[Nfbwv-talk] President Riccobono's Notebook for 9/5/18

[Smyth, Charlene R]

September 5, 2018
President's Notebook
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 back-to-school day in Baltimore. Although we still have a few weeks until fall officially hits us, we are clearly now in the fall convention season. We are making lots of plans for building the Federation through our affiliate conventions this fall. As new ideas are developed in your affiliates, please share your innovative approaches with other affiliate leaders. I also welcome your feedback on ways that we can better support your affiliate from the national organization.

Critical:
Closed Thursday and Friday:
We will be closed Thursday and Friday this week for staff development.

ATAA and Marrakesh Treaty Update:
With regard to ATAA, we are up to eighty cosponsors in the House and twelve in the Senate. The NFB of Illinois has done an exceptional job as we recently gained Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Peter Roskam as cosponsors. Congressman Roskam is particularly important because he is the former chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy. Also, we know that the Joint Committee on Taxation is working to score the bill. A relatively low score is pivotal to moving this bill forward. We need more cosponsors in both the House and the Senate, especially House members on the Ways and Means Committee.

With regard to the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, we specifically need to urge House Judiciary Committee members to move swiftly to place S. 2559 on the suspension calendar. If your representative is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, please urge them to express their support for the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act to the committee chairman.

These two issues are our critical focus for the remainder of this session of Congress. The Advocacy and Policy team will be distributing more detailed information next week.

News:

2019 National Convention Website:
It's not too early to start planning for the 2019 National Convention. Visit https://nfb.org/convention/2019 for updates and details.


Rice Krispies Treats:
Beyond anyone's expectations, the initial supply of Rice Krispies Treats audio boxes and Braille stickers was depleted in less than three weeks! There are no more available at this time. If you would like to encourage Kellogg's to order more, please call Kellogg's Consumer Affairs at 800-962-1413. You can also send an email through the Rice Krispies Contact Us page<https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/contact-us.html>.


American Action Fund 2019 Braille Calendar:
The 2019 calendar is now available. Calendars can also be ordered online at https://actionfund.org/braillecalendar or by sending an email to calendars at actionfund.org<mailto:calendars at actionfund.org>.



Reminders:

State Convention Aira Site Access:
If you are holding your state convention this fall, you will have received an email regarding free Aira site access, exclusively for NFB state conventions, for the convention attendees. Please be sure to include information about this free service in your convention materials.



Dates to Keep in Mind:

  *   Fall conventions<https://nfb.org/state-conventions>
  *   October 11-12, 2018: Tactile Graphics Symposium

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

  *   March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
  *   July 7-12, 2019: NFB National Convention, 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
(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

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.



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