[Greater-Baltimore] July / August 2021 Minute Message from the Movement

Tue Aug 3 03:09:19 UTC 2021

July / August 2021 Minute Message 

Fellow Federationists:

We have just completed our best national convention so far, with Maryland
bringing home the attendance banner once again.  We have also hosted
literally dozens of tours, contests, activities, and events.  Many members
really stepped up and contributed in meaningful ways to ensure that the 2021
Annual NFB Convention was the best one in our organization's history.  Thank
you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

But in Maryland our work is never done.  As we turn our attention to
preparing for our 55th Annual State Convention this fall, we also have a
number of critical activities between now and then.  Please read below for
more information about our priorities in the coming weeks and months.

2021 NFB National Convention - Virtual and the Best So Far!

Thank you for joining us for an incredible 2021 Annual National Federation
of the Blind National Convention.  We collectively attended nearly 250
unique meetings over five days, had dozens of exhibitors, engaged with
numerous sponsors, and had more than 6,000 registered participants.  In
Maryland alone we had more than 550 registered participants, more than 100
of them first-timers.  We had an amazing convention because of you.  We
learned, we laughed, and we grew because of you.  Because of your
involvement, we won the attendance banner, we blew the Pre-Authorized Check
Contribution Program amounts out of the water, and we had tremendous
engagement in all workshops and activities. 

I enjoyed meeting with many of you at the Maryland Caucus on July 9 and
hearing your perspectives on resolutions.  It was a great deal of fun
speaking with many Federationists throughout the country at our daily
virtual breakfast club when we walked through each day's events and
activities.  It was fun chatting with you in the #NFB21 app, and literally
hundreds of you emailed and texted me throughout the week to tell me your
thoughts and opinions about just about everything.  I also had a great time
with many of you at our in-person banquet party.   

Our affiliate served as the host this year, and you did an outstanding job.
We hosted four tours, seven contests, shared squeezable crabs with national
and affiliate leaders nationwide, provided numerous blog posts on our
beloved state, published four articles in the Braille Monitor, hosted LOL
Comedy Night for the first time in history, got over a hundred people to buy
and wear Maryland scrubs, got Sharon Maneki to teach kids the Whip & Nay
Nay, facilitated Pam Allen arguing with Homer Simpson, among several other
fun Fit Breaks, and on and on and on.  In a word, Maryland was outstanding!

We also owe this incredible convention to President Riccobono and the staff
of the National Federation of the Blind.   Most of the staff are members of
the Maryland affiliate, and they once again did us proud.  

Get ready for New Orleans in 2022!

At the national board of directors meeting at the 2021 NFB National
Convention, it was confirmed that the 2022 National Convention will take
place from July 5 - 10 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans,
Louisiana. Start saving up so that you can attend the 2022 convention.  

Attend the NFBMD Board of Directors Meeting

Everyone is invited to attend the NFB of Maryland Board of Directors meeting
on Saturday, August 28 to help us plan the convention.  We will be meeting
at the Convention Hotel, the Holiday Inn Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor
(previously the Crown Plaza), located at 105 West Fayette Street, Baltimore.
The meeting will begin at 9:30 and end at 3:30.  Lunch will be available for
purchase.  To RSVP, please contact me at (443) 426-4110 or
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org.  Individuals who plan to
attend should let me know by August 14, 2021.

Focus Forward: The State Convention is Coming!

You will not want to miss the state convention at the Holiday Inn Baltimore
Inner Harbor (formerly Crown Plaza) in Baltimore which takes place on
November 12-14, 2021.  You may reserve your room by calling the Holiday Inn
at 410-347-5707.  Convention Room Rates:  Standard Room - $94 per night. Tax
on sleeping rooms is 17.5%.  These room rates start on Thursday, November
11, 2019.  The deadline for making room reservations is October 15, 2021.  

Be looking in your mailbox and on the website  <http://www.nfbmd.org>
www.nfbmd.org for the preregistration forms.  They will be available soon.
Below are the prices for the various convention activities (prices are per
person unless otherwise stated):

*	Pre-registration = $20 until October 15, 2021; $25 on-site
*	Banquet ticket = $40 until October 15, 2021; $45 on-site
*	Parent or Senior Luncheon ticket = $22 until October 15, 2021; $25
on-site
*	Friday boxed lunch = $16 until October 15, 2021; $20 on-site
*	Picnic & a Play tickets = $18 until October 15, 2021; $20 on-site
*	Transportation from New Carrollton Train Station = $35 until October
15, 2021; this covers round-trip travel
*	Childcare = TBD 

Basket and Bag Bingo is Coming!

Would you like to win over $4,000 in prizes? Would you like to play 23 games
of BINGO? Snacks and raffles will also be available. Buy your tickets early
because we always sell out.

We are busy arranging and filling baskets and procuring bags (purses). We
need financial contributions to help with these purchases. Please let us
know whether you would like to sponsor a basket or bag for $100. All
contributions of any amount are welcome.  You may also purchase your ticket
for $25.  Please purchase your ticket online at  <https://nfbmd.org/bingo>
https://nfbmd.org/bingo. For questions or to purchase your ticket via check,
contact Sharon Maneki at  <mailto:nfbmdsm at gmail.com> nfbmdsm at gmail.com. 

Crabbing for Student Scholarships: October 3, 2021

The NFBMD Crab Feast will take place on Sunday, October 3, 2021.  Please
purchase your tickets today.  This fundraiser supports the John T McCraw
Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to blind post-secondary
education students.

When: Sunday, October 3, 2021 - 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Where: Tall Cedars - 2501 Putty Hill Ave - Parkville, MD 21234 

Tickets are $60 each if purchased before September 17, or $65 afterwards.
Children 6 and under are free. 

Special Promotion: Buy or Sell 25 or more tickets and get your ticket FREE!

Dancing, 50 / 50 Raffle, Door Prizes, and more.

Menu Includes:
Steamed Crabs, Pit Beef, turkey breast, & Ham - All You Can Eat!
Plus a Buffet of Entrees Including Old Bay wings and Sausage, Sides, Salad,
Cake.
Yuengling and Miller beer
Carbonated Beverages, iced tea, and Coffee

To purchase tickets, visit  <https://www.nfbmd.org/crabs>
https://www.nfbmd.org/crabs.  

For additional information contact me at (443) 426-4110 or email
<mailto:President at NFBMD.org> President at NFBMD.org

Please note: At this time, we are scheduled to hold this event in-person.
However, this is subject to change based on local public health directives
related to COVID-19 and related factors.  We will communicate directly with
ticket-holders to advise them of any changes.  

NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition! 

the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition will teach critical nonvisual
techniques and Braille literacy to blind children nationwide.  Due to public
health considerations associated with COVID-19, the 2021 NFB BELL Academy
will be offered virtually rather than in person.  NFB BELL will be condensed
into three nationally taught and coordinated sessions with support from
NFBMD.  Tracks will be available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced
students.

The dates of the remaining session is as follows:

*	Session 3: August 9 - August 20, 2021

Each registered student will receive Braille and other fun materials for
lessons, connect with experienced teachers, and build relationships with
other blind students and mentors.

The NFB BELL Academy is appropriate for blind and low vision children ages
four through twelve who:

*	do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in
school; 
*	could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer; and/or 
*	would enjoy connecting with blind role models. 

Registration is free to families.  Participants may register by visiting
<https://www.nfb.org/form/nfb-bell-academy-home-edition>
https://www.nfb.org/form/nfb-bell-academy-home-edition.  Anyone needing
assistance with registering should contact NFBMD BELL Coordinator Lizzy
Muhammad at  <mailto:lizzy.muhammad at outlook.com> lizzy.muhammad at outlook.com
or at 484-624-9778.

NFBMD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

NFBMD is actively working to expand our knowledge of and emphasis on
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.  These initiatives also
include those related to sexual harassment and misconduct, consent,
boundaries, and power dynamics.  It is our intent that NFB of Maryland
activities, events, and programs be safe and welcoming to all, and to that
end we are devoting resources and time to increase our awareness and enhance
our strategies on DEI.  WE rolled out a training to all chapters in January
and February on topics related to consent, boundaries and power dynamics.
Our affiliate Board of Directors participated in the NFB-sponsored training
on sexual harassment and violence prevention, provided by the Rape, Abuse,
and Incest National Network (RAINN).  In June, we conducted Culture of
Consent in the Blind Community training for all affiliate, chapter, and
division board members as well as the Scholarship Committee, DEI Committee,
and those who work with minors and hold trusted leadership positions in the
affiliate.  This was approximately 110 people.  We also plan to roll out
some specific training for parents and young people later in the summer on
these topics as well.  Our state and chapter leaders will attend workshops
on DEI, unconscious bias, and micro-aggressions in the Fall.  WE will engage
in conversations on DEI and related topics and hold trainings during our
State convention in November as well.  Our NFBMD DEI Committee, led by Anil
Lewis, is engaged and working to promote the incorporation of DEI throughout
our affiliate.  The Committee has sent out informational communications on
certain topics and observances to promote DEI.  If you have questions about
these initiatives or have suggestions for how we can best incorporate DEI
into our programs, please don't hesitate to contact me at
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org or at 443-426-4110 or
Chairperson Anil Lewis at  <mailto:GreaterBaltimore at nfbmd.org>
GreaterBaltimore at nfbmd.org. 

Access to COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Resources

Due to lack of accessibility, blind Marylanders have experienced challenges
accessing COVID-19 testing facilities and vaccination locations.  NFBMD has
been working with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to ensure access
to these services for the blind throughout Maryland.  To that end, we
disseminate through all of our listserves an accessible spreadsheet
containing vaccination locations, their contact information, and links for
scheduling a vaccine appointment.  We realize that many of the county and
medical provider vaccination sign-up portals are not accessible, even if we
share their information in an accessible format.  To that end, we are
exploring holding a vaccination clinic in Baltimore in April.  We are also
beginning discussions about holding a vaccination clinic in Montgomery or
Prince Georges Counties.  If individuals would be interested in
participating in such a vaccination clinic, please email me at
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org.  Please be sure to specify
whether you prefer Baltimore or PG/Montgomery county and whether you could
travel to either.  We realize that there are many members who cannot get to
either location, and we are actively working with MDOD to find solutions for
every blind Marylander.

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.  

Important Upcoming Dates 

*	August 9 - August 20, 2021 - NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition
Session 3
*	September 10, 2021 - Basket and Bag Bingo, Catonsville, Maryland
*	September 19 - 26, 2021 - Blind Cruising 2021, Carnival Pride,
Departing from Port of Baltimore
*	October 3, 2021 - NFBMD Crab Feast, Parkville, Maryland
*	November 12 - 14, 2021 - NFB of Maryland 55th Annual Convention,
Baltimore, Maryland
*	February 7, 2022 - Great Gathering In, Washington, DC
*	February 8, 2022 - NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC

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.