[MD-AtLarge] Meeting reminder and minutes

[nfbmd]

Hello all,

 

The next meeting of the At-Large chapter will be on Saint Patrick's day,
March 17th.  The National President's message begins at 7:30 followed by the
meeting from 8 pm to 9 pm.  Our special guest for this meeting will be
Susanne Forno from the Maryland Department on Aging.  She will discuss the
new senior call check program and more.  Remember the call in number is
605-313-4818 and the access code is 720125.  Don't miss this chance to get
together with your NFB friends and learn some important information.  Read
the minutes below from the February meeting.  

 

At Large Chapter Meeting Minutes for February 18, 2020. 

 

The Presidential Release was started at 7:30 Pm.

The meeting was started at 8:00 PM by Marguerite Woods, President.

There was approximately 20 members on the call.

 

Marguerite discussed upcoming events being held at the Library for the
Blind:

March 14th TUG - March topic is OrCam. 

  This meeting is now streamed or can be found on the library's website to
be watched later. 

March 26th Baltimore Center Stage. 

 

Sharon gave an update on legislative items happening in Annapolis. 

On February 12 and 13 the NFB testified at the legislative hearings in
support of renaming the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped to the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
and to ensure that one member of the Maryland State Library Board is blind.
The Maryland State Senate passed the bill on February 27, 2020, and on March
2nd or 3rd the Maryland House of Delegates is expected to bring it to a
vote. 

 

On February 20th the NFB testified at the Maryland House of Delegates on the
bill to ensure that blind people have equal access to information about
dockless electric scooter contact information so that we can contact the
company when scooters are causing access problems.  The Senate version of
this bill will have its hearing on March 11th.  

 

The funding for the Center for Excellence in Non-visual Access is currently
in the Governor's Budget.  

 

On March 3rd and March 5th, the hearings to restore the secret ballot and
desegregate voting based on disability will take place.

Sharon gave an update on Washington Seminar and Eddie gave his experience on
it.

 

Tonight's guest speaker was Toni March, Director of the Office on Blindness
and Visual Services. She spoke on the following topics that her agency
provides. 

 

Can self-refer yourself to DORS; 

Independent Living for the older blind program no longer provides computers
or software; 

Able Program gives you training in Braille, technology, Independent Living,
and O &M; 

Contract out to Blind Industries to provide home teaching and O&M Training; 

RISE Program to assist people in self-employment;

Randal Shepherd Program; 

Vocational Outcome will provide computers, software, and training if your
outcome requires it; 

Job Placement is their poorest area and they are looking into contracting
out to help with placing clients into jobs.

 

Toni's direct phone number is 410-554-9219. 

Phone number for Toni's secretary Terri is 410-554 9277. 

 

Respectfully Submitted by Danielle Earl, Secretary. 

 

 

Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy

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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