[Greater-Baltimore] Revised NFB of Maryland Policy on In Person Gatherings

Sat Nov 6 17:58:05 UTC 2021

Hi Everyone,

The NFB of Maryland Board of Directors has adopted a revised In Person
Events Policy.  This revised policy was adopted on October 31, 2021 and
supersedes previous versions.  The only significant change is that
individuals may sit at round tables in groups of up to 8 instead of 6.  All
other requirements remain the same.

This policy will be in effect at our State Convention.  Baltimore City has a
current in-door mask mandate, which is in addition to our own affiliate
policy that also mandates masks.  We will be taking temperatures when people
arrive at the hotel, and we will not give out packets unless we've verified
that temperature was taken.  We will have extra masks on hand if individuals
need them.  However, masks must be worn at all times in the hotel (except
for in sleeping rooms) unless the individual is actively eating or drinking.

WE will also give out hand sanitizer at the registration and packet pickup.

See below updated policy.

This policy is applicable to all chapters, divisions, and the affiliate, as
well as any activities, meetings, fundraisers, or in-person gatherings of an
official nature.

1.	This policy augments any local public health requirements, including
those established by the State of Maryland and the County where the event
takes place.  This policy is the minimum required for in-person events and
activities and may be more restrictive than local guidance.  However, if
local public health guidance imposes additional or more restrictive
requirements, the more restrictive requirements govern.
2.	The following individuals should stay home:

a.	Individuals who feel sick, including experiencing any of the
following symptoms: fever, sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste,
or those ordinarily associated with COVID-19;
b.	Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14
days;
c.	Individuals who have a pending COVID-19 test;
d.	Individuals who have been exposed to an individual who is known or
suspected of having COVID-19;

3.	Individuals who purchase tickets for an event and either experience
symptoms or later determine they do not feel comfortable attending a large
gathering due to the pandemic may choose between requesting and receiving a
full refund or donating all or part of the purchase price to the
organization;
4.	The event host must have masks on hand for individuals who do not
bring their own or whose masks are damaged or soiled;

In-door gatherings:

1.	Temperature screening will be conducted for all attendees of any
in-person gatherings with more than 30 attendees, and anyone whose
temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher will not be granted admission;
2.	Screening will be conducted for any events with more than 30
participants, and those reporting symptoms and/or recent exposure to
COVID-19 will be denied admission;
3.	Individuals must wear masks that fully cover their mouths and noses
at all times unless actively eating and drinking, and unless they have been
granted a reasonable accommodation based on disability by the affiliate
President or Vice Presidents;
4.	Physical distancing is required at all events, e.g. 6 feet apart
unless from the same household.  For events where individuals are at round
tables, no more than 8 individuals may share a table.  Where tables are
rectangular, only every other seat may be occupied; 
5.	Events are limited to 75% venue capacity, but where it would be
difficult to ensure physical distancing as required by #8 above, capacity
may be limited to 50%;
6.	Those working the event, including guides, ticket takers, servers,
etc. must wash hands frequently consistent with CDC guidance;
7.	The event host must provide hand sanitizer and/or easy, convenient,
and accessible means for event attendees to wash their hands consistent with
CDC guidance;
8.	Individuals may only eat and drink while stationary;
9.	Food served at any events must be prepared by a commercial kitchen
that adheres to COVID-19 food preparation requirements;
10.	Individuals serving food must wear gloves;

Out-door gatherings:

1.	Individuals must follow the county's requirements concerning wearing
masks;
2.	Physical distancing may be required at all events for individuals
not from the same household, e.g. 6 feet apart. 
3.	Those working the event, including guides, ticket takers, servers,
etc. must frequently wash hands consistent with CDC guidance;
4.	The event host must provide hand sanitizer and/or easy, convenient,
and accessible means for event attendees to wash their hands consistent with
CDC guidance;
5.	Individuals may only eat and drink while stationary;
6.	Food served at any events is recommended to be prepared by a
commercial kitchen that adheres to COVID-19 food preparation requirements;
7.	Individuals serving food must wear gloves;

Adopted: August 16, 2021 

Last Updated: October 31, 2021

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: president at nfbmd.org <president at nfbmd.org> 
Sent: Saturday, September 4, 2021 3:39 PM
To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org'
<nfbmd at nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org'
<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org'
<nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org'
<central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org'
<md-atlarge at nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>;
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Subject: Revised NFB of Maryland Policy on In Person Gatherings

On Saturday, August 28, 2021, the NFB of Maryland Board of Directors made a
revision to #3 of the affiliate's Policy on In Person Gatherings and Events.
This policy remains applicable and binding on the Maryland affiliate and all
of its chapters and divisions.  

 Here is the revised policy.

NFBMD Policy on In Person Gatherings

This policy is applicable to all chapters, divisions, and the affiliate, as
well as any activities, meetings, fundraisers, or in-person gatherings of an
official nature.

1.       This policy augments any local public health requirements,
including those established by the State of Maryland and the County where
the event takes place.  This policy is the minimum required for in-person
events and activities and may be more restrictive than local guidance.
However, if local public health guidance imposes additional or more
restrictive requirements, the more restrictive requirements govern.

2.       The following individuals should stay home:

a.       Individuals who feel sick, including experiencing any of the
following symptoms: fever, sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste,
or those ordinarily associated with COVID-19;

b.       Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14
days;

c.       Individuals who have a pending COVID-19 test;

d.       Individuals who have been exposed to an individual who is known or
suspected of having COVID-19;

3.       Individuals who purchase tickets for an event and either experience
symptoms or later determine they do not feel comfortable attending a large
gathering due to the pandemic may choose between requesting and receiving a
full refund or donating all or part of the purchase price to the
organization;

4.       The event host must have masks on hand for individuals who do not
bring their own or whose masks are damaged or soiled;

In-door gatherings:

5.       Temperature screening will be conducted for all attendees of any
in-person gatherings with more than 30 attendees, and anyone whose
temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher will not be granted admission;

6.       Screening will be conducted for any events with more than 30
participants, and those reporting symptoms and/or recent exposure to
COVID-19 will be denied admission;

7.       Individuals must wear masks that fully cover their mouths and noses
at all times unless actively eating and drinking, and unless they have been
granted a reasonable accommodation based on disability by the affiliate
President or Vice Presidents; 

8.       Physical distancing is required at all events, e.g. 6 feet apart
unless from the same household.  For events where individuals are at round
tables, no more than 6 individuals may share a table.  Where tables are
rectangular, only every other seat may be occupied;  

9.       Events are limited to 75% venue capacity, but where it would be
difficult to ensure physical distancing as required by #8 above, capacity
may be limited to 50%;

10.   Those working the event, including guides, ticket takers, servers,
etc. must wash hands frequently consistent with CDC guidance;

11.   The event host must provide hand sanitizer and/or easy, convenient,
and accessible means for event attendees to wash their hands consistent with
CDC guidance;

12.   Individuals may only eat and drink while stationary;

13.   Food served at any events must be prepared by a commercial kitchen
that adheres to COVID-19 food preparation requirements;

14.   Individuals serving food must wear gloves;

Out-door gatherings:

15.   Individuals must follow the county's requirements concerning wearing
masks; 

16.   Physical distancing may be required at all events for individuals not
from the same household, e.g. 6 feet apart.  

17.   Those working the event, including guides, ticket takers, servers,
etc. must frequently wash hands consistent with CDC guidance;

18.   The event host must provide hand sanitizer and/or easy, convenient,
and accessible means for event attendees to wash their hands consistent with
CDC guidance;

19.   Individuals may only eat and drink while stationary;

20.   Food served at any events is recommended to be prepared by a
commercial kitchen that adheres to COVID-19 food preparation requirements;

21.   Individuals serving food must wear gloves;

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.