[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of August 5

Fri Aug 9 14:44:05 UTC 2024

Critical Actions:

National Convention Attendee Survey: 

Please share feedback in the  <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nfb24>
National Federation of the Blind survey available in English and
<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nfb24esp> Spanish or by phone in English. To
complete the survey by phone, call 229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878.
The phone survey is in an automated system and will require it to be
completed in one session. There is an option to pause the survey for five
minutes and the pause can be extended as needed. Push the pound key for
help. Please share the phone survey option with members who may not have
internet access. Thank you for sharing your feedback. 

Presidential Release #540 Available: 

The National Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
Presidential Release #540 for chapters is available. Mark your calendar for
the next Presidential Release on September 4, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. 

News:

National Convention Highlights:

Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who made
#NFB24 a success.
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2024-nati
onal-convention> Access the 2024 National Convention highlights now.

Calling All PAC Donors:

If you participate in the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) plan and have
not checked your donor status recently, please reach out to us at
<mailto:PAC at nfb.org> PAC at nfb.org or call 877-632-2PAC (2722) to confirm you
are still an active PAC donor. Sometimes members think they are actively
supporting the NFB each month through a credit card or bank account, but a
change on the account may have stopped the monthly donation. The NFB's
policy is to deactivate any account that is declined or returned to make
sure we don't waste funds on return fees. By proactively confirming your PAC
donor status you will help the NFB continue our important work on behalf of
blind people. 

Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:

The National Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement
during October each year. Chapters across the country organize local
outreach events. Submit your events, activities, and celebrations to
<mailto:web at nfb.org> web at nfb.org, so they can be posted on
<https://nfb.org/blind-month> nfb.org/blind-month. If you need items or
ideas, review past activities and also the
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2378&reset=1> White Cane Awareness
Day Proclamation. Remember history. Advance equality. Celebrate
accomplishments. 

Where the Blind Work Webinar:

Join us for an informative discussion featuring a panel of blind
professionals who are finding employment success in the world of remote
work. This event will be held August 22, 8:00-9:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom.
Our panelists are:

*        Danara Barlo, Agency Program Coordinator/Contracting Specialist,
United States Airforce, Kansas

*        Brandi Major, Customer Service Professional, Lighthouse Works,
North Carolina 

*        Mike Forzano, Senior Software Engineer, Amazon, New York

We look forward to your participation. Register to get the Zoom details at
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-
registration> Where the Blind Work Registration 

Blind Voter Registration Drives:

Hosting a voter registration drive is a meaningful way that protection and
advocacy personnel, consumer organizations, and service groups can encourage
blind people to participate in the electoral process. It is also an
opportunity for blind people to learn about the organized blind movement.
The National Federation of the Blind developed a guide that contains
suggestions for planning and conducting a voter registration drive that will
be accessible to the blind.
<file:///C:/Users/LamkinSeth/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Conte
nt.Outlook/PXN5EKPU/Blind%20Voter%20Registration%20Drive%20Guide%20(HTML)>
Access the Blind Voter Registration Drive Guide. Learn more at
<file:///C:/Users/LamkinSeth/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Conte
nt.Outlook/PXN5EKPU/nfb.org/vote> nfb.org/vote.

Dare to Be Remarkable Conference:

Mark your calendars for the National Federation of the Blind 2024
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/dare-be-remarkable> Dare to Be
Remarkable conference, a three-day national conference for education and
rehabilitation professionals who work with blind students and adults. The
conference will be held from November 11 through 13 at the National
Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. We also invite you to submit
your presentation proposals for this event to Edward Bell at
ebell at latech.edu <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> . The deadline to submit
proposals is September 2. 

Registration is $400 until October 5 and $500 after October 6. Registration
details are coming soon. 

Please direct all inquiries to the conference organizers, Edward Bell, at
<mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu or 318-257-4554, or Anil Lewis,
at  <mailto:alewis at nfb.org> alewis at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2374.

Virtual Career Fair:

Mark your calendars for the National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career
Fair being held October 22, 1:00-4:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom. Jobseekers,
this is an opportunity to find your occupational passion. Employers, this is
a chance to connect with great talent. Registration details are coming soon.

Legislative Update:

In the last couple of weeks, we have seen increases in cosponsor support
across several of our bills. On the Access Technology Affordability Act
(H.R. 3702/S. 1467), we have gained four new cosponsors in the House:
Representative Suzan DelBene (Washington), Representative Chellie Pingree
(Maine), Representative Jim Costa (California), and Representative Don Bacon
(Nebraska). We now have a total of ninety-five cosponsors on the House
version of the Access Technology Affordability Act. 

Our Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328/S. 3621) also
gained a new cosponsor in the House, Representative Valerie Foushee of North
Carolina, bringing the total number of House cosponsors to eighty-five. 

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S.
533) also gained a new cosponsor in the House, Representative Grace
Napolitano of California, marking thirty-four total cosponsors in the House
of Representatives. 

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (H.R. 4858/S.
2494) also gained three new cosponsors in the House: Representative Jill
Tokuda (Hawaii), Representative Grace Napolitano (California), and
Representative Mark Takano (California). There are now twenty total
cosponsors on the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act in
the House. This is all outstanding progress, and we must continue to press
on and call or email our members of Congress to build as much support for
our legislation as possible. 

Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act Letter to Senators
Sanders and Cassidy:

On July 24, we sent a
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-include
-transformation-competitive-and> letter to Senators Bernie Sanders (Vermont)
and Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), the chair and ranking member of the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, to urge them to include
the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act in the upcoming
Apprentice and Workforce Package. The full letter can be read on our
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> Policy
Statements page. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In 
*	February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar
*	July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m. 
*	Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m. 

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, September 12, and Sunday, September 15, at 8:00 p.m. 
*	Thursday, December 19, and Sunday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m. 

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

 <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> president at nfbofillinois.org

 <http://www.nfbofillinois.org> www.nfbofillinois.org

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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.