The National Federation of the Blind is closely monitoring the COVID-19 emergency, which is changing everyone’s lives but has unique effects on blind people. The health and safety of all of our members, colleagues, and friends is always our top priority. Information on the NFB’s COVID-19 Resources page, www.nfb.org/resources/covid-19-resources, provides resources that may be particularly useful to blind people facing challenges during the emergency. If you have found other resources that you believe are useful, please email the information to communicationsteam@nfb.org. For the latest happenings with the NFB surrounding COVID-19, please visit www.nfb.org.

We have received several calls, text messages, and emails over the last few days asking about emails and text messages that look like they are coming from President Marcus Soulsby or other members of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia. The emails or text messages are asking people to contact Marcus or other members of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia Board of Directors urgently, or asking for gift cards and the codes to be sent to the sender of the message. We want to let you all know, this is a scam and not something that is being sent from Marcus or any other members of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia Board of Directors. It has been noted that the email address or phone number they are coming from is not Marcus's or others listed on the affiliate website, but they are using their names. The organization would not ever ask for gift card purchases or other personal information like this in emails or text messages.

If you ever do have a question about an email or text message that you receive from Marcus or anyone else from the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia, and think it may be a scam, please make sure to reach out to Marcus or the name in the email or text message prior to sending any information to it. After determining the message is a scam, please report it to issues@nfb.org for their records.

On Saturday, September 26, 2020, NFBWV held its virtual #NFBWV20 Convention, electing a nearly entirely new slate of officers.

Our new executive officers on the Board of Directors include:

President: Marcus Soulsby
First- vice president: Ed McDonald
Second vice president: Bruce Higgs
Treasurer: Chad Keeney
Secretary: Kerri Kosten

Congratulations to our elected officers, along with best wishes along the way to help them help us build a Federation.

Thanks to all who attended our virtual convention and we certainly hope to get together this time next year.

For information about how to get free talking books through the National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled program, contact the West Virginia Library Commission at 1-800-642-9021 or visit their website at http://www.librarycommission.wv.gov.

For information about job training, daily living or independence skills, or braille literacy, contact the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services at 1-800-642-8207 (toll free).