[Ohio-Talk] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 02/03/2020

Mon Feb 3 23:48:05 UTC 2020

President’s Notebook

National Federation of the Blind

Mark A. Riccobono

 <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org> officeofthepresident at nfb.org

410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

In one week we will be in the midst of the Washington Seminar. Please remember to review our Washington Seminar page to get any information you need about our work together in Washington, DC. I urge you to help promote our career fair among blind people in our network. This is a great opportunity for our members to get connected with jobs from a variety of employers.

Travel safe to Baltimore and Washington, DC, and here’s to a great week on Capitol Hill.

Critical Actions This Week:

Career Fair at Washington Seminar:
Monday, February 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Whether you'd like to transition into a meaningful career, you're a student looking for your first job out of college, or you're an experienced professional seeking advancement, stop by this career fair.

Please arrive prepared for a job interview:

*	Business attire highly recommended
*	Polished résumé in electronic and paper formats
*	Plan to participate in a prep call to learn what employers are looking for. The call will be February 3 at 9:00 p.m. eastern. Register to attend to get call information. 

We strongly encourage everyone to register online ahead of time. Please fill out the career fair job-seeker registration form <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=16059&qid=3300606> . If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Callaway at callaway.shawn at gmail.com <mailto:callaway.shawn at gmail.com>  or 202-352-1511.

Note: You do not need to be attending the Washington Seminar to attend the career fair.

News:

Scholarship Program Questionnaire:
Each state president will soon receive a brief questionnaire regarding the ways your state is promoting the national scholarship program. This questionnaire will give the Scholarship Committee information about how students across the country are being made aware of the scholarship opportunity and will hopefully give your state some new ideas about things you could try to spread the word. This brief survey may be completed either by the state president or by the state scholarship coordinator, if you have one. We would like to have the questionnaires back by February 15 so we can look at the data and use it to help us complete our final promotional push in March. Additionally, each member of the scholarship committee will be assigned a state or multiple states to follow up with regarding the information gathered in this questionnaire. These committee members will reach out to you after Washington Seminar to support your outreach efforts. 

National Convention 2020—First Timer’s Guide:

Each year one-third of attendees come to the NFB National Convention for the first time, and some may not know what to expect. It is recommended for each first timer to connect with their local chapter and affiliate <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates>  prior to convention as well as review the First Timer’s Guide. It covers the function of convention; crucial elements of the agenda, exhibits, resolutions, registration and banquet ticket purchase; and the many other aspects of convention. Share the First Timer’s Guide <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide> . 

Continue Submitting Uber and Lyft Experiences:

In an effort to resolve allegations of Uber and Lyft driver discrimination against passengers with service animals, the National Federation of the Blind continues to monitor rideshare experiences. If you are an Uber or Lyft customer who has a service animal or travels with someone who has a service animal, please complete the Uber and Lyft survey <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/uber-and-lyft-survey/uber-and-lyft-information>  as often as you can. Learn more about the survey and settlement <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/uber-and-lyft-survey/uber-and-lyft-information> .

Call for Presentations—Nonvisual Access Conference:

The National Federation of the Blind is seeking presentation proposals for the Teaching Access Technology Using Structured Discovery Techniques seminar that will be held at the Nonvisual Access Conference on April 14, 2020. Share your expertise with other trainers! Presentation topics may include training techniques, self-guided learning, theory of technology education, and any additional relevant topics. Presentation may be thirty to sixty minutes. Learn more about the Nonvisual Access Conference. <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference> 

Career Opportunities at the National Office:

The National Federation of the Blind is seeking flexible, hard-working individuals who will work with us to ensure independence and equality for all blind Americans. Currently, we have the following openings: Archivist and Research Specialist, Braille Proofing and Production Specialist, and Facilities Maintenance and Event Staff. Learn more about our career opportunities <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities> . 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	February 10: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
*	February 11: Career Fair at Washington Seminar
*	March 26-27: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland
*	March 31: Deadline for scholarship applications <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program> 
*	April 14-17: NABM BLAST <http://www.blindmerchants.org> , Chicago, Illinois
*	April 14-16:  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference> Nonvisual Access Conference, Baltimore, Maryland

*	June 21-27: NFB EQ <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq> ; St. Paul, Minnesota 
*	July 14-19: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas

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> 

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. 