[Ohio-talk] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 10/17/2016

[richard]

President’s Notebook


National Federation of the Blind


Mark A. Riccobono


officeofthepresident at nfb.org


(410) 659-9314


 

 


Critical Actions This Week:


PAC Plan: I urge every affiliate to include mention of the PAC Plan in the activities of the affiliate convention. More importantly, I encourage you to have an individual identified to help people sign up for the PAC plan. Discussing the importance of funding our movement should be a priority for each of our affiliates. Please refer to the online version of the PAC form as a resource https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/pac-form-fillout-accessible.pdf  

 


News:


Blind student Aleeha Dudley and US Department of Justice resolve Miami University of Ohio discrimination case: Read the  <https://nfb.org/blind-student-aleeha-dudley-and-us-department-justice-resolve-miami-university-ohio-discrimination> press release.

NFB Voting Hotline:
We will be hosting an Election Day hotline for blind and visually impaired voters, poll workers, and voting rights advocates can call when problems with accessible voting technology or other barriers are preventing a blind voter from casting a private and independent ballot. The hotline will be available November 8, 2016, from 7:00 a.m. Eastern to 10:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 p.m. Pacific). The number is (877) 632-1940. 

 

Documentary about Subminimum Wages:
A new documentary, "Rooted in Rights," has recently been released. This film, produced by Rooted in Rights, an organization that specializes in documentaries and social media campaigns related to disability issues, addresses exploitation of workers with disabilities through the payment of subminimum wages and calls for a phase-out of this discriminatory practice. I am featured in the film; and we are having a free screening here at the Jernigan Institute this week. If you are interested in hosting a screening in your state, visit www.bottomdollarsmovie.com for more information. 

 

Communications Seminar:
As we continue to strengthen our communications and branding presence, it is important that our affiliates, divisions, and chapters get involved and up-to-date on our tools, techniques, and strategies. Therefore, I’m reaching out to let you know that I will be hosting a communications seminar over the weekend of February 17-20, 2017. I invite you to nominate one member of your division's or affiliate’s communications team to attend this conference, which will be held here at the NFB Jernigan Institute. Please send your nominee’s name, email address, and phone number to our communications team at communicationsteam at nfb.org no later than Thursday, December 1, 2016. As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions.  

 


Dates to Keep in Mind:


·         Fall Conventions <https://nfb.org/state-conventions> 

·         November 8: Election Day; NFB voter hotline available at (877) 632-1940

·         January 30, 2017: Great Gathering-In 

·         January 30-February 2, 2017: Washington Seminar <https://nfb.org/washington-seminar> 

·         March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium

·         July 21-29, 2017: Youth Slam, Towson University

·         September 12-17, 2017: BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee

 

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

National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place

Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Phone: (410) 659-9314

Fax: (410) 659-5129

Email: officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice

Web:  <http://www.nfb.org/> www.nfb.org