[MD-AtLarge] President's Message

[nfbmd]

March 2018 Minute Message.

Fellow Federationists:

 

NFBMD on the Move

During the next 3 weeks we have many events that you will not want to miss.


Saturday, March 24 - Board of Directors Meeting.  Everyone is encouraged to
attend.  9:30am-1pm. Includes lunch which will be $15.  The National Harbor
Chapter will host this board meeting. The location is Advent Funeral Home,
Community Room (enter from back parking lot), address is 9013 Annapolis
Road, Lanham, MD 20706. 

Sunday, March 25th - Recital and Sing-A-Long, benefiting NFBBELL Academy,
Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells St., Baltimore, MD 21230.  Just a few
days left for advanced tickets at $10.  Tickets will be $15 at the door. To
purchase tickets in advance, go to   <http://www.nfbmd.org> www.nfbmd.org
and click on the Be Present event link and then choose "Buy now."

Saturday, March 31 - Deadline for National Scholarship applications.  

Saturday, March 31 - One of our basket bingo sponsors, Solar Energy World,
will offer a special deal to people who mention NFBMD when calling for
information.  Please call and ask for Jay Randell.  Calls must be made on or
before this date. Call 410-579-5176.

Saturday, April 7-  Bid-for-Opportunity Dinner and Auction, to benefit John.
T. McCraw Scholarship Program and NFBMD Youth Activities. VFW Post 9619,
6527 Suitland Rd, Morningside, MD 20746.  Even though this event is April 7
you must commit to purchasing tickets by March 31.  Please call Debbie Brown
at 301-881-1892 about tickets and additional information.  People in the
Baltimore area who wish to attend should call Sharon Maneki about
transportation 410-715-9596.  

Monday, April 9- Maryland General Assembly Session ends. At the current time
HB 1088 and SB 286 bills concerning accessibility requirements for state
procurement of assistive technology hardware and services have passed both
chambers.  One of these bills must pass both houses.  Watch the listserv to
see when it's time to make calls or send emails. 

NFBMD Divisions Plan Great Activities

This year the Maryland Association of Blind Students will be entering
National Scholarship applicants and State Scholarship applicants into a
special drawing to win cash! A lucky scholarship applicant can win $25 and a
state scholarship applicant can win $50.  Remember National Scholarship
applications are due on March 31.  <https://nfb.org/scholarships>
https://nfb.org/scholarships.  State applications are due April 15.
<http://nfbmd.org/scholarship> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship

 

Saturday, June 9- 8am - 4pm The Maryland Parents of Blind Children will
conduct a free seminar entitled "Family to Family Connections."  Activities
for the whole family! Everything from networking to technology information,
to versatility of Braille, and more! The location is the Jernigan Institute,
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD.   For further information contact
Melissa Riccobono  <mailto:melissa at riccobono.us> melissa at riccobono.us.

Saturday, June 23 -MABM Networking Mixer. Come join us for an afternoon of
fun & effective networking on Saturday, June 23rd from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at
FLAVOR Restaurant, 15 East Centre Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.  Vanna
Belton, a young, progressive, visually-impaired woman, is the owner of
FLAVOR.  Stay tuned for additional information. 

 

Congratulations are in Order

Congratulations to the 6 students who entered the NFB National Braille
Readers are Leaders (BRAL) contest.  We are especially proud of the 3
Maryland students who won in their grade level.  Aisha Safi won 1st place in
the 2-3rd grade level for reading 1860 pages!  Jonah Rau won 1st place in
the 4-5th grade level for reading 991 pages! Isaiah Rau won 2nd place in the
4-5th grade level for reading 779 pages! These 3 students also received The
Kelly Doty Awards of $25 which was given to students who overcame special
challenges to achieve fluency in Braille reading.  All 3 students are
reading in English, which is their second language.  Aisha has an additional
challenge, because she only has one hand to read Braille!  The Rau boys are
making remarkable progress, since they only came to the United States from
China in August 2017.   Keep up the good work. We will be announcing the
winners of the adult NFBMD braille reading contest soon.  

Congratulations to LBPH on its outreach and marketing efforts. These
marketing efforts are important because too many people still do not know
about the library. On March 5, WBALTV featured the Library and explained its
services. Go to
<http://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-state-library-for-the-blind-wants-to
-help-more-in-need/19091683>
http://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-state-library-for-the-blind-wants-to-
help-more-in-need/19091683 to read the article or to view the video.

New Publication Available


The Whittle Pocket Reference Book of UEB Common Symbols is now available for
sale. it is a pocket reference book of the Unified English Braille literary
code. This book is 3 by 5 inches and easily fits in a pocket, purse, or
backpack. We have an interpoint braille version for those who read braille
tactually. The small size makes it manageable for both adults and little
ones. We also have an ink version that consists of print and simulated
braille. Perfect for parents, friends, and teachers. These books are great
for those just learning the Braille code for the first time or refreshing
their Braille knowledge! Each copy is $10 with all profits benefiting blind
children's literacy programs. To order either version of our Whittle books,
please visit  <http://www.nbpcb.org> www.nbpcb.org.  Jerry Whittle was a
renown Braille teacher at the Louisiana Center for the Blind for decades.
He has written many articles on improving Braille reading speed and fluency.
I am sure this is an excellent reference guide.  




 

Important Dates for 2018.

March 24th - Board of Directors Meeting, 9:30am. The location is Advent
Funeral Home, Community Room (enter from back parking lot), address is 9013
Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706.

March 25th - Recital and Sing-A-Long, benefiting NFBBELL Academy, Jernigan
Institute, 200 East Wells St., Baltimore, MD 21230. 

March 31st - Deadline for National Scholarship Applications.

April 7th - Bid-for-Opportunity Dinner and Auction, to benefit John. T.
McCraw Scholarship Program and NFBMD Youth Activities. VFW Post 9619, 6527
Suitland Rd, Morningside, MD 20746.  

April 15th - Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship Applications. 

June 2nd - Board of Directors Meeting. Location to be announced.

June 3rd - 6-K Dot Dash for Braille Literacy, 200 East Well Street,
Baltimore, MD. 

June 9-  The Maryland Parents of Blind Children seminar "Family to Family
Connections."  Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD.

June 23rd- MABM Networking Mixer. FLAVOR Restaurant, 15 East Centre Street,
Baltimore, MD 21202.

July 3-8th - NFB National Convention, Orlando, FL.

July 16-27- NFB Bell Academy in Salisbury, MD.  

July 29 - August 4 - NFB EQ for blind high-school students. Go to
http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq.

July 30-August 10 - NFB Bell Academies in Baltimore and Glen Dale, MD. 

August 4th - Annual Crab Feast, Columbus Gardens, Baltimore, MD.

November 9-11th - Annual State Convention, Carousel Hotel, Ocean City, MD. 

 

Sharon Maneki, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596

 

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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