[NFBofSC] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 11/06/2023

Mon Nov 6 22:27:51 UTC 2023

Good Afternoon All,

Please see the President’s Notebook for many items of importance and interest.

My Best,

Marty

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Monday, November 6, 2023 4:11 PM
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 11/06/2023

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,

I am feeling energized after attending the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas convention this past weekend. It was my first time ever visiting this affiliate convention. I noted some other Federationists visiting from other states. I think it is always a great way to build our movement when leaders take time to visit other affiliates to share their ideas and take home new approaches.
There is a bunch of important stuff in the notebook this week. Let me quickly elevate two other things informally.

  1.  My next leadership seminar will be happening the weekend of February 28, 2024. I am currently working on finalizing the list of invites for this seminar with the hope of beginning to call people before Thanksgiving. If you have additional recommendations, now would be an excellent time to send them to me. Please remember, I accept them all year long.
  2.  Remember that we are always open to proposals for hosting our Presidential Release Live in 2024. We cannot promise that we can accommodate every proposal, but please know that your ideas and innovations are always welcome. Keep in mind that we try to get the release in prior to the first Saturday as best we can so that the recorded version is available for the chapter meetings early in the month. Your ideas about the Presidential Release in general are also always welcome.

This week is a special one for me. Twenty years ago this week, I started as an employee working at our national office. Although I left the staff in 2014, I have the joy of coming to work here each day. I had no idea that my path would take the turns it has by committing my time and energy to this movement. I feel truly blessed to be able to serve you every day. Here’s to the next twenty years of service to the movement and may we accomplish even more together. Thank you for the opportunity to work closely with each of you.

Critical Actions:
Affiliate Presidents Retreat:
This is a reminder that we will be holding the retreat the weekend before Washington Seminar again this year. We need to hear from all the affiliate presidents whether or not they will be able to attend, as well as some other logistical details for those coming. The deadline for everyone to RSVP (either yes or no) is this Friday, November 10, at https://nfb.org/all_presidents_meeting. If you did not see the email regarding this, let Beth Braun (bbraun at nfb.org<mailto:bbraun at nfb.org>) know.

News:
November Presidential Release Chapter Version Available:
The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #532 chapter version<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is available. Please mark your calendars for the December Presidential Release scheduled for November 30, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom details coming soon.

2024 Washington Seminar Hotel Information:
The 2024 Washington Seminar will be from Monday, January 29, through Thursday, February 1, 2024, and will once again take place at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol – National Mall, located at 550 C Street, SW Washington, DC. The room rates for the 2024 Washington Seminar are $188 per night (not including taxes and fees). To book a room for the event, please use the booking link on our Washington Seminar page<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar>, or call 877-834-3613 and provide our group code, NF4. The deadline to make a reservation using our group block and rate is December 31, 2023, so be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible.

Happy Federation Anniversary:
The National Federation of the Blind was founded November 16, 1940, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Celebrate by reading history of the organized blind movement. Here are two publications: Building the Lives We Want<https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/building-lives-we-want> and Walking Alone and Marching Together<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/wamt/wamtc.htm>.

Share Op-Ed Article Regarding Voting:
Security and accessibility are not mutually exclusive. It is time for voters with disabilities to be treated as first-class citizens and afforded full and equal voting rights. As blind people, the National Federation of the Blind is working toward that goal. Share the following op-ed published in The Hill to affiliate and division social media: “Why do some voting advocates fight equal access for the blind?<https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4278948-why-do-some-voting-advocates-fight-equal-access-for-the-blind/>”

IRS Direct File Pilot Program:
Thirteen states have agreed to participate in the IRS Direct File pilot program for the 2024 tax filing season. Direct File will allow taxpayers to file their federal returns directly with the IRS for free. The thirteen states participating are Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. For the pilot, Direct File will only be available for filing simple federal tax returns. We are reaching out to the IRS to investigate the accessibility of the Direct File program.

Seeking Updated Contact Information for 2023-2024 NFB BELL® Academy Coordinators:
We encourage affiliate presidents, including those who have appointed BELL coordinators in previous years, to appoint an NFB BELL coordinator in your state who will receive specific news and information about the upcoming 2024 NFB BELL Academy season. Please note that BELL coordinators must be reappointed each year by you as an affiliate president in order to receive information about the upcoming NFB BELL Academy season. Please email your NFB BELL Academy coordinator’s name and email to bell at nfb.org<mailto:bell at nfb.org>. The NFB BELL Academy is designed to give children hands-on experiences with Braille during the summer, as well as expose them to positive blind role models who can show them that blindness does not have to hold them back from achieving their dreams. If you have questions about the NFB BELL coordinator role, please reach out to Karen Anderson, education programs coordinator, at kanderson at nfb.org<mailto:kanderson at nfb.org> or by calling 410-659-9314, extension 2243.

Upcoming Early Childhood Initiatives: Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program:
The National Federation of the Blind provides Braille letters celebrating Christmas and winter holidays for blind children. We are excited to provide letters in English and Spanish again this year. Parents of children under age ten can select the option that best fits their family.
We invite parents to begin requesting these Braille activity packets online<https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters>, via fax at 410-685-5653, or via email at communityrelations at nfb.org<mailto:communityrelations at nfb.org> on November 6. We will start mailing celebration packets around December 4, but you can request packets until December 15.
Each packet will include a Braille letter, a print letter, and some fun activities for the whole family to share. Learn more about the Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program on the NFB website<https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters>.

Catch Up on Content:
Highlights, news, and stories are available in the most recent Braille Monitor, Nation’s Blind Podcast, and Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog. The following are National Federation of the Blind publications for you to access and share with Federationists:

  *   November Braille Monitor<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2310/bm2310tc.htm>
  *   Nation’s Blind Podcast episode, #BlindMonth 2023<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
  *   Blog article, Blind Kids Can: Krystal Guillory’s Federation Story<https://nfb.org/blog/blind-kids-can-krystal-guillorys-federation-story>

Career Opportunities at the National Federation of the Blind:
The National Federation of the Blind is always seeking talented individuals to join our staff team. We have several current openings: Affiliate Finance Bookkeeper, Hospitality Assistant, Hospitality Manager, Lead – Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access, NFB-NEWSLINE® Operations Specialist, and Talent Resource Coordinator. Please share and refer qualified candidates. Access the benefits guide and job descriptions to learn more<https://nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities>.

NFB EQ for Parents: A STEM Learning Toolkit for Parents of Blind Children:
The National Federation of the Blind understands that with the proper tools, environment, and encouragement blind people can participate equally in any career field they choose. As a parent, you want to support your child in participating actively in all areas of their education, including science and math. The STEM Learning Toolkit for Parents of Blind Children was designed to support you as the parent of a blind child in guiding your child’s successes in STEM and much more. To learn more about the toolkit, visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-parents.

NFB EQ for Teachers: A Nonvisual & Accessible Engineering Curriculum:
The National Federation of the Blind has always been an innovator when it comes to education, technology, and access. We believe that STEM learning should be accessible for all, including blind and low-vision youth. As our world is evolving to become more and more digital, we discovered a need to create a version of our popular NFB EQ curriculum that is digitally accessible, free, and publicly available. In other words, an online, Open Educational Resource (OER) that allows educators to access the NFB EQ curriculum remotely — from anywhere. To access the curriculum, visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-teachers.

Reminders:
Last Call to Scope Out Space! NFB STEM2U:
The National Federation of the Blind works to improve opportunities for blind students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. NFB STEM2U brings a day of nonvisually accessible STEM lessons and activities to blind youth. Students of varying ages across the country will learn fundamental nonvisual tools and techniques they can use to pursue further education and careers in STEM. In collaboration with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), students will become astronomers through the study of astrophysics and engineering! Students will build models of the James Webb Space Telescope and learn about the Earth’s atmosphere. If your affiliate is interested in holding a STEM2U program in the spring/summer of 2024 please email STEM at nfb.org<mailto:STEM at nfb.org> by November 10. A training seminar for coordinators will take place December 15-17, 2023, for participating affiliates at our national headquarters.

Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   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)
  *   Monday, January 29, 2024: Great Gathering-In
  *   January 29 -February 1, 2024: Washington Seminar<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar>
  *   July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

2024 Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement:

  *   Wednesday, February 7, 8:00 p.m.
  *   Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.
  *   Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.
  *   Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.

2024 Chapter Presidents Calls:

  *   Thursday, March 14, and Sunday, March 17, at 8:00 p.m.
  *   Thursday, June 13, and Sunday, March 16, at 8:00 p.m.
  *   Thursday, September 12, and Sunday, September 15, at 8:00 p.m.
  *   Thursday, December 19, and Sunday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m.

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>
Mastodon: @President at nfb.social
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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