[NFBofSC] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 01/25/2023

Wed Jan 25 23:00:20 UTC 2023

Good Evening,

Please take a careful look at the President’s Notebook. There is a great deal of important information in this communication.

My Best,

Marty

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 9:26 AM
To: State Presidents <StatePresidents at nfb.org>; NFB-Division-Leaders at nfbnet.org; NCB Staff <NCBStaff at nfb.org>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 01/25/2023

President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

Our 2023 Washington Seminar is only days away. It is hard to believe that it has been three years since our last in-person time on the Hill. You all have done a terrific job of keeping us in front of the policymakers during the time of social distancing. Now we have the opportunity to move our work into high gear with our presence on Capitol Hill. Let’s do this!

I am anticipating the opportunity to be in the midst of our affiliate president leadership group this weekend. This will help us to strengthen our connections and imagine the future we want for our movement. Thank you for dedicating the time and energy to this effort.

Here’s hoping for smooth travel, good weather, and no encounters with “Airport Guy”!

Critical Actions:
Braille Calendar Deadline:
The closing date for Braille calendars will be January 31. Please make sure to place your order by then.

Washington Seminar:
2023 Washington Seminar—NEXT WEEK!:
We are less than one week away from the Great Gathering-In and the official start of the 2023 Washington Seminar, and I can’t wait to have hundreds of blind Americans advocating for our rights on Capitol Hill. But before you get to Washington next week, make sure you prepare by visiting nfb.org/Washington-Seminar to study the fact sheets for our three issues: the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, and the Blind Americans Return to Work Act. The fact sheets are available in four different and accessible formats: HTML, Word, BRF, and audio. On the Washington Seminar page, you can also find the full agenda for next week’s activities, and two sample mock meeting videos that might give you ideas on how to present our legislative priorities to your members of Congress. And, as if all of that wasn’t enough, we plan to have brief descriptions of the US Capitol Complex and all six of the Congressional Office Buildings up on the Washington Seminar page<nfb.org/washington-seminar> in the next few days.
For those not able to attend in person, the Zoom ID is 942 8189 3953.

Holiday Inn Washington–Capitol Important Restaurant Update:
We recently learned that the Capitol Bistro, the full-table-service restaurant at the Holiday Inn Washington–Capitol, has had to update their hours. Because of this change, the Capitol Bistro will only be open from 6:30 a.m. to noon daily. The 21st Amendment Bar and Grill is still open in the evenings but is a much smaller space. With this change in the main restaurant’s schedule in mind, we ask that you please plan accordingly when it comes to late lunch or dinner meals.

Washington Seminar Career Fair:
Share this opportunity with members attending the upcoming Washington Seminar who may be job seeking or employers looking for more talent. Our next career fair is Monday, January 30, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., eastern, at the Holiday Inn Washington–Capitol. This will be an in-person event. Walk-ins are welcome. Registration is now open.

Systemic Change, Sales, and Socializing: All Things Blind Students at Washington Seminar:
The National Association of Blind Students has lots going on at this year’s Washington Seminar for students and supporters alike:

Whether you are in-person or virtual, come to the 2023 NABS Winter Seminar on Monday, January 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pre-register<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI7PJ9CmI0cc8onNwF3uggbMwI9gujDo9XjhaY45pxS3WlmA/viewform?usp=send_form> by Sunday, January 29, or plan to register at the door to qualify for door prizes. While there is no entrance fee, we will be collecting optional membership dues and selling wristbands for the evening event. All are welcome.
Bid on our virtual auction items! You have between now and 11:45 p.m., eastern, on Wednesday, February 1, to log onto our auction site to place your bids. Check out our astounding array of illustrious items, spanning from the latest Apple products to themed baskets, by visiting our auction site:
www.32auctions.com/2023blindstudents<http://www.32auctions.com/2023blindstudents>

Celebrate with us! We invite all Washington-Seminar-goers to join starting at 8:30 p.m., after the Great Gathering-In, as we commemorate the Federation's fiftieth year of advocacy, opportunity, security, and triumph at Washington Seminar. Come on out to have light appetizers and drinks, see old friends, enjoy live music, and support your national student division. The entry fee is $5 with a chance to win a cash prize.

Direct any questions to NABS president, Trisha Kulkarni, at nabs.president at gmail.com<mailto:nabs.president at gmail.com>.

News:
Contacting NFB’s Legal Team:
Members are encouraged to use legal at nfb.org<mailto:legal at nfb.org> when reaching out to the national headquarters regarding legal matters. Please help to share this easy-to-remember email address.

Braille Monitor in Spanish Now Available:
The National Federation of the Blind published the January issue of the Braille Monitor in Spanish. A Spanish version of our flagship publication will be available moving forward. Please share with Spanish-speakers you know.
·         Braille Monitor - Spanish (enero de 2023)<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2301/es/bm2301tc-es.htm>
·         Braille Monitor (January 2023)<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2301/bm2301tc.htm>

The NFB DEI Calendar:
To help affiliate leaders plan meetings and events and to increase cultural awareness throughout the Federation, we will soon be issuing our revised NFB Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Calendar. It lists holidays and black-out dates (suggested times where it is recommended that affiliate activities should subside at affiliate leaders’ discretion). The goal for this tool is to bring us all together in the spirit of inclusion and to celebrate our diversity. It is our hope that the messaging and intent of this instrument is received well and used effectively to help grow membership, as well as to allow members to honor their holy days without interruption.

Additionally, we are producing a training. We expect this training to be ready soon and will send more information about the delivery as soon as it is. The training will contain audio links that showcase religious experts within the NFB network sharing information on how to use the DEI Calendar, including the suggested black-out dates, the context of holidays, and how to accommodate worshipers during NFB activities during a holiday.

For more information on NFB DEI efforts, check out the DEI webpage at www.nfb.org/dei<http://www.nfb.org/dei> or contact Malcolm Greene at mgreene at nfb.org<mailto:mgreene at nfb.org>.

NFB BELL® Academy:
Applications are now open for the 2023 NFB BELL® Academy. We are excited that so many of your affiliates are planning to go back to in-person BELL Academies for the 2023 summer, as the time spent around blind role models and other blind children is invaluable for BELL students. If you are planning an in-person BELL Academy we encourage you to work with your BELL coordinator to finalize your dates and location as soon as possible. Your BELL coordinator will then be able to input them into the NFB BELL Academy dashboard, which will enable families to start registering for the BELL Academy in your state.

This summer we will also be offering one session of the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition from July 24 through August 11. Morning and evening classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced Braille students will be offered via Zoom. More information and the application can be found at nfb.org/bell.

Upcoming Event: Learn about Advocating for Accessibility:
Join the National Federation of the Blind in partnership with the Maryland Department of Disabilities for an Advocating for Accessibility Boutique on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., eastern. Many products and services are made accessible through the efforts of their users. Learn how to connect with companies to make products and services accessible. Register today for Advocating for Accessibility<https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg>.

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement:
Share the following opportunity for non-members to attend the upcoming Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, formerly known as our Open House Gathering calls, scheduled for February 8 at 8:00 p.m., eastern, to learn about what it means to become a member of the National Federation of the Blind. During the one-hour-long open house, hear from active members and leaders on the myths and uncertainties of the Federation. We will discuss membership, philosophy, and purpose. Non-members can contact us at membership at nfb.org<mailto:membership at nfb.org>, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2401. If there is a need for additional support to access the meeting such as Spanish translation or closed captioning, participants should notify us no later than February 1.

Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   January 30: Great Gathering-In
  *   February 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   March 2 and 5: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Scholarships)
  *   March 23: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
  *   May 10: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   June 1 and 4: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Member Engagement and National Convention)
  *   July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas
  *   August 9: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   September 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind Equality Achievement Month)
  *   November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the Year Ahead)

The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

Mark A. Riccobono, President
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:Officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
Twitter: @Riccobono
Pronouns: he, him, his

[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>

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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.

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