[Greater-Baltimore] FW: [NFB-Maryland] November Minute Message from the Movement
Chris Danielsen
cdanielsen14 at comcast.net
Mon Nov 30 13:10:52 UTC 2020
From: NFB-Maryland [mailto:nfb-maryland-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
president--- via NFB-Maryland
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2020 9:52 PM
To: nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org
Subject: [NFB-Maryland] November Minute Message from the Movement
November 2020 Minute Message
Fellow Federationists:
We have demonstrated that to "rise up" is in our blood as Federationists at
our 54th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland. I am immensely grateful to each of you who played a role, from
running a workshop or seminar, to organizing a tour, to coordinating the
Exhibit Hall and soliciting sponsors, to providing door prizes and auction
items, to running sound and streaming, hosting Zoom sessions, and engaging
social media, to staffing the virtual PAC and Information Tables, to
managing door prizes and the auction, and on and on and on. It is a happy
coincidence that our logistics team had 54 members this year, and each of
them was spectacular. you can see, it takes a myriad of people to put on a
convention, especially one as big and energetic as ours. Please visit our
website, nfbmd.org, to find the 2020 resolutions, our amended Constitution,
and some key highlights such as our Virtual Learning Panel, our
Entrepreneurs Panel, our BELL celebration, and many other important moments
you'll want to revisit.
Please read below for information about important happenings around the
affiliate.
Blind Cruising 2021
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be hosting a cruise
fundraiser from September 19, 2021 to September 26, 2021. The affiliate
will receive a portion of the cost of each cabin that is booked. All are
welcome, including members of the NFBMD, other affiliates, families,
colleagues, and friends. For additional information or to reserve your
cabin, please contact our travel agent, Cindy Kiper at
<mailto:kkiper at cruisesinc.com> kkiper at cruisesinc.com or 813-418-0647 or
visit <http://nfbmd.org/blindcruising> http://nfbmd.org/blindcruising. .
Details are as follows:
Ship: Carnival Pride
Date: September 19 - September 26, 2021
Port of Departure: Baltimore, Maryland
Number of nights: 7
Ports visited: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; and
Freeport, Bahamas
Key Dates:
- First deposit due: Until All Cabins Booked or December 31,
2020 (whichever is earlier) = $25 per person
- Second deposit due: April 15, 2021 - $250 per person plus
full names of sailors
- Final payment due: June 1, 2021
Types and prices of cabins (this is a per person price based on double
occupancy and includes cabin fee, port charges, and taxes); we have a
limited number of cabins, so prices may change once our block is filled.
- Balcony cabin (extended balcony) = $958.64 per person
- Balcony cabin (standard balcony) = from $935.64 to $946.64
per person
- interior cabin = From $727.64 to $737.64 per person
- if anyone needs an Ocean View or triple or quad cabin, they
should let us know.
Note: Cabin types are going first come first serve, so please email to
inquire about availability.
We hope you will join us in 2021 on this incredible trip.
Adult and children Participants Needed for National Braille Readers Are
Leaders Contest
The National Federation of the Blind is partnering with the American Action
Fund for Blind Children and Adults to present Braille Readers Are Leaders
2020-2021. Braille readers in grades K-12 compete with others in their grade
category to read the most pages during the reading period from December 1 to
January 18. An adult category allows adults who want to practice their
Braille skills to participate as well. Registration began on November 1, and
it will remain open until the final day of the reading period. Cash prizes
will be awarded to the top readers in each category, and each participant
will receive a packet of Braille-related gifts.
You can find the registration form, reading log form, and contest rules by
visiting <https://actionfund.org/BRAL> https://actionfund.org/BRAL. If you
have questions, email <mailto:braillereadingcontest at actionfund.org>
braillereadingcontest at actionfund.org or call 410-659-9315.
NFB and NFBMD Scholarship Programs
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for
post-secondary students. The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship is
March 31, 2021, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April
15, 2021.
National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based
scholarships totaling at least $120,000.
- Scholarships range in amount from $3,000 to $12,000.
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership,
and community service.
- The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and attend
the National Convention, where they are awarded a specific scholarship.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on March 31, 2021.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
o Be legally blind in both eyes;
o Reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;
o Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of
study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the Fall of 2020 (one
scholarship may be awarded to an individual who works full-time and attends
school part-time); and
o Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind (and all scholarship activities) in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 6
through 11, 2021 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).
- To apply:
o Submit an application using the online application system at
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login>
https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login; or
o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting: <https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program>
https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program.
State Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB of Maryland awards the John T.
McCraw Scholarship to up to four students with a combined maximum total of
$10,000. Though the Scholarship Committee will determine the amount awarded
to each individual scholarship finalist, the minimum amount per scholarship
is $2,000 and the maximum amount is $3,500. NFBMD may award a scholarship
to a former McCraw scholarship recipient.
- Scholarships are merit-based and awarded based on academic
achievement, community involvement, and leadership.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on April 15, 2021.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
o Be legally blind in both eyes;
o Be a legal resident of Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at
a school in Maryland;
o Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time or part-time,
post-secondary course of study in a degree program in the Fall of 2021 and
Spring of 2022 (priority will be given to full-time students); and
o Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 6 through 11, 2021 and the annual
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Baltimore,
Maryland from November 12 - 14, 2021 (scholarship finalists will receive
convention financial assistance).
- To apply:
o Submit an application using the online application system at
<http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply; or
o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting: <http://nfbmd.org/scholarship> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship.
do You Feel Lucky?
The NFBMD spring raffle is underway. During the month of May, you have the
opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday. Purchase
a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $5. You will be the only one who has this
number. Between now and January 31, you may request a specific number from
Melissa Riccobono and pay the $5. You might want to request your birthday,
your anniversary, or some other significant number. After January 31,
tickets will be available from chapter presidents and you will not
necessarily be able to get the specific number you want. If you want to buy
or sell tickets, please contact Melissa Riccobono at
MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com <mailto:MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com> . Help us
sell all 1,000 tickets to win prizes! Provided we sell all 1,000 tickets,
we will enter the individuals who sell winning tickets into a drawing for a
cash prize. We will also award prizes to those who sell the most tickets,
provided we sell our entire stock of tickets.
NFBMD COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
We continue to operate an affiliate COVID-19 fund to assist individuals and
families that are experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19
crisis. This fund is available to blind individuals and families with a
blind household member living in Maryland. The financial assistance must be
needed due to a change in circumstance, e.g. loss of employment income,
because of COVID-19 or associated government directives like the
Stay-at-Home order. Assistance is limited to essentials such as groceries
and medication. This Fund is being administered by the NFBMD Financial
Assistance Committee. Anyone who is wishing to request assistance should
contact me at <mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org or at
443-426-4110.
In addition, we are seeking contributions to augment the NFBMD COVID-19
Emergency Response Fund. Those interested in making a monetary donation may
do so by sending a check to NFBMD, 15 Charles Plaza, #3002, Baltimore,
Maryland 21201 or by using the PayPal donation link on our website located
at <http://www.nfbmd.org/COVID-19Fund> http://www.nfbmd.org/COVID-19Fund.
Seeking Voting Experiences
We are seeking information about your experience voting in the National
Election on November 3, 2020 and in early voting. We are particularly
interested in in-person voting. Please answer the following questions by
December 15, 2020 and send an email to Ronza Othman at
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org. Alternatively, call
443-426-4110 to share your in person voting experience.
* what polling place did you use to vote?
* What time of day did you vote?
* Were you neutrally presented with the option to vote by ballot
marking device (BMD) or paper ballot?
* If you requested to use the BMD, was it set up and working?
* If not, what was the problem?
* How long did it take to resolve?
* If you requested to use the BMD, was the poll worker able to explain
to you how to use the BMD?
* How many BMDs were there at your polling location?
* Was there a line to use the BMD(s)?
* If so, was it longer than any line for the hand marked paper
ballots?
* How long did the entire voting process take you?
* Is there anything else we should know about your voting experience?
Washington Seminar and NFBMD Day in Annapolis Go Virtual
As a result of the restrictions imposed by the Federal and State
legislatures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Seminar and
NFBMD Day in Annapolis will be held virtually. We are beginning to prepare
for both legislative advocacy efforts, and we believe that virtual
legislative advocacy creates unique and new opportunities to educate our
state and Federal representatives.
Washington Seminar: The Great Gathering In will take place virtually on
February 8, 2021. Rather than having a single Day on the Hill for Maryland,
we will have a Week on the Hill from February 9 through 11. We hope to have
constituent participation from each Congressional district as we meet with
the respective representatives.
Week In Annapolis: Rather than having a single day where we meet with all 47
state senators and 141 delegates, we will hold the NFBMD Week in Annapolis
from January 25 - 29, 2021. We hope to have constituents present from each
district when we meet with the respective delegates and senators.
We will share more information in the coming weeks.
use Amazon smile
Since this is the season of gift giving, be sure
to use Amazon smile and choose NFBMD for your charity when you purchase that
special gift. Go to
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1301033.
Important Upcoming Dates
* January 25 - 29, 2021 - NFBMD Week in Annapolis
* February 6, 2021 - Regional Braille Challenge, Maryland School for
the Blind
* February 8, 2021 - Washington Seminar Great Gathering In
* February 9 - 11, 2021 - Maryland Week on the Hill
* March 12, 2021 - Basket and Bag Bingo, Catonsville, Maryland
* July 6 - 11, 2021 - NFB National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana
* August 7, 2021 - NFBMD Crab Feast, Parkville, Maryland
* September 19 - 26, 2021 - Blind Cruising 2021, Carnival Pride,
Departing from Port of Baltimore
* November 12 - 14, 2021 - NFB of Maryland 55th Annual Convention,
Baltimore, Maryland
Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Pronouns: she, her, hers
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.
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