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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h3><b>Attn Alaska affiliate. 2026 American Action Fund Braille Calendars Available:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thanks to the generosity of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, Individual blind people can order up to three Braille calendars for 2026. Requests from individuals will be fulfilled through the end of the year. Calendar requests should be sent to </span><a href="mailto:calendars@actionfund.org">calendars@actionfund.org</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. Please allow up to two weeks for delivery. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>National Convention Highlights: </b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who made #NFB25 a success. Access the </span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2025-national-convention">2025 National Convention highlights</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> now to relive the most powerful moments.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Save the Date: Bay Bridge Run as Part of Our Coast-to-Coast Movement Challenge:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is again welcoming any and all to participate in person by walking or running the Bay Bridge in Maryland on November 9. Mark your calendars and plan to move with us. Registration information will be coming soon. Learn more at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/movers">https://nfb.org/movers</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2>News:<o:p></o:p></h2><h3><b>2026 American Action Fund Calendars for Affiliates:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3>As mentioned above, thanks to the generosity of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, Braille calendars are now available. Federation affiliates can order up to fifty 2026 American Action Fund Braille Calendars. Please note that your order must be received no later than August 31, 2025. To place an order for your affiliate, please send an email to <a href="mailto:calendars@actionfund.org">calendars@actionfund.org</a> and put “Federation Affiliate Request” in the subject line. Your request must come from the affiliate president, and it must be received by August 31, 2025. <o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act Introduced in Congress:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3>Late last month, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced S. 2438, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) also introduced an identical companion bill in the House, H.R. 4771. Now it’s time for all of us to contact our senators and representatives to request they cosponsor this legislation so we can once and for all abolish subminimum wages for disabled Americans!<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>State Presidents and Legislative Directors – Advocacy Update Call on Monday, August 25:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><h3>On Monday, August 25, at 8:00 p.m., Eastern, the NFB government affairs group will host an advocacy update call to discuss the progress of our legislative priorities, as well as advocacy strategies for when Congress is back in session in September. Please be sure to join us for this very important call. The Zoom information for the meeting is below:<o:p></o:p></h3><h3>Join Zoom Meeting<br><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/97902242888?from=addon">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/97902242888?from=addon</a><br>Meeting ID: 979 0224 2888<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Teachers of Tomorrow:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoListParagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>We are excited to have selected the 2025-2026 National Federation of the Blind Teachers of Tomorrow cohort. This immersive professional development opportunity connects early career teachers of blind students with the lived experiences of blind people, helping them have higher expectations for their students throughout their careers. This year we are excited to have teachers from the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Contact information for teachers in your affiliate will be emailed to you shortly. Please reach out to them and welcome them to the Federation.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during October each year. Chapters across the country organize local outreach events. Submit your events, activities, and celebrations to </span><a href="mailto:web@nfb.org">web@nfb.org</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> so they can be posted on </span><a href="https://nfb.org/blind-month">https://nfb.org/blind-month</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. Reminder: please use the terms Blind Equality Achievement Month, Blind Month, or #BlindMonth when referring to and promoting activities. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>One idea for an activity for Blind Equality Achievement Month: Plan an event around virtual participation in the Coast-to-Coast Movement Challenge as a chapter or an affiliate. Members and friends can walk together on a date you choose. Visit </span><a href="https://nfb.org/movers">https://nfb.org/movers</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> and learn more. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please consider organizing an event for White Cane Awareness Day on October 15 with the White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation template. The template is available to print or share digitally. Fill in the details of your local area and identify a city council member or mayor to sponsor the proclamation. Please note that the event can also take place the weekend before or after October 15 if needed. </span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/meet-blind-month/white-cane-awareness-day-proclamation">White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation (HTML)</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/white-cane-awareness-day-proclamation-final.docx">White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation (Word)</a><o:p></o:p></li></ul><h3> <o:p></o:p></h3><h3><b>NFB Affiliate Treasurers Training:</b><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Affiliate presidents please share with your treasurers that the affiliate treasurers training originally scheduled for Saturday, August 9, is rescheduled to Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern. We do not usually reschedule events, but we want to make sure as many treasurers as possible can attend. There are no fall conventions to compete with on September 27, and hopefully few vacations. The affiliate finance team looks forward to spending a productive day with treasurers. If you think there is a topic we should discuss with affiliate treasurers, please send it to </span><a href="mailto:bburke@nfb.org">bburke@nfb.org</a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><a name="_Hlk183426075">Dates to Keep in Mind:<o:p></o:p></a></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk183426075'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(all times Eastern)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk183426075'></span><h3><b>Save the Date</b><o:p></o:p></h3><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>October: Blind Equality Achievement Month</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 8-13, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement</b><o:p></o:p></h3><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, November 5</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b>Chapter Presidents Calls</b><o:p></o:p></h3><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;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><o:p></o:p></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal'> </span><o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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"><span style='color:blue'>Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please engage with me through <a href="https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile"><span style='color:blue'>Riccobono Personal AI</span></a><br>Mastodon: @President@nfb.social <br>Pronouns: he, him, his</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7916in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>