[Nfbwv-talk] President Mark Riccobono's Notebook

[Smyth, Charlene R]

NFB President's Notebook - week of 04/27/15

National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
(410) 659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

It is hard to believe that April is almost through. Amongst the forward-looking activities of the Federation, there is always a need to stop to make sure all of our housekeeping business is in order. I note that seven affiliates still have banking information from 2014 to provide to the national office. And many are behind on the first quarter of 2015. I encourage all affiliate leaders to make sure that their records with the national office are up-to-date. If we're going to build our organization, we want to make sure the house we invite people into is clean, tidy, and welcoming.



News:

PetSmart lawsuit:

A class action lawsuit, accusing PetSmart, Inc. of violating the rights of blind customers under the ADA, was filed on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind<http://www.nfb.org/>, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), and six blind individuals who reside in Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts. The suit alleges that PetSmart requires the entry of debit card PINs on touch-screen keypads, which the blind cannot operate, rather than simple, inexpensive tactile keypads.



JAWS training bundle:
We are now the exclusive seller of the JAWS Training Bundle developed by Freedom Scientific<http://freedomscientific.com/>. It is sold on cartridges designed for use with the free DAISY playback equipment available from the NLS.



Anne Taylor:
Anne is joining Microsoft as a senior program manager in the Trusted Experience Team. She will start there May 26. Her last day at the Jernigan Institute will be May 15.



Dates to keep in mind:

*         Spring affiliate conventions<https://nfb.org/state-conventions>

*         May 14-16, 2015: NFB STEM2U Columbus (OH), COSI

*         June 7, 2015: NFB 6 DOT DASH

*         July 5-10, 2015: 75th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind

*         August 2-8, 2015: NFB STEM EQ

*         September 11-13, 2015: NFB STEM2U Leadership Academy

*         June 19-25, 2016: NFB EQ (first iteration)

*         July 31-August 6, 2016 (second iteration)

*         August, 2016: WBU-ICEVI General Assembly

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
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314
Fax: (410) 659-5129
Email: officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice
Web: www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>


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