[Central-MD-Chapter] NFB central Maryland chapter information updates

[blind at trailstone.com]

Hi all,

I hope you are well and remaining healthy.  
Here are a few chapter and NFB of Maryland activities to remember:

Convention reminders.
Those wishing to vote at the NFB of Maryland State Convention must enroll in
our voting system prior to October 16, 2020.  In order to be eligible to
vote, you need to:  
1)	be a member in good standing of an NFB of Maryland chapter or
division for the 2020 calendar year (this means you paid your 2020 dues
prior to September 30, 2020 - visit https://nfbmd.org/dues to pay online); 
2)	Be registered for the NFB of Maryland 54th Annual Convention prior
to October 16, 2020 - visit http://nfbmd.org/convention to register online
or return your hard copy registration form with your $20 per person
registration fee; and
Enroll in our online voting system on or before October 16, 2020 using the
link https://www.nfbvote.org/
1)	to register online or return your hard copy registration form with
your $20 per person registration fee; and
2)	Enroll in our online voting system on or before October 16, 2020
using the link https://www.nfbvote.org/.

If you need assistance enrolling in the voting system, please reach out to
your chapter president or a member of the NFB of Maryland Board of
Directors.

We are using the same voting system as the NFB National Convention.
Enrolled voters must register the phone number they intend to use via the
online link above.  They will vote by either sending a text message to a
unique number I will provide closer to the convention or by calling a unique
phone number I will provide closer to the convention.  Individuals should
register one phone per person in the household, meaning each person should
have a different enrolled phone number.  The rule is one vote per phone
number.  Individuals should also use a phone for voting they can manage
simultaneously while listening to the convention, or otherwise understand
that they may miss parts of the convention while casting their votes if a
single device is used for voting and listening. 

NFBMD 2021 cruise raffle
We are seeking donations to support NFB of Maryland.  NFBMD will hold a
drawing at the NFBMD State Convention Banquet on November 7, 2020 to show
our appreciation to financial donors.  The winner will receive a week-long
cruise on the Carnival Pride during NFBMD's Blind Cruising 2021 event -
September 19 - 26, 2021.  In order to be eligible, individuals must donate
at least $10 between August 15, 2020 and November 1, 2020 and indicate that
they wish to be entered into the drawing.  Each donor's name will be entered
into the drawing for each $10 contribution.  This means if an individual
donates $100, that individual will have 10 chances to win.  

Individuals may donate using the NFBMD PayPal button at http://nfbmd.org or
by mailing a physical check payable to NFB of Maryland to the address listed
below.  Individuals should notate the comments section of PayPal and the
check memo line to indicate "Cruise Drawing" in order to be entered into the
drawing.  Door prize contributions, exhibit hall fees, and convention
sponsorship do not count towards donations for the Cruise drawing. 
NFBMD 
1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1
Baltimore, MD 21230


Please check out the following NFB publications.
. Maryland July / August Minute Message:
http://nfbmd.org/node/373

Presidential Release #497, September 2020 (English Audio) 
https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/2020-09/pr_497_classic.mp3
President Riccobono presents the presidential release before a live virtual
audience. He discusses the importance of voting, our advocacy and legal
efforts, the education technology survey, a new theme for this year's Meet
the Blind Month, the upcoming virtual seniors' retreat, and more.

. BRAILLE MONITOR June 2020 (Vol 63 No 6)
https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm20/bm2006/bm2006tc.htm

At our chapter meetings we do our best to listen to the latest NFB
presidential Release. Due to the timing of our meetings and when the
presidential release is made available, we do not get to listen to the
latest release. Always. Please make time to listen to the Presidential
release to hear what is happening within the NFB movement.
The latest Presidential Release can be found at
https://www.nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases
It was announced that all Presidential Releases will be virtual and recorded
on the first of the month for the rest of 2020.

Maryland minute message
The president of the NFB of Maryland sends out the Maryland minute message
on the last weekend of the month. The minute message contains all sort of
information about the NFB of Maryland happenings and movement. The minute
message can be found on the NFB of Maryland mailing lists, newsline, and on
the NFB of Maryland website under blog at http://nfbmd.org/blog

. Braille Monitor
https://www.nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor#main-co
ntent
The Braille Monitor is the flagship publication of the National Federation
of the Blind. It covers the events and activities of the NFB, addresses the
issues we face as blind people, and highlights our members.


Save the dates
.	.	September 1, 2020  NFB Central Maryland chapter virtual
meeting via Free conference call phone number
.	October 6, 2020  NFB Central Maryland chapter virtual meeting
.	Central Maryland chapter meet the blind month event - Jason's Deli
at 8874 McGaw Rd in Columbia, MD
.	Central Maryland chapter meet the blind month event - Hike at Lake
in Columbia, MD
.	October 15, 2020 White Cane Day
.	November 3, 2020  NFB Central Maryland chapter virtual meeting -
LDDP technology guest speaker
.	November 6-8, 2020 - Annual State Convention, Everywhere
.	December 1, 2020  NFB Central Maryland chapter virtual meeting -
Guest speaker from Howard County Office of emergency Management
.	January 5, 2021  NFB Central Maryland chapter meeting and Holiday
party at The Other Barn
.	January 21, 2021 - NFBMD Day in Annapolis
.	February 6, 2021 - Regional Braille Challenge, Maryland School for
the Blind
.	February 8, 2021 - Washington Seminar Great Gathering In
.	February 9, 2021 - Maryland Day on the Hill
.	March 12, 2021 - Basket and Bag Bingo at The Lodge, 2832 9 Mile Cir.
Catonsville, MD.
.	August 7, 2021 - Annual Crab Feast - Tall Cedars, 2501 Putty Hill
Ave., Parkville, MD 21234
September 19 - 26, 2021 - Blind Cruising 2021, Carnival Pride, Departing
from Port of Baltimore
.	 
September 19 - 26, 2021 - Blind Cruising 2020, Carnival Pride, Departing
from Port of Baltimore



Graham Mehl
blind at trailstone.com
NFB Central Maryland Chapter, President
NFB of Maryland Website and Technology Committee, Chair
LCB graduate, 2016