[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)

Sheri Koch skochnfbwv at gmail.com
Thu Mar 12 01:12:40 UTC 2020 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sheri Koch <skochnfbwv at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 8:54 PM
Subject: Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for
Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter
presidents)
To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>


Hi everyone


Below is the email from President Riccobono regarding attending NFB
functions. Please know that our top priority is to keep us safe and well.
At this juncture, I will monitor all directives applicable to West
Virginia, Virginia, and Texas and we will make decisions accordingly.  At
this point, I am still looking at conducting BELL,  attending National
convention, and conducting our state convention. However this could change
as a situation worsens.  Again, our primary concern is to keep us safe and
well.  I want anyone planning to attend any of these events to take their
own health risk and risk to your family very seriously.  I will make Zoom
available to any chapter who wishes to hold a chapter meeting via zoom
platform rather than face-to-face to minimize risk.


If you have any questions as we move forward, please feel free to let me
know.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: President, National Federation of the Blind via
State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 7:45 PM
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation
Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)
To: State Affiliate Leadership List <
state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
CC: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>


National Federation of the Blind Response to COVID-19

The news has been dominated lately by information about the COVID-19
outbreak. This message will share what the National Federation of the Blind
is doing and recommending. Please know that this is a topic that the
leadership group continues to monitor and discuss on a daily basis. The
health and safety of all of our members, staff, and friends is always our
top priority.



Attending a Federation event is a personal decision to be made based upon
your current health status and, when appropriate, in consultation with
medical professionals. For the latest facts about the virus, we encourage
accessing reliable information from sources such as the World Health
Organization (WHO)
<https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019> or
the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC).
<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html> Users of
NFB-NEWSLINE® can also access the latest information in the breaking news
section.
  National Convention and National Headquarters

The 2020 NFB National Convention is taking place July 14-19 in Houston,
Texas, as planned. At this time we do not believe there is a need to alter
plans for our annual meeting. We will continue to evaluate the situation
and the needs of attendees. We will update the national convention webpage (
nfb.org/convention <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>)
regarding the status of the event and any related precautions to be taken.



At our national headquarters, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute, we are taking extra precautions and implementing sanitation and
safety measures to keep our members, visitors, and staff safe. We are
evaluating our planned meetings and tours and will communicate with
participants regarding the status of previously planned events. While we
have postponed certain large-scale national meetings, we continue to host a
number of smaller meetings where the risk factors are low. These factors
are being constantly reviewed.
  Large State Meetings and Conventions

Based on current information, the national leadership recommends that state
conventions or other events should be continued as appropriate while
monitoring local conditions and directives. Affiliate leadership should
monitor and follow any directives or guidelines issued by public health
officials in your state or area that are specific to outbreaks there. The
local circumstances should be the strongest guide for adjusting statewide
meetings. State leaders are asked to coordinate their plans with the
President of the Federation so assistance can be provided and clear lines
of communication can be maintained across the nation.

   - If an event is proceeding, take appropriate precautions and let
   members know about the details of those precautions or updated information.
   Please review the general guidance for executing meetings during COVID-19
   offered below.
   - If an event is cancelled, appropriate messaging should be distributed
   through all relevant channels.

  Local Chapter Meetings and Events

Like state meetings, our current recommendation is that local leadership
should continue activities as appropriate while monitoring local conditions
and directives. Local chapter meeting changes should be coordinated with
the affiliate president.

·         Communicate to members that they should decide their level of
participation based on their own health and safety. Be sure to utilize the
general guidance for executing meetings found below.

·         Local chapters should communicate with meeting locations to
understand what precautions those facilities are taking to support hosted
meetings.

·         Chapter leaders may want to secure supplies to assist members in
keeping the meeting environment as free of germs as possible.

·         Local leaders should ensure that clear communication plans exist
for sharing updated information to members.

·         For meetings of small chapters or of chapter or division boards,
leaders might consider using a service like Zoom or FreeConferenceCall.com
to conduct virtual meetings as a temporary measure if local circumstances
do not permit public meetings.


General Guidance for Executing Meetings

The most important prophylactic step that Federation members can take is to
encourage those who are exhibiting any type of symptoms related to a
respiratory illness to refrain from attending any organizational events. If
someone has been exposed to the virus in any way, that person should stay
away from Federation events as well. Additionally, those who are in
high-risk groups should consult with their medical professionals and
consider staying at home. At Federation events, it is critical that
everyone practice the highest level of hygiene.

·         We should refrain from handshakes or physical contact like hugs,
etc.

·         Hands should be washed frequently and/or hand sanitizer should be
used liberally.

·         It should be recognized that serving food at Federation meetings
is a potential exposure point. We recommend considering eliminating food at
Federation events during the current circumstances. However, if food is to
be served extra attention should be given to best practices for serving
food and keeping surfaces clean. Specifically, anyone serving food should
wear gloves, and before serving, hands, serving surfaces, and
serving instruments should be sanitized.



Again, we will continue to monitor all aspects of this situation as they
develop, focusing first and foremost on the health and safety of everyone
in our Federation family. I wish you, your families, and your colleagues
the best as we address these challenges.



Warmly,

Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind





Mark A. Riccobono, President

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

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

Twitter: @Riccobono





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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.




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

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