[NFBofSC] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 06/02/2025

Thu Jun 5 09:43:37 UTC 2025

Please Share With Your NFB Members in your chapter or division.

Dear Federation Family

I wish you all well as we enter the preconvention weeks of June.

Critical Actions:

Presidential Release Recording for Chapters

The June Presidential Release chapter recording <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>  is available. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter meeting agenda and discuss the topics among members. The topics this month include the convention registration deadline, introduction of the Access Technology Affordability Act and the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, and our partnership with Innosearch.

Reminder: No June or July Presidential Release Live:

There will not be a Presidential Release Live in June or July. Tune in to the Presidential Report during the 2025 National Convention on July 11. 

Convention:

National Convention Agenda is Available:

The 2025 National Convention agenda <https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2025-national-convention-agenda>  is available! The agenda will be available in multiple formats. We will post each format as it becomes available at nfb.org/convention <https://nfb.org/convention> . 

Volunteers Needed for NFB25:

We need more help! The national convention relies on hundreds of volunteers—which include members, supporters, and friends. We need your help to make the convention successful, enjoyable, and accessible for all participants. Seek volunteers to get involved. There is an opportunity for everyone.  Review the descriptions and complete the volunteer form <https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/volunteer-opportunities> .

National Association of Blind Veterans Scholarships:

The National Association of Blind Veterans is giving three $1,000 first-timer scholarships to three blind veterans to attend this year’s National Federation of the Blind Convention. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. Eligibility requirements are simple; one must be a blind veteran and attend the division meeting to be held on July 10 and attend all of the general sessions of the convention. 

All applicants must contact the president of the National Association of Blind Veterans at mr_president at nabv.org <mailto:mr_president at nabv.org>  by June 25 and provide name, branch of service and rank, address, and phone number. The three recipients will be announced on June 25.

Preauthorized Contribution Prizes:

Before you start PACing for convention, please support the PAC program with a contribution toward the PAC gift card prizes. During the convention, those who participate in the NFB Preauthorized Contribution program by either signing up or increasing their donation are eligible to win gift cards. Please support our PAC program with a donation to the prize fund. Checks for PAC prizes are to be payable to National Federation of the Blind and mailed to Attention Fiscal Services-PAC, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore MD, 21230; include “PAC prizes” in the check memo. Also, please send an email to PAC at nfb.org <mailto:PAC at nfb.org>  to let us know to expect your organization’s support.  

National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair:

Join us for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair on July 9, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Central. Hosted by the National Employment Committee, this event is an opportunity for blind and low-vision people seeking jobs to connect with employers and is an opportunity for employers to seek more talent for their teams.

National Convention Jobseeker Registration <https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-fair-jobseeker-registration>  

National Convention Employer Registration <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&action=preview&id=621>  

Job Seekers and Employment

To prepare job seekers and employers, the Employment Committee will be hosting “Getting Career-Fair Ready: For Jobseekers and Employers” virtual seminars designed to provide strategies for creating the most positive experience while attending the fair. Individuals will automatically be registered for these events once they have registered for the career fair. For more information on the career fair or virtual seminars, please contact Charles Bennett, jobseeker liaison, at cbennett at cocenter.org <mailto:cbennett at cocenter.org> , or Kris Colcock, employer liaison, at <mailto:kris at colcock.com> kris at colcock.com.

News:

Lead and Drive: Give $25 in '25 Social Media Toolkit for Affiliates:

Please share the attached toolkit to your social media coordinators to promote our “Lead and Drive: Give $25 in ’25” campaign between May 15 and July 11. Please help this be our biggest drive ever and post to as many of our NFB affiliate channels as possible. Visit nfb.org/give25 <https://nfb.org/give25>  to learn more and see our contribution form at nfb.org/give25donate <https://nfb.org/give25donate> .

Blind Federal Employees:

We know that federal employees with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by recent reductions in the federal employment workforce, and we are doing all we can to help our blind colleagues. If you are aware of blind federal workers impacted by the government layoffs, please encourage them to submit the Employment Interest Form <https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/general-interest-form>  to receive announcements about career opportunities. Thanks to our partners at the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, these individuals can also apply for support <https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/federal-workers/convention-support-application>  to participate in career activities at the national convention in New Orleans. 

Government Affairs Zoom Call—Review:

On Thursday, May 29, our government affairs group hosted a Zoom call to update affiliate presidents and legislative directors on our current advocacy and legislative initiatives. The call was recorded, and you can listen to the entire recording <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/rec/component-page?eagerLoadZvaPages=sidemenu.billing.plan_management&accessLevel=meeting&action=viewdetailpage&sharelevel=meeting&useWhichPasswd=meeting&requestFrom=pwdCheck&clusterId=aw1&componentName=need-password&meetingId=Ge5nn1p4kR1qUX6HUUQqITAiGk-8dY0PXDMl6oC5SpPWvH-OkR7tngW1-rtHDsxh.-fUZACm-AlPiDnWu&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb-org.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FAhsCinCyXJ_i1b163zcf9Fa10zPxnEkCWe72GVEgNiNK_HNa8wBzrI2vX8zCrhfr.xHAnif94POnBBr9N> . Please note that you’ll need a passcode to access the recording. It is: L?*W4W^#

 Legislative Priorities:

We currently have four bills that have been introduced in the 119th Congress--three in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. They are:

In the House of Representatives

Blind Americans Return to Work Act – H.R. 1175

Access Technology Affordability Act – H.R. 1529

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act – H.R. 3417

In the Senate

Access Technology Affordability Act – S. 1918

To learn more about any of the above legislative priorities, we suggest listening to the recording of the recent Government Affairs Zoom Call, link and password above. We would love to have a strong showing on these bills as we head into our national convention, so please be sure to call or email your member of Congress and urge them to cosponsor our legislation. Both the House and Senate are in session this week, so this is a perfect time to contact your member of Congress.

Catch up on Content and Share on Social Media:

Highlights, news, and stories are available in our most recent publications. Access and share articles and episodes with Federationists on affiliate and division social media to create discussions on various topics.

*        June <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm25/bm2506/bm2506tc.htm>  Braille Monitor

*         <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-on-podcast> Access On podcast episodes with transcripts available on AI visual interpretation, Innosearch partnership, Google Meet, and more!

*         <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast> Nation’s Blind Podcast episodes with transcripts available on travel, technology, resolutions, and more!

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	June 8: Deadline to submit resolutions <mailto:resolutions at nfb.org>  for the 2025 National Convention.
*	July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana
*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, August 6
*	Wednesday, November 5

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, June 12 and Sunday, June 15
*	Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14
*	Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

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.

 Mark A. Riccobono, President

National Federation of the Blind 
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314 |  <mailto:Officeofthepresident at nfb.org> Officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Please engage with me through  <https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile> Riccobono Personal AI
Mastodon: @President at nfb.social 
Pronouns: he, him, his.

-- 

Dorothy Griffin - President 

National Federation of the Blind of Georgia

dgriffin at nfbga.org <mailto:dgriffin at nfbga.org> 

770-374-4832

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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.

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