<div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote"></div></div></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr"><a name="m_-5797139383263912710_m_1059291576736659293_m_-1898563895335147302_OLE_LINK9"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"></span></a></div><div><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:'calibri',sans-serif;color:rgb(49,49,49);font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;line-height:normal;height:auto"><a name="m_-5797139383263912710_m_-1898563895335147302_OLE_LINK9"><span style="font-family:'arial',sans-serif;font-size:1.166667rem">President’s Notebook<u></u><u></u></span></a></h1><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:'calibri',sans-serif;color:rgb(49,49,49);font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;line-height:normal;height:auto"><span style="font-family:'arial',sans-serif;font-size:1.166667rem">National Federation of the Blind<u></u><u></u></span></h1><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:'calibri',sans-serif;color:rgb(49,49,49);font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;line-height:normal;height:auto"><span style="font-family:'arial',sans-serif;font-size:1.166667rem">Mark A. Riccobono<u></u><u></u></span></h1><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:'calibri',sans-serif;color:rgb(49,49,49);font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;line-height:normal;height:auto"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" style="color:rgb(66,133,244)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:1.166667rem">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a><span style="font-family:'arial',sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></h1><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:'calibri',sans-serif;color:rgb(49,49,49);font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none;line-height:normal;height:auto"><span style="font-family:'arial',sans-serif;font-size:1.166667rem">410-659-9314</span></h1></div></div><div><div lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div></div></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dear Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">I hope this message finds you doing well as we are going into some
of the busiest convention weekends of the year. I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge some new affiliate presidents who have joined the ranks during the past month.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">The first is Diane Graves of Indiana who has served briefly as
affiliate president previously. We are glad she is back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">Our next new president is in Iowa where Helen Mejia has finished
her first week as affiliate president after a very successful NFB of Iowa convention.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">Finally, this past weekend, long-time affiliate president Carla
McQuillan transitioned out of her role and the convention elected Stephanie McGary as the new president of our Oregon affiliate. I was honored to be on hand to celebrate Carla McQuillan’s decades of leadership in our Oregon affiliate and beyond.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
</div><div><h2 style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span>Critical Actions:<u></u><u></u></span></span></span></h2></div><div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote"><div lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div>
<h3><span><span><span><b>Bay Bridge Run:<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></span></h3>
<p style="line-height:115%" dir="auto"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Organization
of Parents of Blind Children invites you to join us for the Bay Bridge Run on November 10. It’s not too late to register and join Team NFB Dreamers for this 10k walk/run as we bridge the gap between blind people and our dreams. Please visit
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/BayBridge" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">https://nfb.org/BayBridge</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
to learn more and to register. Register by October 25 to receive a Team NFB Dreamers hat before the event. You can also find our
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/bay-bridge-run/bay-bridge-run-participant-toolkit" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Participant
Toolkit</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
for use in your fundraising efforts. If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please contact Rachel at
</span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:rheld@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">rheld@nfb.org</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
or 410-659-9314, extension 2423.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Upcoming Presidential
Release:<u></u><u></u></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Federation
of the Blind presidential release chapter version will be available on November 1—the audio, transcript, and Spanish translation. The chapter version is intended to be played during each chapter meeting throughout the month.
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Access
the chapter version and live details</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.<u></u><u></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">The next Presidential
Release Live will be Monday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m., eastern. Zoom details are below. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Presidential Release
Live Zoom:<u></u><u></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/99284657783" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Via
Zoom Meeting ID is 992 8465 7783</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">One tap mobile:
+13017158592,,99284657783#</span></span></span></span></p>
<h2 style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span>News:<u></u><u></u></span></span></span></h2>
<h3><span><span><span><a name="m_-5797139383263912710_m_1059291576736659293_m_-1898563895335147302__Hlk181082449"><b>Election Information on NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>:<u></u><u></u></b></a></span></span></span></h3>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We
have added the All Politics Now publication to our Breaking News Online category on NFB-NEWSLINE. Additionally, we have implemented a candidate search option for the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The searches are done across top newspapers,
breaking news, international outlets, and magazines. To access this information via telephone, select option 1 from the main menu, then option 5 for the 2024 candidate searches. If using the NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app, go to the Information Sources tab, select
"All Publications," and then "Candidate 2024 Searches." For subscribers using Web News on Demand, choose "Publications Organized Alphabetically" and select “2024 Candidate Searches.”</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<h3><span><span><span><b>Blind Voters Survey and Election Day Hotline:<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></span></h3>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Our online Blind
Voters Survey is available, and we encourage anyone who has already voted to complete it so that your experiences, whether positive or negative, can be documented. There are three versions of the survey depending on how you voted:
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDJGSS8" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Voted in person</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VYYJDXT" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">voted absentee</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,
or the </span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7J3G7FH" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">Spanish language
survey</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
(which includes both in-person and absentee voting options). Our Election Day Hotline will be operational on Tuesday, November 5. The hotline number is 877-632-1940.</span></span></span></span></p>
<h3></h3>
<h3><span><span><span><b>Upcoming Early Childhood Initiatives: Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program:<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in" dir="auto"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Again, this year the National Federation
of the Blind is not only helping Santa out with Braille letters to blind children, but our program also has a winter-themed Braille letter for those who do not celebrate the Christmas holiday. We are excited to provide both of these letters in English and
Spanish. Parents of children under the age of ten can select one of the options that best fits their family.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Starting November 11, 2024, parents can
request the Braille activity packet online or via email. The celebration packets will start going out to blind children around the country on December 2. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print copy for the whole family to participate in the
fun activities that accompany the celebration letters. The deadline for letter requests is December 16 to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before the winter season ends.</span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Learn
more about the Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br></span></span></span></span></p>
<h3><span><span><span><b>Social Security Administration Settlement:<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></span></h3>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Federation
of the Blind is pleased to announce a significant settlement agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), resolving a lawsuit we filed along with two blind individuals in 2020. The agreement marks a victory for blind Americans by providing more
accessible options for interacting with the SSA through electronic (instead of wet ink) signatures. The case challenged the SSA’s policies limiting the use of electronic signatures for critical forms related to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
The lawsuit alleged that these restrictions created significant barriers for blind and low-vision individuals and other people with disabilities who needed to apply for or access benefits, violating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To learn about
the details of the settlement, which includes reimbursement of $300,000 in attorney’s fees,
</span></span></span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/index.php/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-announces-landmark-settlement-social-security" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">read
the official press release</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%"><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Affiliate and
Division Website Redesign Project Update:<u></u><u></u></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%" dir="auto"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Federation
of the Blind is upgrading the affiliate and division websites to modernize and unify the Federation’s web presence onto the Drupal platform—forty-five state sites have gone through the process as of October 2024. The most recent transitions were NFB of Montana,
NFB of Oklahoma, NFB of Texas, NFB of Missouri, and NFB of New York. The last series of state sites are Idaho, Virginia, Oregon, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and California. We will share an update on the divisions after completing the states. We are also
in the process of upgrading all sites to Drupal 10. For questions about the project, please email
</span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:NFBProjectTeam@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">NFBProjectTeam@nfb.org</span></span></span></span><span><span><span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<h2 style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:22px">Dates to Keep in Mind:</span><br></h2><h2 style="line-height:115%"><u></u></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(all times eastern)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li style="margin-left:0in;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">November 10: Bay Bridge Run<u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0in;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In
<u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0in;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar<u></u><u></u></span></li><li style="margin-left:0in;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><u></u> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc" dir="auto">
<li style="color:black;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.</span></li></ul>
<h2 style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-weight:normal">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</span><span style="font-size:22px"> </span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind <br>
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</a><br>
410-659-9314 | <a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please engage with me through <a href="https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile" target="_blank">
<span style="color:blue">Riccobono Personal AI</span></a><br>
Mastodon: @President@nfb.social <br>
Pronouns: he, him, his<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" style="width:2.1875in;height:.7916in" id="m_-5797139383263912710m_1059291576736659293m_-1898563895335147302_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_-5797139383263912710m_1059291576736659293m_-1898563895335147302_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_-5797139383263912710m_1059291576736659293m_-1898563895335147302_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter"></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_-5797139383263912710m_1059291576736659293m_-1898563895335147302_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube"></span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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