<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><a name="m_692118855737530251_m_-1787023692865884834_m_-7091135253983714892_OLE_LINK9"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">President\u2019s Notebook</font></b></a></div><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">National Federation of the Blind<u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Mark A. Riccobono<u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">410-659-9314</font></h1><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></div><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Independence Market Holiday Hours:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Please note that the Independence Market will be closed for calls on the days of December 24, 25, and 26. The market will also be closed starting at 12:00 noon, Eastern, on Wednesday, December 31 and all day on January 1 and 2. Our Independence Market ecommerce site will still be open during these times, but orders may take a little longer to process, so please be patient.<u></u><u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></b></h3><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span>Update on Recurring Donation Processing:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px"><span style="font-weight:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Several weeks ago, we announced a change to how we are processing recurring monthly donations. Though we thought we would be processing at this point, we are still working with our vendors to make sure there are no issues. As soon as we can, hopefully this week, we will start processing December contributions and then catch up on November PAC contributions. If you do not want us to process your November contribution, please send an email to <a href="mailto:PAC@nfb.org" target="_blank">PAC@nfb.org</a> with your name and direction to not process November's PAC transaction. We appreciate your patience as we work through unforeseen challenges. Please contact Bridgid Burke at <a href="mailto:bburke@nfb.org" target="_blank">bburke@nfb.org</a> or 410-659-9314, extension 2271, with any questions or concerns.<u></u><u></u></font></span></h3><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></b></h3><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">From the President\u2019s Desk: The Federation Shares Pressing Concerns with Vispero\u2019s CEO:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">In <a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor/early-access-articles/presidents-desk-federation" target="_blank">an article in the upcoming <i>Braille Monitor</i></a>, I released my recent correspondence with Vispero\u2019s new CEO regarding urgent member concerns about changes to the company\u2019s access technology products and policies.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">National Museum of the Blind People\u2019s Movement Legislative Alert:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Just this past Sunday, December 14, we sent out a <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislative-alerts/pass-national-museum-blind" target="_blank">legislative alert regarding the National Museum of the Blind People\u2019s Movement Act</a> (H.R. 6467/S. 3371). The purpose of this legislative alert is to create a surge in cosponsor support for the bill so that it can ultimately be passed and signed into law and our museum will have the national recognition that it deserves. Please be sure to contact your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the National Museum of the Blind People\u2019s Movement Act (H.R. 6467/S. 3371)!<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></b></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Latest Podcast Episodes:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Tune into our <a href="https://podcasts7m.podbean.com/e/communicating-with-blind-people-what-sighted-people-should-know/" target="_blank">new episode of the <i>Nation\u2019s Blind Podcast</i></a> where Melissa and Anil are joined by board members Marilyn Green and Tracy Soforenko. They share interesting and sometimes surprising social interactions that they\u2019ve had with sighted people while traveling, hanging out with friends, and even while spending time with family members, especially during the holidays. They also discuss the best ways that sighted people should communicate with blind people.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Listen to episode seven of our <i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i> podcast entitled \u201c<a href="https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/e/episode-7-chapter-4-democracy-in-transition-the-second-generation-part-1/" target="_blank">Episode 7: Chapter 4 - Democracy in Transition: The Second Generation, Part 1</a>.\u201d<u><u></u><u></u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><a href="https://buff.ly/DnyeSos" target="_blank">Episode 55 of <i>Access On</i></a> is now available. Jonathan discusses Zoom\u2019s accessibility journey with Samuel Greene, product manager for Zoom North America. He also talks to our new accessibility excellence advocate for home and independent living, Ron Miller. Ron outlines his history in access technology and discusses the difference we can all make together to improve accessibility.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h2 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Reminders:<u></u><u></u></font></h2><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><span><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Braille Readers Are Leaders:<u></u><u></u></font></b></span></h3><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:16.8667px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:18.4px">Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest will last through the end of the contest on January 16. This year, we will have the youth, adult, and teachers of blind students contests. You will want to complete the first activity, as that will give us your address so that we can send any prizes you win along the way. Completing other activities will earn you badges of honor. Use the </span><a><span style="line-height:18.4px">Beanstack website</span></a><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134);text-decoration-line:underline"><span style="line-height:18.4px"> </span></span><span style="line-height:18.4px">or the Beanstack app to log your reading minutes each day. Have fun and challenge your friends, family members, and colleagues who read Braille to join you. </span><u></u><u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h2 style="margin:0in"><a name="m_692118855737530251_m_-1787023692865884834_m_-7091135253983714892__Hlk183426075"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Dates to Keep in Mind:<u></u><u></u></font></a></h2><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li style="margin:0in;color:black;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar<u></u><u></u></font></span></li><li style="margin:0in;color:black;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas<u></u><u></u></font></span></li><li style="margin:0in;color:black;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas<u></u><u></u></font></span></li><li style="margin:0in;color:black;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois<u></u><u></u></font></span></li><li style="margin:0in;color:black;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois<u></u><u></u></font></span></li></ul><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:16.8667px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="line-height:18.4px;color:black"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></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="color:black"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls<u></u><u></u></font></span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:14.95px;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">Wednesday, February 4<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:14.95px;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">Wednesday, May 6<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:14.95px;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">Wednesday, August 5<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15px;color:black;line-height:14.95px;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">Wednesday, November 4<u></u><u></u></font></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></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"><br></p><h2 style="margin:0in"><span style="font-weight:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">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.<u></u><u></u></font></span></h2><h2 style="margin:0in"><span style="font-weight:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>National Federation of the Blind <br>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<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></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">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></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> <u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration-line:none"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="m_692118855737530251m_-1787023692865884834m_-7091135253983714892_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" style="width:2.1875in;height:0.7916in"></font></span></a></p></div></div></div>
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