[nfbwatlk] Report from the 2011 Washington Seminar

[Mike Freeman]

Fellow Federationists:

The Washington Seminar is going extremely well this year, especially since the House of Representatives is in recess and not all senators are present.  For the first time, all fifty state affiliates, the NFB of Puerto Rico and the NFB of District of Columbia have representatives here.  Thus, we have full NFB affiliate representation.  Over five hundred people are here, meaning that the first day's gathering-in meeting was absolutely packed to the rafters with both the main Columbia Room and the overflow room having standing-room only.

At the opening meeting, former Senator Dodd spoke and former New York Governor David Paterson was introduced and gave a rousing speech.  NFB has hired him on a temporary basis to help with our Strategic Initiatives.

Our legislative proposals have been well-received and the only objections of which I am aware come from those who oppose mandates on industry (our Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind).  None of Washington's senators or representatives have been able to meet with us in person but staff have been uniformly receptive and several have indicated an active interest in helping, pending review of draft legislative language.

Our legation is doing a great job:  Ivan Weich and Betty McNally ably discussed the issues and Betty did double-duty, helping out the Florida contingent.  We also had Lily Clifton helping us; her energy is boundless.  And those involved with the "Teachers of Tomorrow" program were here including two teachers from the Yakima area who went with us.

It appears that the House of Representatives will spend much more time in home districts during this legislative session.  It therefore becomes doubly important to arrange to meet with your representatives in the local districts.  I urge all of you to actively seek such opportunities (town meetings and the like).  If we do this, we'll get our legislative initiatives enacted into law!

I shall come home tomorrow.  But the work is never done for Federationists, wicked and wonderful alike.  The Governor's proposal for an education department which would encompass the School for the Blind is abominable and we shall have to vehemently oppose it, at least in its present form.  More on this when I've studied the actual legislative language.

The Federation is alive, vibrant and active on all fronts.

To the barricades, comrades!

Mike Freeman, President
NFB of Washington


[Sent via iPhone]