[Ohio-talk] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 12/10/2018

[Richard Payne]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "President, National Federation of the Blind" <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
> Date: December 10, 2018 at 5:00:50 PM EST
> To: "President, National Federation of the Blind" <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
> Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 12/10/2018
> 
> President’s Notebook
> National Federation of the Blind
> Mark A. Riccobono
> officeofthepresident at nfb.org
> 410-659-9314
>  
> Dear Fellow Federationists,
>  
> In and among all of the holiday parties, it is good to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have the strong bond of family we have in this organization. This weekend I was at a robotics tournament with my son and I was listening to some of the other parents discuss the internal politics of the charter school and the board of directors. It occurred to me that some of the problems being batted around were very similar to some of the issues we deal with in our affiliates, in terms of trying to balance all of the competing factors within the organization. It did give me some satisfaction to know that it is not only our organization that deals with these things. It also gave me a sense of pride that we have a strong bond of friendship that makes it possible for us to get so much accomplished. In this special time of year, I am thankful for the great network of leaders we have in our organization.
>  
> 
> There are a number of important items below for you to consider. In addition to the news below, I want you to know that on December 1, the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind adopted updates to the organization’s Code of Conduct. Some of the changes were technical but others make adjustments to the policy. There are two things of significance that I want to call out: 
> 
> The addition to the social media guidelines to say that members of the Federation should take care not to make political endorsements in personal social media that might be attributed as endorsements by the Federation. This is not new policy, but it is now stated in the code. The specific bullet now reads: “Refrain from using profanity/derogatory/offensive language or making political endorsements that might reasonably be attributed to the Federation.”
> The other major change to call to your attention is updates to section IX, which details how complaints are to be filed. It specifically notes that other officers in addition to the President can take formal complaints.
> I encourage you to read the code in its entirety, as it is helpful for you to know it and review it periodically. You can find the updated document on our website at https://nfb.org/code-conduct. An updated version of the affiliate code will be coming to you shortly. In addition, we are making other enhancements to our code of conduct that will be shared with members in the new year.
> 
>  
> Critical Actions This Week:
> Washington Seminar Hotel Deadline:
> The deadline to book a room at the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol at our group rate is Friday, December 28. The rate is $196 per night, plus DC sales tax (14.95 percent). You can book reservations online using this link to the hotel website that includes our booking code. You can also make reservations by calling 877-572-6951 and referencing booking code NB8.
>  
> Parent Leadership Program: 
> The NOPBC is seeking recommendations for their next Parent Leadership Program (PLP) to be held at the 2019 NFB Washington Seminar. We are in search of parents with the commitment and leadership potential to found or strengthen a parents’ division in your state.  If you have such a parent in your state, please send us the name and contact information and we will send an invitation to become a part of the PLP.  Parents from your state who participated in PLP at the national convention will also be sent invitations. We hope that your affiliate or state POBC can assist in getting the parent to DC. The NOPBC may be able to provide some financial support. Please note that PLP workshops will begin the morning of Sunday, January 27, so participants need to arrive in DC on Saturday, January 26, earlier than most NFB Washington Seminar participants. For more information and to share names of potential PLP participants, please contact PLP coordinator Carol Castellano at carol_castellano at verizon.net or via cell at 200-400-1101.
>  
>  
> News:
> Presidential Release:
> This month’s release is posted at https://nfb.org/presidential-releases-en/presidential-release-478-english-december-2018.
>  
> Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Comments Submitted:
> Our comments regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking updates to the definition of “public charge” and related terms were sent last week. You can read what we submitted at https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/nfb-response-dhs-docket-no-uscis-2010-0012-final.pdf. There is also a related post available on our Facebook page.
>  
> Health Care Discrimination Lawsuit:
> We joined together with Disability Rights North Carolina to file a lawsuit against UNC Health Care and Nash UNC Health Care, charging them with discrimination against blind patients. Details are available in the press release.
>  
> Continued Action on 14(c):
> I had an opinion piece published in The Hill last week talking about 14(c), and then followed it with a letter to Alexander Acosta, Secretary of the US Department of Labor about their announcement of improving online access to the applications for 14(c) certificates.
>  
> NFB-NEWSLINE now available on the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot:
> Now you can access NFB-NEWSLINE by asking “Alexa open National Federation.” Once you have logged in, say “Alexa ask National Federation to give me instructions” to learn how to use it.
>  
> Dates to Keep in Mind:
> January 28, 2019: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
> March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
> ·         March 31, 2019: NFB scholarship application deadline
> ·         April 15, 2019: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application deadline
> June 16-22, 2019: NFB EQ, Baltimore, Maryland
> 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
>  
>  
> 
>  
>                                   
>  
>  
>  
>