[Ohio-talk] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/21/2019

Tue Jan 22 00:33:37 UTC 2019

Please read the note after my name.

Richard Payne,  President

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

937-396-5573or 937/829/3368

Rchpay7 at gmail.com

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

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> 
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2019 3:38 PM
To: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/21/2019

President’s Notebook

National Federation of the Blind

Mark A. Riccobono

officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto: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 <mailto: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:  <https://nfb.org/scholarships> NFB scholarship application deadline

*         April 15, 2019:  <https://nfb.org/programs/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards> Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application deadline 

*	June 16-22, 2019:  <http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq> NFB EQ, 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

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>  

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 