[MD-AtLarge] February Minute Message from the Movement

[president at nfbmd.org]

February 2019 Minute Message 

Fellow Federationists:

 

As we move through winter, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
has kept very busy raising expectations about what it means to be blind.  

 

Raising Expectations in Annapolis

On February 28 and March 8, we will be attending hearings on two of our
Annapolis issues: desegregation in voting and regulating e-scooters.  If you
are available to attend the hearings, please contact Sharon Maneki at
NFBMD at earthlink.net <mailto:NFBMD at earthlink.net> .  If you recall, this
year, our legislative priorities include: ending segregation in voting and
restoring the secret ballot to disabled voters by ensuring a single voting
system for all; establishing regulations for electronic/Dockless scooters;
and protecting the $250,000 appropriation in the Governor's budget for the
Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA) to Education, Public
Information, and Commerce. You may read the fact sheets about each issue by
visiting  <https://nfbmd.org/legislative/2019>
https://nfbmd.org/legislative/2019 or on the Information Channel on
Newsline.  We also are asking you to write letters to your state senators
and delegates.  For specific information about to whom to write and how to
contact them, please visit http://www.nfbmd.org/node/297. 

 

Raising Expectations in Washington

We had a very successful Washington Seminar where we raised expectations
about blindness.  On January 29, Maryland joined Federationists from
throughout the country on Capitol Hill to let Congress know about the
priorities for blind Americans. The three issues that we discussed are:
cosponsoring the Access Technology Affordability Act; cosponsoring the
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology
Act; and cosponsoring the Disability Employment Act.   You may read the
Washington Seminar fact sheets by visiting
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> r or on
Newsline.  Maryland's Congressional delegation highlighted your efforts when
both Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes praised the NFB of Maryland
for advocating for issues of importance to the blind this and every year.
NFBMD will continue working to ensure that the entire Maryland Congressional
delegation cosponsors all of our bills.  If you have questions about the
status of any Federal legislation, please contact me at President at nfbmd.org
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> . 

 

Basket & Bag Bingo - Raising Funds to Raise Expectations

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 contact Sharon Maneki at  <mailto:NFBMD at earthlink.net>
NFBMD at earthlink.net for more information or visit
http://www.nfbmd.org/node/293 to purchase your tickets. 

 

Smashing Expectations Through Reading - Winter Reading Challenge

In January, hundreds of Marylanders, including many members of the National
Federation of the Blind of Maryland, supported our Maryland Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped by participating in the Winter Reading
Challenge.  Many of our chapters also helped financially support this
initiative by donating prizes and monetary contributions.  Patrons read
240,758 minutes, which exceeded the original goal of 50,000 minutes by
nearly five times.  As a top performing library in this contest, MDLBPH will
receive a share of the $35,000 total prize that Mark Cuban donated.  Though
we are not certain how much our library will receive in terms of a monetary
award, the volume of enthusiasm for reading in Maryland will well eclipse
any financial incentive.

 

Smashing Expectations Through Reading - Braille Readers Are Leaders

Maryland was one of 26 states to participate in the annual Braille Readers
Are Leaders competition for k-12 students, sponsored by the American Action
Fund in concert with the National Federation of the Blind and the National
Federation of the Blind of Illinois.  Participants compete for prizes by
reading and tracking the number of Braille pages read; an adult then
verifies the reading log.  The contest took place between December 1, 2018
and January 19, 2019.  Of the 74 students who participated nationwide,
Maryland had five participants - and every single Maryland participant won!


-         Aisha Safi: First Place - Category Grade 2 and 3 - 1995 pages

-         Zanyiah Bell: Third Place - Category Grade 2 and 3 - 1099 pages

-         Jonah Rao: Third Place - Grade 4 and 5 - 721 pages

-         Isaiah Rao: Honorable Mention - Grade 4 and 5 - 690 pages

-         Mercy Rao: Third place - Grade 6, 7, and 8 - 850 pages

Mercy Rao was also selected as the Most Improved Reader.  

Congratulations to all of the winners!

 

NFB RideShare Testing Program

We still need your help.  If you use a service animal or are accompanying
someone who does, please fill out a short form about your experience each
time you use Uber or Lyft. In Maryland, we have to complete a certain number
of surveys each year.  You can submit a survey for every trip you took, so
please look back at your ride history and do this if you haven't already
done so.  Please go to  <https://nfb.org/rideshare-test>
https://nfb.org/rideshare-test or use the NFB Connect app (instructions
below) to complete the survey. Please give us information about both good
and bad experiences. Spread the word, we need information from every blind
person whether they are a member of NFB or not. Ashley Alvey is the Maryland
coordinator for this program. If you have questions email her at
ashleyalvey1994 at gmail.com.

 

NFB Connect App instructions for Rideshare Survey

1.	On the top left corner of the screen, you will find a button that
says, Menu button. Double tap Menu.
2.	After double tapping on menu, at the top left corner of the screen,
you will see Home.
3.	Swipe to the right once and you will see Fast Facts. Double tap Fast
Facts.
4.	You will swipe right until you see, Rideshare Survey. Double tap
Rideshare Survey.
5.	Lastly, swipe to the right. When you see First Name, this is where
the form begins and this is where you put in the information for the survey.

 

NFB and NFBMD Scholarship Programs

The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for
post-secondary students.  The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship is
March 31, 2019, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April
15, 2019.

 

National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based
scholarships totaling at least $120,000.  

-         Scholarships range in amount from $3,000 to $12,000.

-         Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement,
leadership, and community service.

-         The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and
attend the National Convention, where they are awarded a specific
scholarship.

-         Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on March 31, 2019.

-         To be eligible, applicants must:

o   Be legally blind in both eyes;

o   Reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;

o   Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of
study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the Fall of 2019 (one
scholarship may be awarded to an individual who works full-time and attends
school part-time); and

o   Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind (and all scholarship activities) in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 7
through 12, 2019 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).

-         To apply:

o   Submit an application using the online application system at
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login>
https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login; or

o   Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting:  <https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program>
https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program.

 

State Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB of Maryland awards the John T.
McCraw Scholarship to two students in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,500 each.
NFBMD may award a third scholarship to a former McCraw scholarship
recipient.  

-         Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and
community involvement.

-         Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on April 15, 2019.

-         To be eligible, applicants must:

o   Be legally blind in both eyes;

o   Be a legal resident of Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at
a school in Maryland;

o   Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of
study in a degree program in the Fall of 2019; and

o   Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 7 through 12, 2019 and the annual
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Baltimore,
Maryland from November 8 - 10, 2019 (scholarship finalists will receive
convention assistance).

-         To apply:

o   Submit an application using the online application system at
<http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply; or

o   Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting:  <http://nfbmd.org/scholarship> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship.

 

Do you feel lucky?

The NFBMD spring raffle is underway. During the month of May, you have the
opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday. Purchase
a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $5. You will be the only one who has this
number.  If you want to buy or sell tickets, please contact Melissa
Riccobono at MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com
<mailto:MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com> . 

 

Raising Expectations Through Food and Auction

Get ready for a nice evening out. Join us on April 6 from 5 to 9 pm for our
Bid-for-Opportunity dinner and auction to benefit the John T. McCraw
Scholarship Program and NFBMD youth activities. The event will take place at
the VFW Post 9619, 6527 Suitland Rd, Morningside, MD 20746. For more
information email Debbie Brown at deborahb14 at verizon.net
<mailto:deborahb14 at verizon.net>  or Michelle Clark at mcikeyc at aol.com
<mailto:mcikeyc at aol.com> .  

 

Sad News

I am very sorry to share that Rachel Olivero and Larry Richardson both
passed away quite suddenly in early February.  Rachel chaired our Web and
Technology Committee and co-chaired our Convention Logistics and Planning
Committee.  She also gave tirelessly of her time, knowledge, and love to
this organization.  Larry was active in a myriad of ways before falling ill
several years ago.  He too gave of his time, energy, and love to this
organization.  Though we are devastated to lose two integral members of our
Federation family, we are better to have known and loved them.  Their
legacies live on in the work of the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland.  

 

Important Dates for 2019

*	March 8th - Basket Bingo at The Lodge 2832 9 Mile Cir. Catonsville,
MD.
*	March 30 - Board of Directors Meeting; Location TBD
*	March 31st - Deadline for National Scholarship Applications.
*	April 6 - Bid for Opportunity at VFW Post 9619, 6527 Suitland Rd,
Morningside, MD 
*	April 15th - Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship Applications.
*	May 5 - Recital and Sing-A-Long, benefiting NFB BELL Academy,
Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells St., Baltimore, MD
*	June 1 - Board of Directors Meeting; location TBD
*	June 16 - 22 - NFB EQ, Baltimore, MD
*	July 7-12th - NFB National Convention Las Vegas, NV.
*	July 22 - August 2 - NFB BELL Academy, Salisbury, MD
*	July 29 - August 9 - NFB BELL Academy, Baltimore and Glendale, MD
*	August 17th - Annual Crab Feast - Tall Cedars, 2501 Putty Hill Ave.,
Parkville, MD 21234
*	November 8-10 - Annual State Convention - Crown Plaza Baltimore
Downtown

 

 

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

 

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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