[Nfbwv-talk] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/21/2019

[Sheri Koch]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Date: Mon, Jan 21, 2019 at 3:38 PM
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/21/2019
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 Federationists,



Last night I had the opportunity to speak to some of our students who will
be attending the Washington Seminar next week. It was clear from their
enthusiasm that they are ready to help us articulate and achieve our
legislative priorities for 2019. Keep in mind that mentoring these young
folks to understand our organization and to feel they are integral to the
movement should be our top priority. It gave me great hope to experience
the wonderful pool of young leaders you all have cultivated at the local
level. Thank you for all of your work.



While the Washington Seminar is our priority this week, I do want to
publicly thank those affiliates who got membership lists into the national
office. We are prepared to assist the affiliates who have not yet submitted
theirs get across the finish line. Please let me know what you need.



Those traveling to Washington Seminar should be prepared to expect longer
lines than usual at security due to the difficulties of the government shut
down. I do not want anyone to miss their flight because they did not
account for this disruption.



Safe travels to all, Mark


News:

Washington Seminar Social Media - #NFBInDC:
Washington Seminar is almost here! Whether or not you will be joining us in
Washington DC, follow our activities on the Hill. This year we have a new
hashtag for social media. In your posts about Washington Seminar, please
use the hashtag #NFBInDC. We are looking forward to seeing your pictures
and hearing about your DC activities on social media.



Greyhound Secret Shopper Participants:
Congratulations to the states that have participated thus far in the NFB’s
Greyhound secret shopper program: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, and Missouri. We are now halfway through the secret
shopper program, and the data we have gathered has been critical to
monitoring whether Greyhound call center operators are waiving call center
booking fees for blind customers who experience difficulty booking tickets
through Greyhound’s website or mobile apps. For more information on this
important program, contact Valerie Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org or visit
the NFB’s legal program webpage <https://nfb.org/legal#Travel>.


Reminders:

National Convention Hotel Block is Open:
We are excited to be hosting our convention at the beautiful Mandalay Bay
Resort and Casino. As is the case every year, we have once again arranged
for exceptional room rates. Unlike in years past, the same enviable rate of
$99 per night applies to singles and doubles as well as triples and quads.
Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent, respectively. The
resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived for NFB convention
attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and toll-free calls,
and fitness center access may apply.



To make reservations for the 2019 convention, you can call the hotel at
877-632-9001. The hotel will take a deposit of the first night’s room rate
for each room and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you
use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card
immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, half of
the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.


Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - January 28, 2019: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar
   <https://nfb.org/washington-seminar> begins, Washington, DC
   - March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
   <https://nfb.org/law-symposium>, Baltimore, Maryland

·         March 31, 2019: NFB scholarship application
<https://nfb.org/scholarships> deadline ·         April 15, 2019: Dr. Jacob
Bolotin Award <https://nfb.org/programs/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards>
application 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



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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<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
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<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>








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