[MD-AtLarge] September 2022 Minute Message from the Movement

Thu Oct 6 05:37:53 UTC 2022

September 2022 Minute Message 

Fellow Federationists:

As summer comes to a close, we remain as busy as ever helping blind people
live the lives we want.  As the school year begins, we have been working
hard to ensure that students have access to information, materials, and the
curriculum.  We have scaled up in person activities such as park outings,
fundraisers, and gatherings where we can ensure safety and inclusion.  We
are commemorating Blind Equality Achievement Month (rebranded from Meet the
Blind Month) with a bang with our annual Wizarding World on Main in Old
Ellicott City, and we have other fun and engaging activities planned
throughout the state such as volunteering at the Baltimore Running Festival,
the annual Lake Walk in Columbia, and many other activities.  We have a
number of events planned to commemorate White Cane Awareness Day and to
receive proclamations to honor this day.  And of course, we are preparing
for our annual convention.  These are just a few of the things we've been up
to in the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.  Read on for
important information and announcements.

Reconnect, Reimagine, Reignite: The State Convention is Coming!

You will not want to miss the state convention at the Sheraton Baltimore
North Hotel in Towson which takes place on November 11 - 13, 2022.  Come and
meet our National Representative, Donald Porterfield.  You may reserve your
room by calling the Sheraton Baltimore North at 410-321-7400.  Convention
Room Rates:  Standard Room - $95 per night. Tax on sleeping rooms is 17.5%.
These room rates start on Thursday, November 10, 2022.  The deadline for
making room reservations is October 15, 2022.  

Be looking in your mailbox and on  <https://nfbmd.org/convention>
https://nfbmd.org/convention for the preregistration forms.
Pre-registration closes October 15, 2022.  Below are the prices for the
various convention activities (prices are per person unless otherwise
stated):

*	Pre-registration = $20 until October 15, 2022; $25 on-site
*	Banquet ticket = $50 until October 15, 2022; $55 on-site
*	Parent, Senior, or Student Luncheon ticket = $25 until October 15,
2022; $30 on-site
*	Friday boxed lunch = $18 until October 15, 2022; $20 on-site
*	Dinner & a Play ticket = $18 until October 15, 2022; $20 on-site
*	Transportation from New Carrollton Train Station = $35 until October
15, 2022; this covers round-trip travel
*	Childcare = $30 per day and on sliding scale based on need

Seeking Resolutions for the State Convention 

The Convention is the supreme authority of the National Federation of the
Blind, and this too is true of the affiliates.  One of the most important
charges of the Convention is to consider and vote on resolutions that come
before it; those resolutions become the policy of the organization.  To that
end, individuals interested in submitting resolutions should send them to
NFBMD Resolutions Chairperson Chris Danielsen by email at
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org by October 15, 2022.

Seeking Door Prize Donations

We are seeking donations of door prizes to give away at the NFB of Maryland
Annual Convention.  Door prizes should have a cash value of a minimum of $25
each.  For questions, please contact Door Prize Co-chairs Qualik Ford at
<mailto:QSFord at outlook.com> QSFord at outlook.com and Juhi Narula at
<mailto:juhin13 at gmail.com> juhin13 at gmail.com.  Please bring door prizes to
the convention.

Seeking Donations for the NFBMD Bake and Experience Auction!

We are seeking donations of baked goods and experiences for the NFBMD
auction.  Some examples of experiences include taking the winner to dinner,
giving cooking lessons, musical or show tickets, etc.  We are asking for
donation commitments prior to October 31, 2022.  Please notify Convention
Logistics Co-chair Justin Young of your donation via email at
<mailto:Jyoung at nfb.org> Jyoung at nfb.org.

Seeking Nominations for the NFBMD Distinguished Educator of Blind Students
Award! 

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is seeking nominations for
the 2022 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award. Please tell us how
your child's teacher, administrator, or school counselor works to help their
students live the life they want with high expectations and strong skill
development. Nominations should be sent to Committee Chairperson Teresa
Graham at   <mailto:teresagraham3 at gmail.com> teresagraham3 at gmail.com. To
download the nomination form and for more information, visit
<http://nfbmd.org/node/317> http://nfbmd.org/node/317.  For assistance
completing the form or for questions, please call Teresa Graham at
443-557-8696. The award will be presented at the NFB of Maryland state
convention Banquet on November 12, 2022.  Nominations are due by October 8,
2022.  

Hamilton Donation Drive!! 

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is conducting a Hamilton,
the Musical, Donation Drive with support from the Hippodrome Theater and its
audio description firm. In appreciation for your financial support, we will
enter contributors in this program into a drawing for a pair of tickets to
the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore to see the hit musical, Hamilton on
Sunday, October 23, 2022.

The show is audio described, and we are grateful to the audio description
firm for donating these tickets to NFBMD for use as a fundraiser.

For every $10, the contributor will get one chance to win. For example, if
an individual donates $20, they will be entered into the drawing two times.

We will draw on October 16, 2022 for these tickets.  

Here are the rules:

- Contributions will be taken until October 15, 2022 as part of this
initiative.

- For each $10 donated, the individual's name will be entered into the
drawing. That means the more the individual donates, the greater their
chance of winning.

- We will draw on October 16, 2022 one name from those who have contributed
at least $10 during the campaign. That individual will receive 2 tickets to
the October 23 matinee show.  

- Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable.

To make a donation as part of this drive, please either:

Use the Paypal button located at 

 <https://nfbmd.org/theaterdonation> https://nfbmd.org/theaterdonation

OR

Contact Ronza Othman directly to arrange for in-person payment at
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org or at 443-426-4110.

2022 Fall Donation Drive!! 

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is holding a Fall donation
drive to support our work.  From December 3 to 10, 2023, NFBMD will be
hosting Blind Cruising 2023, which is a 7-night cruise on the Carnival
Legend to the Eastern Caribbean.  Individuals may book passage directly with
our travel agent, with a portion of cabin costs going to NFBMD. Those
interested may find information at  <http://www.nfbmd.org/blindcruising>
http://www.nfbmd.org/blindcruising.

Additionally, we will hold a cruise drawing at the NFBMD Convention Banquet
on November 12, 2022. The winner will receive a balcony cabin for two on the
Carnival Legend for the sailing scheduled to depart Baltimore from December
3 - 10, 2023, which is the sailing where Blind Cruising 2023 will take
place.  Individuals do not need to be present to win.

The rules for the drawing are as follows:

1. For each $20 donated, the donor will receive one chance. For example, if
the donor contributes $100, that equates to 5 chances.

2. The donor must expressly state that they wish to have their name placed
in the cruise drawing.

3. Donations must be made separately from any door prize contributions,
convention registration donations, or theater/Hamilton donations.

4. Donations must be received on or before November 5, 2022.

Individuals may make donations using the PayPal button located at
<https://nfbmd.org/DonationDrive> https://nfbmd.org/DonationDrive

or by mailing checks to:

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

2022 Fall Donation Drive

1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1

Baltimore, MD 21230

Pay Your 2022 Dues As Soon As Possible!! 

NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and
division dues.  We are asking members to pay their 2022 dues as soon as
possible so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate for the annual
national membership data call and so individuals can vote at our State
convention.  

Individuals may use NFBMD's Dues Portal to pay their 2022 annual dues,
and/or lifetime membership dues for those chapters that have lifetime
membership.  The portal lists all NFBMD chapters and divisions and their
dues amounts.  Individuals may pay for as many chapters and divisions as
they wish.  The portal is located at  <http://nfbmd.org/dues>
http://nfbmd.org/dues.  Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to their
chapter or division treasurer.

Seeking Members to Join the NFB of Maryland Performing Arts Group

The NFB of Maryland is forming a Performing Arts Group, where members
interested in various aspects of performing, music, dance, acting, and
related interests may come together to engage, explore, and share.  To join
this group, please contact Chris Danielsen at  <mailto:Cdanielsen at nfb.org>
Cdanielsen at nfb.org.  

Membership Efforts

One key priority in 2022 is for NFBMD to conduct a robust membership
building effort.  This is based on the needs and desires of several chapters
within Maryland.  The Board of Directors voted in January to reorganize the
Baltimore County Chapter; in addition, the Western Maryland Chapter
reorganized in mid-2021 and is working to expand its size and presence.  The
Eastern Shore Chapter has determined that it too needs to expand its
prominence, size, and presence.  The Greater Baltimore Chapter has
determined there are many blind and low vision people in the local area to
whom it wishes to reach out.  The TLC Chapter has decided it too is
committed to continuing to grow.  Every chapter and division in Maryland
expressed a desire and commitment to recruiting, developing, and retaining
members.

As a result, our Membership Committee, led by Dezman Jackson, will be
working on various membership initiatives in 2022, including a membership
fair in the Baltimore area on October 14, 2022.  We need your help!  If you
know of blind and low vision Marylanders who are not yet members of the
Federation, please introduce them to their local chapter and to Dezman
Jackson.  Please share ideas with Dezman and me as to how we can connect
with people who are not yet members or how to reconnect with those whose
membership has lapsed.  Please invite those individuals to share with you,
with Dezman, and with me, what they would want to get from membership in the
Federation and any barriers to joining.  Please let Dezman and me know if
you are interested in supporting the Membership Committee with recruitment
and retention initiatives.  Membership building is truly the responsibility
of each of us, and we need your help!

NFB and NFBMD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

NFBMD is actively working to expand our knowledge of and emphasis on
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.  These initiatives also
include those related to sexual harassment and misconduct, consent,
boundaries, and power dynamics.  It is our intent that NFB of Maryland
activities, events, and programs be safe and welcoming to all, and to that
end we are devoting resources and time to increase our awareness and enhance
our strategies on DEI.  Qualik Ford and Juhi Narula co-chair this committee.
We encourage those interested in joining the committee to reach out to me at
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org.

The Committee provides state-wide guidance and support to chapters and the
affiliate on DEI.  One goal for 2022 is to increase the presence of DEI in
our activities and to hold more DEI-focused activities.  The Committee has
and will continue to share informational communications on certain topics
and observances to promote DEI but needs assistance in this area from those
with lived experience and/or expertise.  One particular highlight was a
day-long training for all elected affiliate, chapter, and division board
members, the DEI committee, the scholarship committee, the membership
committee, and those working with children.  This training occurred on March
5, 2022 and featured an introduction to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
recognizing and minimizing micro-aggressions; and understanding and
combatting implicit bias.  

If you have questions about these initiatives or have suggestions for how we
can best incorporate DEI into our programs, please don't hesitate to contact
me at  <mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org or at 443-426-4110. 

As President Riccobono announced during the September Presidential Release,
the National Federation of the Blind has launched our Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion webpage dedicated to sharing resources, presentations, and
publications, including our five-year diversity calendar that is meant to
create awareness for planning. Access this page at
<https://nfb.org/index.php/get-involved/diversity-equity-inclusion>
https://nfb.org/DEI. 

Free COVID-19 Tests Update

While the government program that has provided free standard COVID-19 tests
was suspended on September 2, USPS is still distributing the free, more
accessible COVID-19 at-home tests while supplies last.

You can place an order online or by calling 1-800-232-0233. Additional
information and updates are available at  <https://nfb.org/covidtests>
https://nfb.org/covidtests.

Important Upcoming Dates 

*	October 1 - 31, 2022 - Blind Equality Achievement Month
*	October 8, 2022 - Deadline to submit nominations for 2022
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award
*	October 15, 2022 - Deadline to make donations for Hamilton drawing
*	October 15, 2022 - Deadline to make hotel reservations for the NFBMD
2022 State Convention
*	October 15, 2022 - Deadline to pre-register for the 2022 NFBMD State
Convention
*	October 15, 2022 - Deadline to submit resolutions for the 2022 NFBMD
State Convention
*	October 15, 2022 - White Cane Awareness Day
*	November 1, 2022 - Deadline to commit to contribute items for NFBMD
Bake and Experience Auction
*	November 5, 2022 - Deadline to make donations for Fall Donation
Drive to include drawing for free cruise
*	November 11 - 13, 2022 - NFBMD Annual Convention, Towson, Maryland

*	January 26, 2023 - NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
*	January 30, 2023 - Great Gathering In, Washington, DC
*	July 1 - 6, 2023 - NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
*	December 3 - 10, 2023 - NFBMD Blind Cruising 2023, Bahamas

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

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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