[Ohio-Talk] From The President's Desk

Wed Jun 5 19:04:36 UTC 2024

			National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (NFBO)

Richard Payne, Ohio Affiliate President
1019 Wilmington Ave. Kettering, Ohio 45420
(937) 829-3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 

>From The President's Desk
June 5, 2024

Dear Federation Family, 

Over the last few months, I have been working tirelessly on our BELL Academy
and finalizing specific plans. The BELL Academy requires a lot of heavy
lifting before and during the program. This is why volunteering is
significant as we need members to make every effort to spread the word to
bring in blind children who need to learn more from BELL. 

While I have been busy, I know that most members have been as well. Ohio is
a busy affiliate that fundraise,  serve the community, and edify the
federation in various ways. So, thank you for your service, commitment, and
dedication to the mission.

I want to encourage you to continue sending monetary donations to the state
treasury. This organization cannot function without financial support.
Please make your checks out to NFB of Ohio and not to Kathy Legg. The BELL
Academy Program is all about the kids. So, support this outstanding
opportunity that will offer them socialization, Braille instruction,
everyday living skills and more. 

You may send your checks to the following address.

1916 15th Street SW
Akron, OH 44314

I find it extremely rewarding to have the opportunity to do the grassroots
work in the Federation. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to work with
Gloria Robinson, and the Cincinnati Chapter at the Flying Pig event. The
table that we were offered was rewarded to the Affiliate,  because of our
committed efforts over the years. Moreover, I do see several ways that we
can bring in more money to the Affiliate serving with this event. But for
now, the focus is on our National Convention and other programs. Therefore,
this is a topic that will resurface in a few months.

I hope those of you who have decided to attend the 2024 National Convention
have made all necessary arrangements. Consequently, for those who are not
attending the in-person Convention, do not forget about the virtual
component. You can still sign-up for the virtual experience by going online
to NFB.ORG/Convention. 

	Thus, if you put in a request for convention sponsorship before the
deadline, then you and I should have already talked about the amount of
support that the state will be awarding you. If we have not had a
conversation, then reach out to me.

Further more, I  had an opportunity to attend the Columbus Chapter meeting.
Annette does an excellent job with that chapter's committed leadership. She
has always kept the Federation moving forward. Reaching out to the State
Board to get assistance in building the membership shows her commitment and
resolve to brainstorm how to increase their membership. For many of you who
do not know, I have resided in Arkansas, Mississippi and now Ohio. So, when
I was in Mississippi, we did not have large chapters but a few dedicated
members, which  mirrors the Columbus Chapter. But we pulled together and
began recruiting in various ways. We did not give up and I do not think the
Capital Chapter will either.

Honor Roll Call:
	Convention time is here, which means it is the Honor Roll Call time
of year! The Honor Roll Call is when affiliates and national divisions
support our sustaining funds: Kenneth Jernigan Fund, SUN shares, White Cane
Fund, and Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund. To make your 2024 contributions,
write a check payable to National Federation of the Blind and mail it to 200
East Wells Street; Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, Attention: Fiscal Services -
Roll Call and write "Roll Call" in the check memo. Please send an email to
rollcall at nfb.org <mailto:rollcall at nfb.org>  detailing the amount to go to
each fund and the name of the organization, so that we record the
contributions correctly. All pre-convention contributions will be
acknowledged on our website. If your organization is making a pledge to be
paid later this year, please send an email to rollcall at nfb.org
<mailto:rollcall at nfb.org>  telling us how much is being pledged for each
fund and when we can expect the check. All pledges should be fulfilled by
August 31, 2024.

I am also asking that Chapters and Divisions in Ohio do this so you will not
need to count on me or anyone else to get your contributions in. For those
who wish to offset what the affiliate contributes please send the funds to
Kathy and note which funds you wish for them to be applied.

Critical Actions:
	June Presidential Release:
	The June Presidential Release #539 chapter version
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>  is
available for chapter meetings. There will not be a presidential release in
July. The next live presidential release is scheduled for Thursday, August
1, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom TBD.

Convention
	NFB24 Registration and Virtual Experience:
	The early registration for the National Federation of the Blind
National Convention is now closed. Onsite registration in Orlando will be
available. The NFB24 Virtual Experience registration
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2024-national-convention-v
irtual-experience>  remains open now through convention. Learn more about
convention at nfb.org/convention <https://nfb.org/convention> . 

	Volunteers Needed:
	Are you interested in helping to make the 2024 National Convention a
huge success? You can help by volunteering in the Independence Market at the
National Convention! We are currently looking for volunteers to serve as
demonstrators, storekeepers, and marshals. The Independence Market will be
open Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7. The hours for Thursday and
Friday are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We split this day into two shifts.
Saturday and Sunday, we are open from 12:00 to 1:45 p.m. only. We usually
ask folks to volunteer one long shift and one short shift if they are able.
We certainly understand if you can only volunteer for a certain day or days.

	Thank you to everyone who has signed up thus far! 
	The Independence Market at national convention would not be possible
without the support, dedication, and hard work of our numerous volunteers.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jen White at
410-659-9314, extension 2236, or email her at jwhite at nfb.org
<mailto:jwhite at nfb.org>  today.

	Independence Market Hours:
	The Independence Market will be closed starting Monday, July 1,
through Friday, July 12. The last day to order items before the convention
will be Friday, June 28. 

	Calling All Door Prizes:
	The NFB door prize team is hard at work planning for this year's
convention. If your affiliate or division wants to donate to the in-person
door prizes, you can deliver it to Bennett Prows or Kenia Flores on the
stage before or during breaks of the general session. Please label the prize
in Braille and print, so our team knows what it is and who donated it. If
you are donating cash, put it in an envelope labeled with the amount and who
it is from-our team wants to acknowledge your generosity. 

	Our registered virtual attendees are also eligible to win Visa gift
cards or Independence Market gift certificates. You can help the NFB with
virtual door prizes by writing a check payable to National Federation of the
Blind and mailing it to 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230,
Attention: Fiscal Services - Virtual DP, and write Virtual Door Prizes in
the check memo.
Voting Accessibility:
	We are in primary voting season and have a presidential election
approaching in November. If you are a registered voter, you have the legal
right to cast your private and independent ballot. As we make our way
through this election year, it is important to ensure that your vote is both
private and independent. The Help America Vote Act requires all polling
stations during federal elections to have one accessible ballot-marking
device available. It is the polling place's responsibility that these
devices are set up and ready for use by the start of election day as well as
having trained poll workers to operate the machines. If your state permits
remote voting options, this process must also be accessible, thereby
providing privacy and independence. Instances that do not provide
accessibility, whether you voted in person or remotely, can be reported to
the Department of Justice. We at the NFB are also interested to hear why
your voting experience did not go as planned so feel free to contact Jeff
Kaloc at 410-659-9314, extension 2206, or jkaloc at nfb.org
<mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org> . Here is the information to file a complaint with
the Department of Justice: 
*	By complaint form at
http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php
*	By email at voting.section at usdoj.gov
<mailto:voting.section at usdoj.gov> 
*	By telephone at 800-253-3931 (toll free)
*	By telephone at 202-307-2767
*	By fax at 202-307-3961

Richard Payne,  President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto: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.

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