[Ohio-Talk] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/20/2020

[Richard Payne]

Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 01/20/2020

 


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,

 

You are on the move and making great things happen already in 2020. It is always impressive how the Federation spins back into action after the end-of-the-year slow down, but this year it feels extra powerful. 

 

If you listened to the January Presidential Release, you heard that I laid out some things for us to think about in our chapters and affiliates. I continue to hear from members who say their chapter will not play the release or that the leader of their chapter decides to play only certain parts. I continue to seek feedback from you about the value of the release and how we can use it more effectively—or whether we should stop producing it and spend our time at all levels on other priorities. I continue to get great feedback from people about the release, but I am also aware that there is a need to open conversations about our communications strategies. As you prepare to come for our Presidents Retreat, I encourage you to give this topic honest reflection and share your ideas with me.

 

We are poised to have one of the strongest Washington Seminars ever. Thank you for your leadership in preparing to make that happen. I anticipate being with you in just a little more than two weeks.


Critical Actions This Week:


Washington Seminar Conference Call:
I will be holding a conference call for all affiliate presidents and legislative directors on Wednesday, January 29, to review all aspects of the upcoming Washington Seminar. The call-in information is 877-853-5257, meeting ID 392 942 896. The Washington Seminar legislative agenda and fact sheets are available in a variety of formats on our website. They can be found at https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar. This information has also been posted on NFB NEWSLINE® and can be found using the free NFB NEWSLINE mobile app—choose Publications, Publication Options, All Publications.

 

Please be sure to submit your Washington Seminar appointments to hillappointments at nfb.org <mailto:hillappointments at nfb.org>  and to include: 

*         Member of Congress

*         Meeting date and time

*         Meeting location

*         Staff contact

*         NFB contact

*         NFB contact cell phone

 


News:


NFB EQ Registration Now Open:
Share this summer opportunity with blind or low-vision teens: The National Federation of the Blind Engineering Quotient (NFB EQ) program will be held June 21-27, 2020, at the Science Museum of Minnesota. NFB EQ is a week-long adventure into engineering and problem solving. No specific level of engineering experience is required. The online application for the 2020 NFB EQ program <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-application>  is now open. The deadline to apply is March 29, 2020. Also, check out  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/summer-programs> additional summer programs available for young students to adults.


NFB STEM2U:
We will be hosting a training seminar in Baltimore (scheduled for May 8-9, 2020) for affiliates interested in hosting a STEM program for youth in the fall of 2020. Contact Karen Anderson at kanderson at nfb.org <mailto:kanderson at nfb.org>  or 410-659-9314, extension 2243, for more information.


Accessibility Boutique: Comparison of Cloud Storage Solutions:
Tuesday, January 28 | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | Zoom Teleconference. Attend this two-hour session to explore the tools that blind students and blind professionals use to create digital work in Word, Excel, and other applications. This boutique will compare the features and accessibility of the most popular cloud storage services including but not limited to Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. The National Federation of the Blind hosts free monthly accessibility boutiques that cover best practices and latest trends in access tech.  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques> Register now.


Automated Production of Braille Math Books in the Works:
With a grant from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, along with support from the National Science Foundation, a working group of members of the National Federation of the Blind and other researchers developed an automated method for creating textbooks in Braille. The American Institute of Mathematics just announced the production method and a week-long workshop to explain and improve on it. Learn more from  <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/automated-production-braille-math-books-works> our press room.


January Presidential Release:
The January release can be found at https://www.nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases. 


The Shoe Fits: #RunForNFB Fundraiser:
Lace up your shoes and join Terri Rupp in raising $50,000 for the National Federation of the Blind. Terri Rupp, national board member and president of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, is completing her first 50K on February 14, 2020, in Las Vegas, and she wanted to combine her love for running with her love of turning dreams into reality. You don’t have to literally run, but  <https://www.nfb.org/blog/shoe-fits-runfornfb-fundraiser> share her story and this fundraiser. #RunForNFB


Dates to Keep in Mind:


*	February 10: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
*	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
*	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.