[Nfbwv-talk] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 04/22/2019

[Sheri Koch]

 Presidents notebook  below

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 04/22/2019
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



Dear Fellow Federationists,



Spring is in full swing in Baltimore, and we can feel the fresh new start
in the air. We can also feel it in our building where our demolition of the
fourth floor of the Barney Street wing will be complete this week and
construction of the interior space will begin.



I want to make you aware that the board of directors has recently approved
changes in our code of conduct policy. We will be sending out a memo to all
affiliates about the code and how it applies to the affiliates. The
important thing for you to know is that it is not necessary for every
affiliate to have its own code. Since the national policy applies to all
leaders and members, the board decided to adopt one single code across the
Federation. In early May you will receive a memo about this change and how
to implement it at the local level.



A few notes below about current happenings. Our scholarship committee is
meeting this weekend, so you can anticipate getting lots of questions from
applicants about the decisions. Keep in mind that you should not share any
news until the official press release comes out from the national office.
News:

Blind Parents Podcast:
The *Blind Parents Connection Podcast* is a component of the Blind Parent
Education Initiative supported by the Gibney Family Foundation and brought
to you by National Federation of the Blind. We just released the first
episode, “Blind Parents Connection Episode 1: Resources,” which you can
access from our *blind parents webpage
<https://nfb.org/our-community/blind-parents>*. Listen to future episodes
by subscribing to the *Nation's Blind Podcast* in your podcast client.



Governor Ridge’s Op-Ed:
Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania, is currently the chairman of
the National Organization on Disability. He wrote *an NY Times op-ed piece
<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/17/opinion/disability-budget-cuts-trump.html>*
addressing proposed budget cuts to programs that affect people with
disabilities.





Zoom Conference Platform:
A number of you have asked about the Zoom platform for conference calls. As
you know we have moved to using Zoom for teleconferences for the national
organization. We have analyzed whether we might be able to get better
pricing by bundling all affiliates together that want to use Zoom, but we
do not think it will be cost effective for us to manage Zoom accounts
through the national organization. Our experience is that Zoom is a very
accessible and cost-effective way to have a powerful and reliable tool for
conference calls. If it would be helpful to enough affiliates, we could put
together a national informational call for affiliates, via Zoom of course,
to talk about how you might use it for affiliate business. If this would be
helpful, please send an email to Ross Kirschner at *rkischner at nfb.org
<rkischner at nfb.org>*.





NFB BELL Academy Dates:
One correction to the previously listed NFB BELL Academies:

   - 7/22-8/2 Kansas City, MO (not Columbia, MO)


Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - May 1, 2019: *Distinguished Educator Award*
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
   nomination deadline
   - June 16-22, 2019: *NFB EQ* <http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq>,
   Baltimore, Maryland
   - July 7-12, 2019: *NFB National Convention
   <https://nfb.org/convention/2019>*, Las Vegas, Nevada
   - February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins





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*
<officeofthepresident at 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