[Nfbwv-talk] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 10/10/2018

[Sheri Koch]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, Oct 10, 2018 at 3:40 PM
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 10/10/2018
To: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>


President’s Notebook National Federation of the Blind Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org (410) 659-9314



Fellow Federationists:



As Hurricane Michael makes land fall, we are keeping in mind all of the
people living in the Panhandle of Florida and hoping that the storm does
not cause too much damage. As we learn about the potential impact to our
members, we will let you know if assistance is needed.



You have previously received information about our partnership with Lyft to
assist people in getting to the polls on Election Day. It has taken some
time to get data from Lyft about how this partnership will work. The time
is now for you to plan and act if you want your affiliate to take advantage
of this partnership. If you wish to have your affiliate included in the
Lyft-NFB Election Day partnership you need to do the following by October
19, 2018:



* Make a plan for how your affiliate would use a small number of
promotional codes to assist blind people who need extra support to get to
the polls using Lyft on Election Day. The key here is using these to
benefit blind people who must need the support. If you simply use these to
reward blind people who would have already been going to the polls and who
have easy access to their polling location, you have missed the opportunity
to expand our reach and fulfill the intent of this partnership.



* Be prepared to promote the project in social media.



* Be prepared to report back to the national office regarding the outcomes
of the program on Election Day, including sharing any stories about the
impact.



* Send an email to Julie McGinnity, NFB program assistant, at
jmcginnity at nfb.org stating that your affiliate wishes to opt in, who will
be managing the codes on behalf of the affiliate, and giving a brief
description of your plan and how it will benefit blind people who do not
have easy access to the polls. Please include how many codes you believe
you could use with your plan, assuming that each promotional code might be
valued at up to $15.



If your email is not received by 5:00 p.m. eastern on Friday, October 19,
2018, we will assume your affiliate has no interest in participating and we
will not include you in the Election Day program.


News:

Marrakesh Treaty:
President Trump signed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act into law
earlier today. The Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, S. 2559, provides
for the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to
Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise
Print Disabled. We are now communicating with the Department of State to
determine when the treaty instrument will be signed and delivered to the
World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.



PSAs:
We have produced seven new public service announcements for airplay on
radio stations across the country, including two in Spanish. You can hear
them at nfb.org/psas. Watch for an email from Chris Danielsen about how you
can help ensure that these spots are played on radio stations in your
community.


Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - Fall conventions <https://nfb.org/state-conventions>
   - October 11-12, 2018: Tactile Graphics Symposium
   <https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium>

·         November 1, 2018: NFB scholarship application period begins ·
November 15, 2018: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application period begins

   - January 28, 2019: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
   - March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
   - July 7-12, 2019: NFB National Convention
   <https://nfb.org/convention/2019>, Las Vegas, Nevada





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
<https://maps.google.com/?q=200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230&entry=gmail&source=g>

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org





[image: 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.






-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103