[Ohio-Talk] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 06/15/2020

Tue Jun 16 21:38:34 UTC 2020

President’s Notebook

National Federation of the Blind

Mark A. Riccobono

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

410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

Convention, convention, convention is where things are at right now. I hope each of you are getting geared up for our best national convention ever, and the first online convention in Federation history. We, like we always do, are planning for a convention of the size and complexity that no other entity in the blindness field is even attempting. It is going to take this tremendous leadership group to do all that we desire to accomplish in five days with the diversity of people we expect.  

We have four weeks to get everyone ready. Please start by getting as many of our members registered as we can. Next, let’s get each of our registered convention attendees familiar with how they will get onto Zoom. In addition, consider how you are going to effectively work with your delegation to keep everyone plugged in and engaged. Consider having a lead national convention ambassador for your affiliate who can help share information, troubleshoot problems, and generally be available to members who need help. Of course in some affiliates you will need many people. You should consider having a lead point person who can help you push the right information to the people who need it. This is a great job to give someone who likes helping other members with technology.

Now that you are all convention focused, remember that we would like to have the Access Technology Affordability Act on its way to the president’s desk for signature during our convention. This is the week to get us over one hundred cosponsors in the House of Representatives and over twenty-five in the Senate.

Thanks for your work to move our agenda forward.

Critical Actions:

FINAL DAY—Register Now for National Convention:

Register today at no cost! The 2020 NFB National Convention is going to have many of the same elements with new twists. Registration gives access to exclusive offers, convention announcements, door prizes, and other exciting content. The deadline to register is today, June 15. Learn more and register for the national convention now <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention> .

Convention Related:

Veterans’ Celebration of Freedom:
Vernon Humphrey, president of the National Association of Blind Veterans, is reaching out to all veterans that will be taking part in the national convention so they can participate in the annual Celebration of Freedom. Please contact him at mr_president at nabv.org <mailto:mr_president at nabv.org>  or 706-329-7960 if you are, or you know of, a military veteran that will be participating in convention this year.

Convention Door Prizes:
The National Federation of the Blind is excited to continue our tradition of door prizes during the national convention in July. All affiliates and divisions who wish to make door prize donations can do so in two ways. Organizations and groups that want to donate products like Louisiana spices, Iowa scissors, or Wisconsin cheese curds (yes, please), please send an email to FSteam at NFB.org <mailto:FSteam at NFB.org>  with a description of the prize(s), quantity being donated, and the name and contact information of the person in the affiliate or division who is responsible for providing the prize. To reduce shipping expenses, we will provide affiliates and divisions the winners’ information describing where prizes are to be sent. Affiliates and divisions will send product prizes directly to the winners.

Organizations and groups that want to donate cash prizes, please send an email to FSteam at NFB.org <mailto:FSteam at NFB.org>  with the amount of the funds you are sending for the door prize and the exact name of the organization or group donating the prize. A check payable to “National Federation of the Blind” should be sent to NFB, ATTN: Conv – FS, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Please note in the memo on the check that it is for “Door Prize(s).” The national organization has controls in place and a relationship with a company to issue gift cards. Winners’ names will be collected during the convention and a list of winners, with addresses, will be provided to the company to process and mail Visa gift cards directly to the winners.

Message from Sharon Maneki, NFB Resolutions Committee Chair:

Do you think we should change a government policy, take a stand concerning an agency for the blind, or create new regulations? If you do, consider writing a resolution. At the 2020 National Convention, the Resolutions Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 15. The committee will debate and discuss resolutions on a wide variety of subjects. If passed by the convention, these resolutions will become the policy statements of the organization. To ensure that your resolution will be considered by the committee, please send it to Sharon Maneki (nfbmd at earthlink.net <mailto:nfbmd at earthlink.net> ) or to me by June 30, two weeks before the committee meeting. Since things are always busy leading up to the convention, sending them earlier will be appreciated. If you email a resolution to Sharon and do not receive an acknowledgement email in two or three days, please send it again.

If you miss the deadline, you must get three members of the committee to sponsor your resolution and then get it to Sharon before the meeting begins. 

News:

New Resource for Children: Access Pinna, On-Demand Audio Service:

The National Federation of the Blind is proud to partner with Pinna <https://www.nfb.org/resources/distance-education-resources/pinna-on-demand-audio-streaming> , an on-demand audio streaming service providing hundreds of hours of content to children across the country. From science and fantasy to interactive game shows and mysteries, Pinna has hundreds of hours of audio programming including podcasts, audiobooks, and music including Opal Watson Private Eye, a Pinna original podcast of an eleven-year-old blind girl. Pinna is currently providing sixty days free with the promo code NFBGET60. To take advantage of the sixty-day free listening promotion, create a new account via the website at https://pinna.fm/?promo=1. 

NFB BELL®—Space Still Available for July 27–August 7 In-Home Edition:

Enhance Braille literacy for blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, with NFB BELL! Registration is open for one more opportunity of the in-home, two-week-long sessions of NFB BELL Academy scheduled for July 27 through August 7, 2020. Each registered student will receive the materials to complete all lessons alongside their parent/guardian via mail. Space is limited, so register today for NFB BELL <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy> .

Virtual State Convention Assistance:

The NFB of Missouri recently held a successful convention virtually. Afterwards they held a Zoom call to review what helped them be successful. The call was recorded and can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/s/wu1m78xvifdwy7q/LearningFromNFBMOVirtualConvention2020-0611.mp3?dl=0 . 

Requesting Information Regarding National Telecommuting Institute:

If you have recently applied for or tried to apply for positions with National Telecommuting Institute (NTI), please contact Valerie Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org <mailto:vyingling at nfb.org>  or 410-659-9314, extension 2440.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	June 22-July 3: NFB BELL® In-Home Edition
*	July 27-August 7: NFB BELL® In-Home Edition

*	July 14-18: NFB National Convention <https://www.nfb.org/convention> , Everywhere

*	February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In

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 |  <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org> 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. 