[Greater-Baltimore] April Minute Message

[nfbmd]

April 2018 Minute Message

 

Fellow Federationists: 

 

A Big Thank You.

We had two very successful fundraisers for our NFB BELL Academy programs,
youth programs and the John T. McCraw Scholarships.  The concert by Melissa
Riccobono was excellent.  We learned about some of Melissa's favorite songs
and she can definitely make a career of singing if she chooses.  The Bid for
Opportunity dinner and auction was a successful evening.  We enjoyed good
food, good friends and bidding on lots of must-have items.  This event was
sponsored by the Sligo Creek and National Harbor chapters.

 

Progress on Information Access.

Three significant events occurred this month that will bring us closer to
achieving our goal of reducing the barriers to information access faced by
blind people. 



The Maryland General Assembly approved Governor Hogan's appropriation of
$250,000 for the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA) to
Education, Public Information, and Commerce. Future messages will describe
the projects that the CENA will be undertaking in 2019. 

 

We look forward to better enforcement of the state of Maryland's Nonvisual
Access requirements because of the passage of HB 1088. This bill requires
Maryland to adopt the new federal 508 accessibility standards by January 1
of 2020. The bill establishes a civil penalty against vendors who sell
inaccessible information technology or information technology services to
the state if they refuse to fix accessibility problems that were identified.
The penalty for the first offence cannot exceed $5,000, and the penalty for
subsequent offences may not exceed $10,000. Having a civil penalty is an
important precedent in the enforcement of Nonvisual Access laws.

 

On April 18, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on
the Marrakesh Treaty. This is an important step in gaining ratification of
this treaty by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. This treaty will provide
greater access to the printed word for blind people throughout the world by
allowing countries to exchange accessible formats of books. Many thanks to
everyone who worked diligently to achieve these three objectives, which will
reduce information barriers.   We are hoping that Governor Hogan will sign
HB 1088 and that U.S. Senate will ratify the Marrakesh Treaty soon.

 

Do Good with Burritos.

Join us at Chipotle for a fundraiser to support Maryland Association of
Blind Students.  Just come in to the 300 West Pratt Street location in
Baltimore on Sunday, May 6th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.  Tell the cashier that
you're supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be
donated to Maryland Association of Blind Students.

 

Two Important Deadlines.

Be sure to turn your money and raffle stubs in so that you may begin to win
$50 Sunday through Friday or $100 on Saturday, starting on May 1st.  If you
did not get a $5 raffle ticket yet, contact your chapter president or
Melissa Riccobono.  

 

Are you ready for the National Convention, July 3 - 8 at the Rosen Shingle
Creek Hotel?  Did you make your hotel reservation yet?  Remember to
preregister and purchase a banquet ticket by going to
https://convention.nfb.org/.   Preregistration closes on May 31st.  

 

 

Important Dates for 2018.

May 6 - Chipotle Fundraiser, 4pm - 8pm.  Maryland Association of Blind
Students.  300 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD.  

June 2 - Board of Directors Meeting, 9:30am. The location is Carroll
Lutheran Village, 300 St. Luke's Circle, Westminster, MD.

June 3 - 6-K Dot Dash for Braille Literacy, 200 East Wells Street,
Baltimore, MD. 

June 9-  The Maryland Parents of Blind Children seminar "Family to Family
Connections."  Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD.

June 23- MABM Networking Mixer, 3pm-6pm. FLAVOR Restaurant, 15 East Centre
Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.

July 3-8 - NFB National Convention, Orlando, FL.

July 16-27- NFB Bell Academy in Salisbury, MD.  

July 29 - August 4 - NFB EQ for blind high-school students. Go to
<http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq> http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq.

July 30-August 10 - NFB Bell Academies in Baltimore and Glenn Dale, MD. 

August 4 - Annual Crab Feast, Columbus Gardens, Baltimore, MD.

November 9-11 - Annual State Convention, Carousel Hotel, Ocean City, MD. 

 

 

Sharon Maneki, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596

 

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not
the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.