_blank">Register today</a></span><span></span></font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">SSA
Kiosks:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">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, plan to visit an
office soon, or would be interested in being a tester for the NFB, please
contact Valerie Yingling at 410-659-9314, extension 2440, or <span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:legal@nfb.org" target="_blank">legal@nfb.org</a></span>. 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></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> <span></span></font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Uber
and Lyft Ride Denials:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4">The NFB
continues to gather information regarding ride denials not only due to service
animals, but also related to a traveler’s use of a white cane, as well as
access barriers on the companies’ apps. We know that Uber and Lyft drivers
continue to discriminate and request that you complete <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/rideshare-discrimination-survey" target="_blank">NFB’s survey</a></span> and
share your experiences with us for our continued legal advocacy. We are
especially interested in hearing from individuals who use Uber and who do not
have their own account, using either a third-party service such as GoGo
Grandparent; paratransit, concierge, or medical appointment dispatchers; or who
use Uber via a friend, spouse, or other individual’s account.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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" size="4"> </font></p>
<h1 style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Dates
to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="gmail-m4603038076744151291msolistparagraph" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">August
2: Presidential Release</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">August
31: Deadline for affiliates to request Action Fund Braille calendars</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">January
30, 2023: Great Gathering-In</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">March
23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium</font></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></b></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div></div></div><div dir="auto"></div><font color="#888888"></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>