[MD-AtLarge] September minute message

[nfbmd]

September Minute Message
Fellow Federationists:
It's time to register for the NFBMD Convention
Save money and pre-register for the convention now.  You will not want to
miss this action packed event during the weekend of November 10-12 at the
Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.
You will be receiving a print registration form and announcement in your
mailbox soon.  You may pre-register either by mail or online. For online
registration go to:   
nfbmd.org/convention/register
You must pre-resister by October 15.  Don't forget to call and make your
hotel room reservation.  Please call 410 321-7400 by October 13.  
 
Convention Sneak Preview
Friday at the convention will be filled with special interest meetings,
workshops on technology, tips to get in shape, and fun and fellowship.  This
year we will hold a special seminar about maintaining independence for
seniors and others who are relative newcomers to low vision.  The seminar
will be on Friday from 9:30 - 2:00 followed by a chance to play Bingo and
win prizes from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.  The Bingo will be sponsored by BISM.
Parents will have special activities highlighting the orientation and
mobility skills that blind children need to be successful.  The Maryland
Association of Blind Students and the Maryland Association of Blind
Merchants will also hold sessions to share information of particular
interest to these groups. 
The holidays are always a time to entertain guests and to think of
interesting gifts for yourself or for others.  Our Friday afternoon
'Accessible technology around the house' workshop will help you solve these
holiday challenges and more. Find out about Google and Amazon products and
tools such as Insta-pot and iGrill.  Be sure to include a visit to the
exhibit hall between 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Friday.  This is your chance to
learn about services for the blind and browse offerings from the NFB
Independence market and many other vendors. 
Friday evening at the convention will be a time for fun, catching up with
old friends and making new ones. The evening begins with pizza and a play.
This year the Braille is Beautiful players will perform a comedy,
"Thanksgiving Turkey" from the 'Our Miss Brooks' series.  Miss Brooks is a
high school English teacher who manages to get into many predicaments.
Listeners of all ages will enjoy her humor.  If you can read Braille and
like to perform contact Debbie Brown at  <mailto:deborahb14 at verizon.net>
deborahb14 at verizon.net or call 301-881-1892.   Who knows this may be your
start of a new career!  Don't miss the NFBMD carnival. Try your hand at
talking darts, accessible computer games, and good old-fashioned board
games.  Plan your winning strategies while enjoying snacks.
Everette Bacon, a member of the National Board of Directors and President of
the NFB of Utah will serve as our National Representative.  Everette's
speech at our Saturday evening banquet is sure to be one of the highlights
of the convention.  To learn more about Everette Bacon consult the fall
edition of the Braille Spectator which will be at  <http://www.nfbmd.org>
www.nfbmd.org and on the listservs soon.  
Don't miss the 51st convention.  Help us to celebrate service to country and
service to the Federation.
 
Special opportunity for parents of blind children
As you know, NFB and the Maryland School for the Blind are jointly
sponsoring The Braille Literacy in the 21st Century Conference on October
19-20.  The conference will be held at the Jernigan Institute, 200 East
Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.  We are able to offer parents of blind
children the opportunity to attend this conference on October 20.  Parents
will learn about how to choose appropriate technology tools for Braille
access, promote recreational reading in Braille, and how to help your child
achieve tactile graphics fluency.  If you want to register for this event
send an email to Sharon Maneki at  <mailto:nfbmd at earthlink.net>
nfbmd at earthlink.net.
 
Did you sign up for the Braille literacy for life contest yet?
Did you learn Braille when you were over the age of eighteen?  Would you
like to win money while improving your Braille reading speed and skill?  For
further information or to register contact Ellen Ringlein
<mailto:greaterbaltimore at nfbmd.org> greaterbaltimore at nfbmd.org.  You will be
provided with a mentor who can help you find books or magazines to read, or
read with you.  It is most appropriate that the contest will end on Louis
Braille's birthday; January 4, 2018.  Register and start reading today!
 
Networking opportunity for blind merchants and entrepreneurs
Are you thinking about going into business for yourself?  Do you want to
find out about the Maryland Business Enterprise Program?  Are you already in
business but interested in getting more customers or gaining a new
perspective?  Experience good food and good company at the networking mixer
sponsored by the Maryland Association of Blind Merchants.  Date: September
29, 2017.  Time 6:00 - 9:00 pm.  Place:  Peter's Pour House at 111 Mercer
Street in Baltimore, Maryland (main entrance is on Water Street).  For
further information or to register contact Melba Taylor at
<mailto:m.taylor at encoreassoc.com> m.taylor at encoreassoc.com.  
 
Meet the blind month is coming
October is meet the blind month.  All of our local chapters are planning
events.  Be sure to go to  <http://www.nfbmd.org> www.nfbmd.org and look at
the "Around the State" calendar for a list of these events.  Keep checking
the website because new events are being added regularly.  
 
"Do You Dream in Color?" Coming soon
Keep consulting  <http://www.nfbmd.org> www.nfbmd.org to find screenings in
your area of the "Do You Dream in Color?" movie. This documentary is the
coming-of-age story of four courageous blind high school students as they
strive to prove that their disability will not hold them back from achieving
their dreams.  This movie will appeal to people of varying backgrounds.  It
demonstrates adapting to, and overcoming, challenges - something that
everyone encounters throughout life.
 
Important dates
September 2017. Braille Reading Contest for Adults begins. For more
information contact Ellen Ringlein at greaterbaltimore at nfbmd.org
September 29, 2017.  Networking mixer at Peter's Pour House at 111 Mercer
Street in Baltimore, Maryland.  For more information contact Melba Taylor at
<mailto:m.taylor at encoreassoc.com> m.taylor at encoreassoc.com
October 1-31, 2017. Meet the Blind Month. 
October 5, 2017. Diabetes Conference Call, 7 pm. Call 641-715-3272. The
access code is 720125#.
October 15, 2017. National White Cane Safety Day.
October 19-20, 2017. Braille Literacy in the 21st Century Conference, 200
East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Register at
https://nfb.org/events/brl-literacy-registration
November 10-12, 2017.  Annual State Convention, Sheraton Baltimore North
Hotel in Towson, Maryland.  Register at nfbmd.org/convention/register
 
 
 
Sharon Maneki, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596
The National Federation of the Blind 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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