[MD-AtLarge] Chapter Minutes and Reminder

[mr. Chikodinaka Oguledo]

hello youall did  not added the number 2 call in to the meeting whats
the number 2call  in the meeting?

On 5/11/15, nfbmd via MD-AtLarge <md-atlarge at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> Remember our meeting will be Tuesday May 19.
>
>
>
>
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>
> Minutes for the At large chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Maryland
>
> Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015
>
>
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> The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. via conference call by Sharon
> Maneki. There were around 20 people on the call.
>
>
>
> We had a special guest for the call; the president of the National
> Federation of the Blind, Mark Riccobono. Everyone introduced and told him
> something about themselves.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono said sometimes it can feel like individual efforts are
> small and do not accomplish much, but putting many individual efforts
> together can accomplish a great deal. He said this is what's unique about
> the federation.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono told us about himself. He told us he lost his sight as
> a
> child and was introduced to the NFB in High School. He was told he should
> learn Braille, but he felt this was unnecessary, so he declined. He went on
> to college and had a tough time.
>
>
>
> He attended his first NFB national convention in 1996, where he first began
> to truly learn about the federation. He said it is still fun to learn what
> the federation can do.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono met his wife, Melissa, in college, where he served as
> her student mentor. He invited her to join the federation, and they both
> became very active. He said they had many ideas for bettering things for
> people which have become reality. For instance, they saw a need for more
> Braille books for kids, which are now available at the Braille book fair
> each year at national convention.
>
>
>
> Mark and Melissa came to Baltimore 11 years ago and have 3 children. He
> succeeded Marc Maurer as president of the federation in 2014. He said the
> federation has taught him that blindness isn't what defines him and doesn't
> have to keep him from learning what he wants to.
>
>
>
> He shared a story with us about a woman he recently spoke to from Detroit.
> She lost her sight in 2009 and has not left her apartment since. Although
> she is 82, he said she sounded like she still had a lot of life left in
> her.
> However, she is afraid she will end up in a nursing home because she does
> not know how to cope with her loss of vision. Although she was unfamiliar
> with the resources and services available to her, she had heard of the
> federation and recently made a large monetary contribution in hopes that it
> would help others. She is now being made aware of the services that are
> available and people are looking into what can be done for her. President
> Riccobono said this is why he does what he does; people like that woman
> still need to be reached.
>
>
>
> He told us he had just had a two-hour meeting just concerning legal issues;
> he said "We hire a lot of lawyers to sue a lot of people, but we're the
> only
> ones doing it."; we're the only group fighting for the rights of blind
> people.
>
>
>
> Concerning the at large chapter, he said it is good to be able to keep up
> with the federation this way and see how we can contribute.
>
>
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> He encouraged everyone to come to this year's national convention in
> Orlando, Florida. He said there is a goal at convention to break the world
> record for number of people holding umbrellas. The current record is 2,169,
> which he said should be easy to break. He said this is something that will
> be fun but will also raise awareness of the federation.
>
>
>
> National convention is July 5-10. Preregistration for discounted rates
> lasts
> until the end of May.
>
>
>
> In answer to a question about what exactly his job is, he said he is the
> CEO
> of the federation; he is in charge of hiring, training, and firing staff,
> helping formulate policies and programs, authorizing expenditures from the
> treasury and finding funding. He said his number one job is building the
> federation.
>
>
>
> Charles brought up the topic of blind celebrities. President Riccobono said
> there are not many of them, and they have not had to struggle for things
> the
> way most blind people have. He said they would like to make a movie about
> Jacob Bolotin, who was a blind doctor and, though many would like him to be
> portrayed by a blind actor, there aren't any famous blind actors, and it
> would be better if a more well-known actor played him to draw more
> awareness
> to the film. He said these are the kinds of issues that come up with blind
> celebrities so it's a balancing act.
>
>
>
> Sharon Haskins-Brown said she did a commercial for BISM, and she has had
> many people tell her they do not know about blindness or what services are
> available. President Riccobono said there is a lot of literature available
> for people to share with others, and if there is any literature people
> think
> need to be added let the federation know. Sharon Maneki said we can go over
> some of the literature at our next meeting so we know what's available, and
> it can be mailed to anyone who wants to give it out. She said that might be
> a good project for the at large chapter.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono said the goal for the 75th year of the federation is to
> get 750 new members. This sounds like a lot but, as we've already
> discussed,
> there are a lot of people who don't know about us.
>
>
>
> He said commercials and national campaigns cost more money than we want to
> spend to raise awareness, but a lot has been done on the internet including
> a YouTube channel. He said the tools are available to make videos but ideas
> are needed for what videos should be made and people are needed to be in
> them. Anyone interested in viewing the YouTube channel can find it at
> www.youtube.com/nationsblind.
>
>
>
> He said the idea for a blind reality show has been raised many times,
> including one recently that would have followed a blind couple raising
> children, but there are many concerns about such a project. You don't get
> to
> control the message that is presented, and real life is not what is wanted
> as much as drama. He gave the example that if a child of a blind person got
> hurt, it would be blown out of proportion, even though children always get
> hurt.
>
>
>
> Judy Rasmussen shared a story that ran in the Braille Monitor about a
> chapter in New Mexico that prepared a video to share with the local police
> department to inform them about blindness.
>
>
>
> President Riccobono told us about the Center for Excellence, which is in
> the
> beginning stages. It is a program more than an actual physical place. They
> just received $250,000 for it, and it will be geared toward improving
> accessibility in technology.
>
>
>
> Sharon announced that the nominating committee for our chapter includes
> Judy
> Rasmussen, who is the chair, as well as Marla Sewell and Cheryl
> Fogal-Hatch.
> Anyone who would like to be considered for a position should call Judy at
> 301-946-8345 before the next meeting, which is when voting will be held.
>
>
>
> The meeting ended at 9:00 P.M.
>
>
>
> Submitted by Danielle Shives
>
>
>
>
>
> Sharon Maneki, President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>
> 410-715-9596
>
>
>
>


-- 
n f b. live? more jist in a moment ,If you Can see it beeleeve it then
you can acheve it! Don't Stop Bleeveeing Hold on to that fealing a
song broght to by Jerny!  in the words of Jacky Gails Webb On Sunday
Afternoon Gosple 12:00p.m to. 3:00p.m!on 96.3 fm WHUR Sounds like
Washington. The Adult Mix!May the grace of god Save you. May the will
of god guide you. & may the love of god shine throu you. bee blest! if
 you trye and don't suckseed. try try try Agan. for if you persivear.
you will konker Never fear. try try try Agan

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r l iswww.nfblive.org!
if that does not work try the following http://www.NFBlive.com




You will never become hoo you want2bee. If you keep blaming every1elce
4hoo you are now.