[NFBofSC] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 10/16/2023

Mon Oct 16 21:24:30 UTC 2023

Good Afternoon,

Please see the President’s Notebook below. Note that there is an opportunity to triple donations to the NFB this week.

Please be aware that I can currently send items to the NFB of SC Mailing List but I am not receiving any posts at this time due to an issue with Microsoft e-mail accounts.

My Best,

Martyany

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 5:03 PM
To: State Presidents <StatePresidents at nfb.org>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 10/16/2023

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,
This year’s White Cane Awareness Day prompts me to think deeply about how well we are getting outside of our typical circles and truly helping the public know who we are. One example is that I notice a lot of local fundraising efforts for the Federation where effort is put into pitching the fundraiser to other Federation members across the country. It often appears as though the effort to get the word out beyond the organized blind movement is much more limited. Why is that? I believe it is because we could do more to stretch ourselves and also be strategic about our communications. If you want someone to support the work of the National Federation of the Blind, you have to be able to articulate why it makes a difference to those who do not know us. If you ask me to support the Federation, I already know the difference it makes. If you ask your neighbor, it might take more effort and have a bigger return.
As we close the second half of our Blind Equality Achievement Month for 2023, I encourage all of our leaders to reflect on our work to determine if we can do it even better in 2024. However, you have one more thing you can do this week. The Federation has a triple-matching opportunity available to us for just this week. Can you think of three people that you can go to, who do not know the Federation already, and invite them to join the movement by providing us with a financial contribution? You already get to sell them on having their money tripled—can you articulate the value of the movement in a way that moves them to action? I believe you can, and I am asking each of us to ask three new people this week.
Thank you for your work to raise expectations every day!

Critical Actions:
Triple Your Impact with Matching Gift Opportunities:
During our October Presidential Release<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>, President Riccobono announced that HumanWare has generously offered a matching grant. HumanWare will match gifts to the National Federation of the Blind up to $50,000 during the months of October, November, and December. In addition to that challenge grant, an anonymous donor has offered a $25,000 matching grant for gifts to the National Federation of the Blind during the week beginning October 15 in honor of White Cane Awareness Day. Donors can triple their impact by giving from October 15 through October 22. Participate by visiting our donate page<https://nfb.org/donate> and share with your friends and family. Learn more about the HumanWare challenge grant and watch our launch video<https://nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/matching-gift-opportunity>.

News:
October Presidential Release Chapter Version Available:
The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #531 chapter version<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is available. Please mark your calendars for the next Presidential Release scheduled for November 1, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom details coming soon.

Connecting with Affiliate Social Media Point of Contacts:
Let’s grow on social media. The communications group of the National Federation of the Blind works to equip affiliates and divisions with tools to succeed on social media such as proving guidelines, sample posts, and social media toolkits related to programs and initiatives. Please help us enhance this initiative by sending the contact information for your affiliate social media representatives to Cricket Bidleman at cbidleman at nfb.org<mailto:cbidleman at nfb.org> or by phone 410-659-9314, extension 2246.

On #BlindMonth Branding and Social Media Posting:
We love the energy and enthusiasm of this #BlindMonth and how you have translated that to social media. It’s wonderful reading about how your chapters, divisions, and affiliates are celebrating the power of blind people. As a reminder for promoting this month’s activities, the short form of Blind Equality Achievement Month is Blind Month. Acronyms can represent any number of things, and we want to be clear to blind and nonblind people alike that we are celebrating blind people and the power and progress of our organization.
Additional reminder for social media: please include alt text (image descriptions) for the pictures that are posted and consider adding contextual information to explain why the picture is being posted. For example, add context by identifying the event where the picture was taken. We are excited to share your #BlindMonth posts.

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act:
On Thursday, September 28, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act was introduced in both the Senate and the House. In the Senate, the bill is sponsored by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, with Senators Warren and Markey of Massachusetts as original cosponsors, and the Senate bill number is S. 2984. In the House, the bill is sponsored by Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland, with Representative Pete Sessions of Texas as original cosponsor, and the bill number is H.R. 5813. Please call or email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act.

Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   October: Blind Equality Achievement Month
  *   October 18: Where the Blind Work Webinar, 8:00 p.m.
  *   October 26: National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair, 1:00 p.m.
  *   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)
  *   July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

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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