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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a name="m_516832531894933956_OLE_LINK9"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>President’s Notebook</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><h1 style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></h1><h1 style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Mark A. Riccobono</span><o:p></o:p></h1><h1 style='line-height:115%'><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></h1><h1 style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>410-659-9314</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear Federation Family,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Happy Blind Equality Achievement Month. I am looking forward to the interesting things that we put together for outreach this month and to the National Federation of the Blind #RideshareRally in San Francisco. Today we have launched a </span><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/08-2024/presidential_release_september_2024_chapter_version_final.mp3" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>new Presidential Release format</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>, and I am hoping that you all will give feedback on it and how it works in your chapters.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some of you have asked about Glidance and their outreach to local chapters and affiliates. I want you to know that although they exhibited at our national convention, we have not had a substantive meeting with them yet at an executive or technical level. Certainly their product is interesting but we have not tested the concept and raised the hard questions with the company. Some believe that because a company reaches out that you are obligated to include them in your meetings. Some have taken this from the fact that they exhibited at the convention. Exhibiting at the convention is not an endorsement by the Federation, and you should always feel free to circle back with our national organization to determine what we know about a company. In short, we hope to meet with this company and others, but you are not obligated to include them in Federation meetings.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Finally, I would love your feedback on what you would love to have offered as part of our Federation podcast that we are not currently offering. Since I have not specifically asked about this previously, I thought I would flag it as a topic I would like your thoughts on.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='line-height:115%'>Critical Actions:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Rideshare Rally—Information Call on October 1</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Our Rideshare Rally to protest Uber and Lyft’s discriminatory treatment of blind passengers is going to take place on Tuesday, October 15, in front of both Uber and Lyft’s corporate offices in San Francisco, California. Please share stories on social media about the discrimination and use the hashtag #RightToRide—share stories on affiliate and chapter accounts. If you are planning to attend the rally in person, please join the upcoming information call to learn more details and expectations:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Rideshare Rally Participant Briefing<br>Tuesday, October 1, at 8:00 p.m., eastern <br></span><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96133395184" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Via Zoom Meeting ID is 961 3339 5184</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><br>One tap mobile: +13017158592,,96133395184<br>Captions will be available. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Presidential Release—New Format</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind presidential release chapter version will be available on October 1—the audio, transcript, and Spanish translation. The chapter version is intended to be played during each chapter meeting throughout the month. </span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Access the chapter version and live details</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The next Presidential Release Live will be Tuesday, October 15, at 8:30 p.m., eastern, from San Francisco. Zoom details are below. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Presidential Release Live Zoom:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/94758218808" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Via Zoom Meeting ID is 947 5821 8808</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>One tap mobile: +13017158592,,94758218808#</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='line-height:115%'>News:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>October is here! Welcome to Blind Equality Achievement Month. Please submit your events, activities, and celebrations to </span><a href="mailto:web@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>web@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> so they can be posted on </span><a href="https://nfb.org/blind-month" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://nfb.org/blind-month</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. That includes your white cane day proclamations. If you need items or ideas, check out </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2378&reset=1" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>the free literature resources and White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. Reminder: please only use Blind Equality Achievement Month, Blind Month, or #BlindMonth when referring to and promoting activities. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Bay Bridge Run:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children invites you to participate in the Bay Bridge Run this fall! On November 10, 2024, join team National Federation of the Blind Dreamers, led by the NOPBC Board of Directors. Whether you’re running or walking, participating in person or virtually, this is your chance to help bridge the gap between blind people and our dreams. Want to get your chapter or affiliate involved? NFB chapters can sponsor a participant (or a group!) by helping them register and fundraise.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3>Look for the Launch of the End-of-Year Campaign:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Later this week, we will be launching our end-of-year HumanWare Gift Matching Campaign. HumanWare and anonymous donors will match up to $100,000 in contributions made between October 1 and midnight December 31. Support of our runners and walkers in the Bay Bridge Run also counts towards the match. Please look for our launch video and email announcement later this week. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3>House and Senate Members in their Districts:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The U.S. House and Senate will both be in a district work period until November. This is a fantastic time to try to meet with your federal elected officials in their local office. We encourage you to contact your local office and try to schedule a meeting so that you can advocate for our legislative priorities in the district, where your senators and representatives will be able to see the impact of their support. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='line-height:115%'>Reminders:<o:p></o:p></h2><h3>Virtual Career Fair:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The deadline to register for the National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair is October 4 by 5:00 p.m., eastern. This event will be held October 22, 1:00–4:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom. Jobseekers, this is an opportunity to find your occupational passion. Employers, this is a chance to connect with great talent. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><a href="https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-jobseeker-registration" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Career Fair – Jobseeker Registration</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><br></span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=606" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Career Fair – Employer Registration </span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Jobseekers, please direct all questions to jobseeker liaison Lia Stone at <a href="mailto:evangeliastone@gmail.com" target="_blank">evangeliastone@gmail.com</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Employers, please direct all questions to employer liaison Charles Bennett at <a href="mailto:cbennett@cocenter.org" target="_blank">cbennett@cocenter.org</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3>Dare To Be Remarkable Conference:<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The deadline for early registration for the National Federation of the Blind 2024 </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/dare-be-remarkable" target="_blank" title="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/dare-be-remarkable"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dare to Be Remarkable</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> conference is October 5. The conference will be held from November 11-13 at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Registration is $400 until October 5 and $500 after October 6.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/dare-be-remarkable" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Register for Dare to Be Remarkable Conference </span></a><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please direct all inquiries to the conference organizers Edward Bell, at </span><a href="mailto:ebell@latech.edu" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>ebell@latech.edu</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> or 318-257-4554, or Anil Lewis, at </span><a href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>alewis@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> or 410-659-9314, extension 2374.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='line-height:115%'>Dates to Keep in Mind:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(all times eastern)</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a name="m_516832531894933956__Hlk178589131"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>October: Blind Equality Achievement Month</span></a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>October 15: Rideshare Rally</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>November 10: Bay Bridge Run</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=m516832531894933956msolistparagraph style='color:black;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m. </span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span>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.<o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-weight:normal'> </span><o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>National Federation of the Blind <br><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</a><br>410-659-9314 | <a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please engage with me through <a href="https://riccobono.personal.ai/messaging/profile" target="_blank">Riccobono Personal AI</a><br>Mastodon: @President@nfb.social <br>Pronouns: he, him, his</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7916in' id="m_516832531894933956_x005f_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="m_516832531894933956_x005f_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="m_516832531894933956_x005f_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="m_516832531894933956_x005f_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>