[Nfbc-sj] WASHINGTON SEMINAR UPDATE

[Brian Buhrow]

	hello.  For those of you who haven't seen the note about the cancellation of the in-person
Washington Seminar for 2022, here it is.
-thanks
-Brian

--- Forwarded mail from nfbcboard at nfbcal.org

From: <president at nfbcal.org>
To: "NFBC Board" <nfbcboard at nfbcal.org>
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:16:59 -0800
Subject: [Nfbcboard] FW: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] NFB Washington
	Seminar 2022 Gone Virtual

See below for important update on Washington Seminar going virtual.





Tim Elder

President

National Federation of the Blind of California

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

(916) 382-0372

http://www.nfbcal.org/



Did you know that blind Californians are holding monthly meetings in =
your region over Zoom and telephone?  Check out our virtual local =
chapter and division meetings.  All are welcome to attend.

http://www.nfbcal.org/chapters-and-divisions/



From: State-Affiliate-Leadership-List =
<state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of =
President, National Federation of the Blind via =
State-Affiliate-Leadership-List
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 10:33 AM
To: State Affiliate Leadership =
(state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org) =
<state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Cc: President, National Federation of the Blind =
<OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] NFB Washington Seminar 2022 =
Gone Virtual



Dear Affiliate Presidents:



In light of recent events surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the =
rapid spread of the virus in Washington DC, we are going to cancel the =
in-person portion of the 2022 Washington Seminar and convert to an =
all-virtual format. Given that the Washington Seminar is one of the =
Federation=E2=80=99s marquis events, this was a difficult decision for =
me and one that I did not approach lightly. In making this decision my =
top three concerns were: the health and safety of our members and staff; =
the success and impact of the Washington Seminar event, and; the =
financial impact to Federation members.



In recent weeks we have seen Maryland, DC, and Virginia all declare =
states of emergency related to the pandemic. Washington DC and the =
surrounding areas are currently experiencing unprecedented community =
spread of the virus among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. =
To bring our members from all across the country into the middle of that =
during a time that many medical experts predict will be the peak of the =
spread poses serious risks to the health and safety of Federation =
members.



Additionally, on January 3, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician =
for Congress urged the House and Senate to move to a =E2=80=9Cmaximal =
telework posture.=E2=80=9D Even if we could get everyone from across the =
country to DC and guarantee their health and safety, we can=E2=80=99t =
guarantee that scheduled in-person meetings with members of Congress or =
staff won=E2=80=99t be canceled at the last minute. If conditions get =
worse, as they are predicted to do, we may end up in a situation where =
we have members from across the country in the hotel without any =
meetings to go to. We believe that canceling all in-person activities at =
this point provides adequate time to plan for virtual meetings and has a =
high rate of success for Federation members to speak with their member =
of Congress or staff.



Finally, the decision to convert to an all-virtual Washington Seminar at =
this time will, we hope, provide a greater likelihood that Federation =
members will be able to obtain refunds on airfare and hotel =
accommodations.



It is for these reasons that we have made the difficult decision cancel =
the in-person portion of the 2022 Washington Seminar and convert to an =
entirely virtual format. We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy, =
and we continue to anticipate a national convention in New Orleans this =
summer. Until then, we have a lot of important advocacy work to do.



Considering the cancellation of any in-person presence for Washington =
Seminar, it makes less sense for us to host our invited presidents at =
the national office the weekend before. We will be hosting some virtual =
trainings for invited presidents and a meeting for all presidents during =
the weekend prior to the Washington Seminar week. The tentative schedule =
is as follows:

Invited Presidents: Saturday, February 4 1 =E2=80=93 6 PM Eastern

All Presidents: Sunday, February 5 =E2=80=93 1 =E2=80=93 4 PM Eastern



More details about the full schedule for Washington Seminar related =
meetings coming soon.



Sincerely,





Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org =
<mailto:Officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his





 <https://nfb.org/>



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The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and =
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation=E2=80=99s =
blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives =
they want.