<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:11.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1253975778;
mso-list-template-ids:-676569934;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b>Announcing a New Editor and Why It Should Matter to You<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>by Mark Riccobono</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Mark Riccobono" style='position:absolute;margin-left:218.8pt;margin-top:0;width:270pt;height:181.5pt;z-index:251659264;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB4961.F0686370" o:title="Mark Riccobono" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="line"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=360 height=242 style='width:3.75in;height:2.5208in' src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB4961.F0686370" align=right alt="Mark Riccobono" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]>This article is to announce the new editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>. There is much groundwork that should be laid before we get to that announcement. So, if you are the type who gets right to the point, feel free to skip to the end but be sure to come back to put the announcement in context.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s remind ourselves why the <i>Braille Monitor</i> matters. The first editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>, George Card, wrote in the inaugural issue of this monthly publication in July, 1957, “According to the dictionary a 'monitor' is a person who 'advises, warns, or cautions.' A Braille monitor is one who carries on this function for the blind, and this is the pledge of the editors of this magazine.” Since that time, with some exceptions, eleven times a year the <i>Braille Monitor</i> has been delivering blind-centered, blind-led, and unapologetically strong content related to the blind of this nation and sometimes the world. For the last sixty years, the publication has been extremely reliable and is a core part of the Federation’s budget every year. It is available in multiple formats and accepts submissions from a diverse range of blind people. If you are reading this, you are eligible to submit an article. The <i>Braille Monitor</i> is our publication, and it is a key tool in sharing our stories, elevating our concerns, and mobilizing members for action. As we launch into 2025, as individuals we have a range of tools available to us to tell our stories. These tools are, of course, available to the Federation as well. Blogs, social media platforms, video- and audio-sharing sites, and other online forums allow fast sharing of information. We also know that fast does not always mean accurate or truthful. As the Federation has added the new media tools to its communications strategy, the <i>Braille Monitor</i> has stood the test of time as our shared means of documenting our collective history and mobilizing action for tomorrow. Whenever I have a historical question, I know I can find a thoroughly researched answer in the <i>Braille Monitor</i>. With our archives available online going all the way back to 1957, there is a goldmine of information about the progress blind people have made. We need that connection into the future. The <i>Braille Monitor</i> is that highly accurate, deep-dive publication. Furthermore, having an article written about you in the <i>Braille Monitor</i> is a great honor if you are doing good things and it is a great accountability mechanism if you are not. As we move to a new editor, we have another opportunity to rethink and reformulate how our flagship publication represents our aspirations for the future. If we do it right, in twenty years, the <i>Braille Monitor</i> will be the source of accurate information for how we dealt with the pressing issues we face today. Furthermore, it will serve as a reliable measuring stick for the progress we have made as it has since 1957. For an extensive history of the publication through 1990, you can consult the section “On The Record: The Evolution of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>” (<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/wamt/wam15.htm">https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/<br>publications/books/wamt/wam15.htm</a>) from <i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i> (which was published to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of our organization). A companion piece covering the next two decades of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> was published by Barbara Pierce when she turned the role over in January 2010. Read her reflections in “A Generation at the Editor’s Desk.” (<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm10/bm1001/bm100103.htm">https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm10/bm1001/bm100103.htm</a>)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What is the role of the editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>? I was struggling with a new way to articulate it, so I called on ChatGPT. My prompt yielded this response with some minor edits by me:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The role of the editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> is both a steward and a voice of the National Federation of the Blind’s values and aspirations. As editor, one is tasked with not just curating information but shaping a publication that inspires, informs, and unites readers. The editor is responsible for identifying and amplifying stories that reflect the lived experiences, challenges, and triumphs of blind people across the country, making sure that each issue resonates deeply with members and allies of the NFB. Through articles, personal narratives, policy updates, and resources, the editor crafts a publication that strengthens our collective resolve and furthers our advocacy efforts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This role also requires a keen understanding of the issues facing the blind community today, alongside a commitment to fostering open, sometimes difficult conversations that ultimately serve to facilitate dialogue within the community toward a shared understanding or policy position. The editor must balance journalistic integrity with the heart of a movement, curating content that uplifts, challenges, and celebrates blind people’s contributions to society. In essence, the editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> helps to set the tone and narrative for our movement, reinforcing that, together, we’re building a future where blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would add that the editor’s job has always been more expansive than just the publication. Often the editor assists with crafting written statements on behalf of the organization, contributes to the overall communications strategy, and serves as a thoughtful researcher in helping the elected leadership sort through new issues. The editor informs the organization’s style guide and helps to ensure that all publications share a value of accuracy and integrity. While many people contribute to our communications strategy, the editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> is a senior position that requires deep understanding of the people within the movement and the issues blind people face. Furthermore, while it is not an elected position—it is a paid staff position assigned by the President—it has the potential of making waves within the democracy of the Federation. After all, some people are very opinionated about what does or does not get published. The editor is given the discretion to make judgments consistent with Federation policy. This may sound simple but there is a lot of territory where the Federation has not yet taken a position through our national convention. Furthermore, you may have noticed that we have done a great job of empowering blind people to be self-advocates. Thus, our editors get a lot of criticism but rarely praise for the steady work they do. There have been nine editors of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> by my count. Barbara Pierce was the first truly full-time, long-serving editor. Between Barbara and our current editor, Gary Wunder, they have guided the publication for more than half of its existence.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Why get a new editor (or what’s wrong with Gary Wunder)? Those who know Gary Wunder will understand what Gary might say to the question of “What’s wrong with Gary Wunder?” His sense of humor is one of his many outstanding qualities. The reason for this change now is precisely that there is nothing wrong with Gary Wunder. He is healthy in body and mind, and his energy for the movement seems to me to be as high as ever. He could continue to serve expertly as our editor, but we also know that planning for a successful transition is part of the responsibility of leaders in our movement. Gary and I have talked for some time about planning for this transition so that we have time to onboard a new editor while Gary is available to advise and mentor. We agreed that the time has come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While this is not a farewell for Gary Wunder, it allows me a moment of personal privilege to talk about our outgoing editor. I first met Mr. Wunder at the Wisconsin affiliate convention in 1997. I was a college student, and I was living in Florida that semester as I was in the Walt Disney World College Program. I flew back to participate in the convention. Having Gary Wunder there as national representative made it worth every sacrifice I had to make as a poor college student. I have been blessed to observe Gary’s work, learn from his example (and his lessons learned that he openly shares), and work closely with him on many projects. In many ways, I am still being mentored by him although I have been supervising his work for a decade. The heart and thoughtfulness he puts into the <i>Braille Monitor</i>, actually into everything he does, is truly extraordinary. If there is a Federationist that everyone feels at ease talking to, it’s Gary Wunder. While his name has appeared as editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>, he has expertly used his quiet writing guidance to improve everything from banquet speeches to oral interviews with people who did not feel comfortable writing their own story. He always is respectful to the work of the individual he is working with, while making subtle suggestions that strengthen the core message. If you have been fortunate to work closely with him, you have also likely received his emails that frequently contain some quip intended to make you laugh or realize that things are not as heavy as you thought. During these past fourteen years that his impressions have been left within the pages of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> as our editor, you can find all of the qualities he has given to our movement. You can find him grappling with emerging issues, sharing his heart for blind people who have been beaten down, and expressing gratitude for the thousands who have contributed to a moment we have celebrated, his plain language approach to complicated issues intended to draw all of us into our shared fight. Fortunately, we will not miss Gary because he will still be a critical part of our Federation communications group and, if I know our new editor at all, Gary will be tasked with writing some more articles for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With that, I want to publicly thank Gary Wunder for his tremendous service as our editor and his success in helping to plan for a transition to the next editor. My short remarks do not do justice to the tremendous impact (or is that effect) of Gary’s contributions as our editor—that being only one of a number of significant roles he has played in our movement. I am proud to continue to call him a friend and colleague.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What about that announcement? Thank you for hanging in there as all of the above is important background to the announcement of the next editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i>. Please welcome Chris Danielsen! Originally from South Carolina, Chris came to know the Federation at a formative time in his young life. Although his parents expected much of him, Chris had to overcome the societal low expectations and his own internalization of those misunderstandings. He got to know Federation leaders like Donald Capps and was selected to receive a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship. However, it was not until he made the decision to receive training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind that he feels he unlocked his true potential.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I first met Chris in November 2003 when we moved to Baltimore so I could take a position on the Federation staff. Chris had been hired by President Marc Maurer to tackle some new communications strategies. Chris described himself as a recovering lawyer—he actually still does that today. He had been hired two months before me; thus, Chris also has been a mentor to me in many ways. In the twenty years that Chris has been at the center of our communications work, he has been both a steady rock and a source of innovation, pushing the organization to try new ideas. Our branding work, the growth in our communications strategy, and our engagement with the media are largely due to Chris’s contributions and consistent efforts. He engineered the media campaign around the Blind Driver Challenge in 2011 where we got more than one billion media impressions. And he did so even while working through the personal loss of his father. That is not to say that everything Chris has tried has worked. In fact, part of his success is that he has pushed us to try things and, when they did not work for the movement, he learned and found another thing to recommend. He continues to find ways to push us, and he demonstrates a willingness to learn as he goes. I think he is long past being a recovering lawyer but thank goodness we have his legal skill as he often has to break down our legal victories into communication-sized bites that all of us can understand.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>His move to editor of the <i>Braille Monitor</i> is much more than simply a new staff position. Chris is a dedicated member of the Federation who provides leadership in our Greater Baltimore Chapter and within our Maryland affiliate. He does not just take calls from reporters in the evenings, he engages with a wide range of members of the chapter and dedicates time to local advocacy. Chris currently serves as president of the Greater Baltimore Chapter and second vice-president of the Maryland affiliate. He is working with members at the local level, and he lives life as a blind person with all of the same barriers that each of us encounter on a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris thinks deeply about the things confronting blind people and how those issues intersect with the broader concerns confronting all people in society, and he is not afraid to learn from a variety of sources. I am confident that Chris will take on this new important role with the same commitment and thoughtfulness with which he has tackled each and every assignment he has accepted in the movement. I am certain he will build on the strong traditions and commitment to excellence that our previous nine <i>Monitor</i> editors have shared. We do not expect him to do things exactly the same or to express the same style in his editorship. Chris will bring his own unique approach to the work of steering our flagship publication. We can feel confident that in doing so he will be true to our brand, will be rooted in our shared philosophy, and he will build on the policy priorities set by our members. Thank you to Chris Danielsen for your service to the movement and for taking on this extremely important role for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now for your assignment. You can honor our outgoing editor and challenge our incoming editor by writing something for the <i>Braille Monitor</i>. This is your publication, and we need it to reflect your ideas and concerns. Take some time to author something. If you need help, call on our editor, but remember that your story is valuable within our movement. Let’s flood our new editor with content and find out what interesting things he can do with the material we offer. This is our publication, and we all have a voice to offer to the choir.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>