[NFBofSC] An Open Letter to Federation Chapters Regarding the Presidential Release

[Steve & Shannon Cook]

by Mark Riccobono

 

Dear Federationists:

 

In my role as President of the National Federation of the Blind, I love
attending local chapter meetings since that is the place where the heartbeat
of the organization begins. The chapter meeting is my monthly grounding in
what is central to our organization-connecting with our Federation family,
hearing about the ups and downs members experience, sharing my own ups and
downs, explaining what we are doing as a movement, and engaging in
conversations about where we have been and where we wish to go together at
all levels of our organization. Unfortunately, I cannot physically be at
every local chapter meeting across the country. Yet some of the engagement
and dialogue that I would have in person is facilitated through the
Presidential Release. 

 

Playing the Presidential Release at your local monthly chapter meeting fuels
progress toward our organizational objectives by allowing me to:

.Speak directly to our membership in an environment where questions can be
raised, issues can be discussed, and we can spark meaningful conversation

.Share what we are doing at a national level and strengthen the common bond
we hold in our movement

.Cultivate the understanding and feeling that we are an authentic national
network and that our local work has value that stretches beyond our
community

.Inspire people to act to advance our collective interests

.Share happenings in the Federation family to connect our members with
Federationists they may have met outside the local community

.Build a direct connection between the leadership and the membership

 

These are all important to our movement, and I hope this letter helps you to
have a deeper understanding of why they should be important to your chapter.
Careful attention goes into the Presidential Release to ensure that it
contains important information, builds relationships, and includes some
humor-known as "customary endings." Good chapter meetings are busy and
packed with program-which should include the Presidential Release. If your
chapter is not consistently playing the Presidential Release every month,
this letter is to ask you to work closely with your chapter president to
make sure it is part of the monthly program.

 

 

The very first Presidential Release was made on November 12, 1973, and I
first heard a Presidential Release in the fall of 1996 after I became
president of the student division for the Wisconsin affiliate. The question
of why chapters of the National Federation of the Blind should offer the
Presidential Release at the monthly chapter meeting has been around as long
as I have been in the organization, and I suspect it came up before that
time. As we come to the forty-fifth anniversary of this organizational
asset, it seemed appropriate that the question get attention directly from
the horse's mouth-or maybe it is the horse's hooves since this is being
composed on a computer.

 

What is the Presidential Release?

 

The Presidential Release is a monthly communication that is planned and
presented by the President of the National Federation of the Blind. It is a
direct message from the President of the national organization to the
members at the local level, and it is intended to be shared within a local
chapter meeting. The Presidential Release was originally distributed on
cassette tape to chapter presidents and other Federation leaders. In 2012 it
began being distributed on a flash drive which dramatically cut the time for
duplicating and distributing the release. Not too long after that we began
posting the audio file to nfb.org, and starting with the August 2015
release, #441, we added an RSS feed allowing it to be podcast. Shortly after
that we added a new version of the Presidential Release which is intended to
reach out to members who primarily speak Spanish-the first Spanish release
was November 2015, #444. In the same timeframe that we moved away from
cassette tape distribution, we established a telephone number that could be
called to listen to the release, and that capability was later moved to
NFB-NEWSLINE where you can now find the release on the National Federation
of the Blind channel. In January of 2018 we began posting the English and
Spanish transcripts of the Presidential Release at nfb.org to provide access
to members who are deafblind. To make sure our list is comprehensive, I
should mention that the Presidential Release can also be accessed on devices
like the Amazon Echo or by pulling up the NFB Connect mobile application on
iOS or Android. To get the release with Amazon Alexa say, "Play the
Presidential Release podcast." In general the Presidential Release is made
eleven times a year, and it is available prior to the first Saturday of the
month on the website and via the podcast feed. We generally have the
Presidential Release posted within twenty-four hours of recording it, and
the Spanish and text versions follow later in the month. I am not aware of
any Federation chapters that meet earlier than the first Saturday. Therefore
every chapter should plan to have the Presidential Release at their chapter
meeting as long as a new one has been produced for that month

 

What is the purpose of the release?

 

The Presidential Release is intended to be a common bond shared among all of
the chapters of the Federation. Our organization is strong because it is a
wide, diverse network of chapters working on common issues. The release is
also an opportunity to make the President of the Federation more personally
known by the members. Obviously I cannot be at every chapter meeting, but
the release allows me to share some personal reflections, information about
what is happening, and some personal notes that might not otherwise be
widely distributed. The release is also a reminder for members of the
Federation that they can reach out directly to me to share ideas,
information, and feedback. I am always surprised when a member asks if they
can have my email address since it is on the Presidential Release  every
month. 

 

 

The release is also a tool that chapters can use to spark discussion about
the topics that are raised. For example, discussion of organizational
priorities, the national convention, pressing legislative concerns, or new
Federation projects are an opportunity for chapters to discuss how those
national themes fit into the priorities of the chapter and how the chapter
can contribute. The goal is to have a united organization where we
coordinate work at all levels-local, state, and national-and we find ways to
maximize opportunities for blind people. 

 

When should the Presidential Release be played at chapter meetings?

 

The most important thing to know is that presenting the audio version of the
Presidential Release should be a regular part of every chapter meeting
agenda. At what point in the meeting it should be played and how it should
be discussed is up to the chapter president as the individual running the
meeting. Some chapters use it as the first major item of content at the
meeting. Others work it in immediately before a report from the affiliate
president. Still others take it in chunks so that discussion can happen
after a particularly important item has been raised on the release. I
caution against the release being the final item on the agenda if it has the
effect of encouraging some members to beat the crowd and leave before the
meeting is over. I also urge that it not be used as background noise for a
break in the meeting. Both of those approaches diminish the intent and
importance of the release to the Federation. 

 

 

The Presidential Release should be introduced with some context for new
members. chapter presidents have an opportunity to remind existing members
and educate new members before every release is played about its value in
bringing the chapter together with every other chapter in the nation. The
preamble to the release need not be long, but it is important to remind each
other why we do what we do. 

 

 

Although many members think I do not know, I am well aware that the release
is sometimes played at a faster speed at some chapter meetings. I do not
strongly object to this practice, but I do urge that chapter presidents be
sure that the faster speed works for everyone in the room. Some people have
hearing difficulties, and many newly-blind people may not be comfortable
with listening to things at a higher rate of speed. Thus, my preference is
that the Presidential Release be presented at the speed it was intended to
make sure that it is as accessible to as many people in the room as
possible. The playing of the release should be thoughtfully placed in the
meeting, offered in its entirety, and its presentation should be managed by
the chapter president. 

 

How does the Presidential Release  fit into today's fast-paced communication
culture?

 

 

In 1973 when the first release was made by Dr. Jernigan, or even in July
1986 when Dr. Maurer recorded his first Presidential Release (#117), we did
not have the diverse and speedy communication tools we have today. It can be
argued that email, Twitter, Facebook, podcasting, and other methods of
sharing information mean that the information on the release is outdated as
soon as it arrives. I believe this is not the case. In fact, if you go back
and listen to the release over the years you can hear some of the
commonality and some of the evolution. The release is presented in my voice,
and much of our other organizational communication is heard through other
voices. We provide less detail about specifics of Federation activities than
we once did because we can now refer people to the website. Thus, rather
than giving all of the details about the program for the law symposium or
our next youth STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math]
program, I can discuss the overall program and refer people to other sources
for the details. Additionally, the release shares information that we do not
share through other organizational channels such as celebrations of new
Federationists (babies and grandbabies) and new Federation marriages as well
as local Federationists who have passed away. This section of the release,
which I refer to as the Federation Family notes, reminds us that we are a
diverse, grassroots organization where most of our contributors are not
high-profile names known to all across the nation. However, many of the
names are widely known because of meetings at national conventions, service
on a Federation committee, or information sharing through the Federation
network. More than any other tool of communication we have, the release
brings the personal element of shared understanding between our leaders and
our members. 

 

 

When I first heard the Presidential Release in 1996, I came to know that our
President was a blind man who faced the same barriers and misconceptions
that I did as a struggling student at the University of Wisconsin. The
national President was better at dealing with the barriers than I was, and
the release helped contribute to my development of methods and skills to
cope with obstacles I encountered. When I finally met Marc Maurer in person,
I felt like I already knew him from the release, and it eased my nervousness
about approaching the President. Similarly, it is my hope that the
Presidential Release brings members of the Federation to a place where they
know me and can work with me. I could write something to the members every
week or send out a Tweet of the day, but it will not be as personal or as
comprehensive as the Presidential Release is today. I also believe that the
release is an important part of cataloguing our progress as a movement. It
gives us a running understanding of the Federation's concerns and priorities
over time, and it allows us to understand those concerns through the
perspective of the principal leader of the movement. The release itself has
given us a mechanism for continuing to evaluate what we do and how we might
do it better-hence the evolution of the ways of distributing the release and
the change from a communication that went primarily to leaders to one that
is easily accessed by anybody (member or not). I hasten to add that I've
seen this availability to everyone used as a reason not to take chapter time
for the release, but, as I've already made clear, the release is meant to
stimulate discussion in the meeting and not just as another source of
information.

 

 

It is also worth noting that research demonstrates that people have to be
exposed to things multiple times-seven is the number used in marketing
circles-before it sticks with them. Even if the Presidential Release
emphasizes content that is promoted in other places, the fact that it is on
the release is helping it gain importance and building understanding within
the membership. A good example is that someone once said to me that they
were not invited to visit the Presidential Suite at the national convention.
Besides the fact that it is in the convention agenda every year and we
mention it throughout the convention, I have specifically invited people to
come to the suite and thanked them for coming on Presidential Releases. Why
did this individual think they were not invited? I suspect because the
Presidential Release may not have been played at their chapter meeting.

 

How can you contribute to the release?

 

 

I have tried to make the Presidential Release authentic to my style as a
leader of the Federation. I have also tried to encourage people to share
ideas, topics, and customary endings that might help shape the content of
the release in ways that are helpful to the Federation. While I wish to have
feedback and ideas, you should know that I have avoided certain things. I
frequently get requests to announce a chapter fundraiser on the release, and
I have consciously decided not to open up those floodgates. I may share
interesting fundraising ideas that chapters are implementing, but I do not
think the Presidential Release is the correct forum for pitching candy bars
and umbrellas. I invite customary endings, and I have tried to encourage
people to send audio clips of young Federationists sharing those treasures.
Sometimes I receive jokes which are not appropriate for the family
atmosphere we want at our chapter meetings. Other times I receive cute
recordings, but they are hard enough to understand that I decide not to
include them. In other words, just because you send a contribution does not
mean it will be included for a variety of reasons. On the whole, I never get
enough feedback on things you would like to hear discussed on the release. 

 

And now for the real customary endings:

 

This was the only ending on the very first Presidential Release offered by
Kenneth Jernigan:

 

 

What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer. 

 

On Marc Maurer's first release in July 1986 he offered a number of one
liners but this one seems most appropriate for a customary ending:

 

What goes ha, ha, ha bam? A man laughing his head off.

 

My favorite ending from the first forty Presidential Releases I have
recorded appears at the very end of #458 (February 3, 2017). This ending is
delivered by me to Oriana Riccobono. I think the ending is a good one, but
Oriana's reaction is the real Presidential Release gem-you will have to pull
up the episode online to hear what happens. Here is my ending:

 

 

What did the coffee say to the cream? I do not always know how to espresso
my feelings, but I love-a you a latte!

 

 

As we come to the close of this Presidential Release letter, I wish to offer
a few items that might be of interest. Dr. Jernigan wrote an article upon
the occasion of the 100th release in 1984. That article notes that he tried
to keep the release to about twenty minutes. I had not known that fact until
putting this letter together. I also try to keep it to about twenty minutes,
but frequently it runs longer because of the number of important topics that
I want to cover. With today's digital delivery of the release, chapter
presidents can easily note the run time of the release and work that into
the planning of the chapter agenda. You can read the other nuggets from the
first one hundred releases in the February 1985 issue of the Braille Monitor
in the article entitled "Presidential Releases" (available at
https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm85/bm8502/

bm850203.htm).

 

 

We only have eleven releases a year-how come? Because we do not have twelve
of course. Actually the reason is that traditionally one is not made very
close to the national convention because the organization is focused on the
activities of the national convention. The President does not want to scoop
any of the happenings of the convention on the release, and chapters should
be discussing the national convention during that month. I did not examine
the archive to determine if there was ever a year when we had a release very
close to the convention because there was something urgent. However, I can
remember years when we have had more than eleven releases. Typically this
means we do not have a release in June, but can you think of a year when we
had a June Presidential Release? It happened in 2017 because the convention
was late enough in July that the July release would have come out
immediately before the convention.

 

 

We have mentioned the first release by other Federation Presidents. What was
my first release you might ask? It was July 2014, #429. I have tried to do
some different things on the Presidential Release in the time I have been
putting it together. Including my family in the release has been fun-my son
Austin even tries to create his own customary endings now. I also once
invited the Amazon Alexa to offer customary endings-probably the first time
they were offered via the cloud. If the pattern for releases holds, the five
hundredth Presidential Release will be December of 2020-seems like that
presents an interesting opportunity to do something fun.

There are a lot of fun and interesting jobs related to serving as President
of the National Federation of the Blind. The Presidential Release is one of
the fun tasks to tackle. It is not always that the news to be delivered is
joyful, but the release itself-what it represents and the bond that it
allows me to strengthen with members of the Federation-is really important
to me and valuable to our organization. I hope that you will join me in that
bond by making the Presidential Release a priority at Federation chapter
meetings. Equally as important, I urge you to continue contributing to that
bond by giving me feedback and sending customary endings-I would love to put
more young Federationists on the release. If you have great customary
endings but no young Federationists to deliver them, send them anyway-I have
three members that I go to when a recording is needed. It is my honor to be
a part of every chapter meeting within the National Federation of the Blind.
I hope to get to your chapter in person very soon. Even if I cannot be there
in person, I appreciate that I have the opportunity to offer my perspectives
at the meeting. In many large organizations the primary leader serves at a
distance to the members. That is not the Federation way, and I am glad to
continue the tradition of direct engagement with members at all levels.
Remember that together with love, hope, and determination we transform
dreams into reality. Let's go build the National Federation of the
Blind.Steve Cook

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