From president at nfbmd.org Sun Oct 6 22:19:20 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2024 18:19:20 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] At Large Chapter: Fall Night at the Theater - All the Light We Cannot See! Message-ID: <059901db183d$caf90270$60eb0750$@nfbmd.org> The NFB of Maryland At Large Chapter Presents: A Night at the Movies! All the Light We Cannot See - Episode One! In this series, the paths of blind French teenager Marie-Laure and German soldier Werner cross in occupied France, as the two try to survive the destruction and dangers of World War II. Following the movie, guest speaker, Joe Stretchay, an Accessibility Consultant for Film and Television, who is blind, will talk about his interesting career and lead our discussion of the movie. We request a donation of $12 to participate in the event, including the discussion of this movie, to benefit the At Large Chapter of the NFB of Maryland. Date: Saturday, October 26 Time: 7:00pm Place: Anywhere and Everywhere on Zoom Requested Donation: $12 per person Please register by Wednesday, October 23, so that we have time to send you the Zoom information. Be sure to include your email address when you register. You may donate in one of three ways: Credit Card and PayPal*: Visit: https://nfbmd.org/nightatthetheater OR Zelle: President at nfbmd.org OR Check: Payable to NFBMD At-Large Chapter 9013 Nelson Way Columbia, MD 21045 *Note: Credit card and PayPal payments incur an additional $1 for processing. For questions, email: Mwoods719 at gmail.com 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Fri Oct 11 03:25:00 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:25:00 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Financial Assistance Application for State Convention Now Open - Deadline November 15, 2024 Message-ID: <053b01db1b8d$29078920$7b169b60$@nfbmd.org> The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Financial Assistance Application Form for Federation-hosted conferences and activities is now available. This grant is intended to assist persons interested in NFBMD with limited means to attend conventions, seminars, and affiliate events. Recipients of this grant must demonstrate genuine interest in, and commitment to the blind of Maryland or the potential to develop such interest and commitment. Recipients are expected to attend all sessions relative to the event for which they receive assistance. Recipients are also expected to assist with Convention and/or event activities. NFBMD expects all participants to contribute to funding to attend events and will not pay for registration fees. The Award Committee may award partial funding to assist individuals to attend seminars, conventions, or the like. Individuals requesting lodging financial assistance will only receive assistance for the cost of half a hotel room. Such individuals will be responsible for finding their own roommate to share in the cost of hotel lodging. NFB of Maryland will not assign roommates for those receiving financial assistance. However, those who would like to share their interest in finding a roommate may give consent to NFBMD for their name and contact information to be shared with others seeking roommates. Individuals wishing to request financial assistance for the NFB of Maryland State Convention in Ocean City, Maryland must submit a completed application to NFBMD President Ronza Othman by November 15, 2024. Individuals must also provide a letter of support from their chapter president. Individuals must also show proof of pre-registration for the State Convention in order to be eligible for financial assistance. Individuals may pre-register at https://nfbmd.org/convention. To request financial assistance, individuals should use the NFBMD Financial Assistance Form Individuals who need assistance completing the application and sending it electronically should contact President Othman at 443-426-4110 or their chapter president. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 12 12:24:25 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2024 08:24:25 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Lead, Love, Live! NFB of Maryland 2025 State Convention Information Message-ID: <073a01db1ca1$ae788d10$0b69a730$@nfbmd.org> Get ready for a weekend of fun and fellowship. Come and be part of celebrating our accomplishments and planning for the future! * Date: February 13 - 16, 2025 * Place: Ashore Resort and Beach Club , 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 * Meet our keynote speaker and National Representative. * Explore opportunities through special workshops for parents and teachers of blind children, blind merchants and entrepreneurs, and students. Check out our technology workshops and more. * Examine new products at the exhibit hall on Friday. * Help us raise expectations for ourselves and for officials who manage services for the blind. NFB Maryland State Convention Information * Date: February 13 to 16, 2025 * Place: Ashore Resort and Beach Club , 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 * Make hotel reservations on or before December 31, 2024 by calling 410-524-3535. Room rates are $99 per night plus tax for standard rooms with cabanas and other room types ranging from $129 to $149 per night. * Registration on or before December 31, 2024 = $25 per adult and free for kids 12 and under * Registration after December 31, 2024 = $35 per adult and free for kids 12 and under NFB Maryland State Convention Pricing * Lodging: $99 per night plus tax for standard rooms; cabanas and other room types range from $129 - $149 plus tax per night - room block closes December 31, 2024 * Registration: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after - Kids age 12 and under are free * Transportation from Baltimore and New Carrollton: $65 on or before December 31, 2024; $75 after * Banquet: $60 on or before December 31, 2024; $70 after * Friday Boxed Lunch: $25 on or before December 31, 2024 * Friday Dinner & a Play Pizza Buffet: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after * Saturday Luncheons (Seniors, Parents, and Students): $30 on or before December 31, 2024; $40 after * Sunday Training Center Alumni and Networking Breakfast: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after Registration Registration is available via the link below and will be open with pre-registration rates through December 31, 2024. Click Here to Register Online! We hope to see you in Ocean City! 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 12 12:35:32 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2024 08:35:32 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Sad News: Liam Lindsay Message-ID: <075b01db1ca3$3c333f00$b499bd00$@nfbmd.org> Federation Family, I'm very sorry to share that Liam Lindsay passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2024. Liam had been a member of our NFB of Maryland Greater Baltimore Chapter. Liam recently joined the staff of the National Federation of the Blind, working in the NFB Independence Market. Prior to that, Liam worked as a consultant, including providing training on adjustment to blindness to various companies and governmental entities. Liam had also worked for many years in the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) CORE Program, including as an instructor in several areas and most recently as the Apartment Manager. Many of us remember Liam's beautiful singing voice from various Federation events. Please keep Liam's daughter, parents, other family members, friends, colleagues, and all who loved him in your thoughts and prayers. I'll share information about arrangements once they are available. Regards, Ronza 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 12 13:26:42 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:26:42 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Sad News: Liam Lindsay Message-ID: <090e01db1caa$61b1ec70$2515c550$@nfbmd.org> Federation Family, Here is some preliminary information about the celebration of life for Liam Lindsay. I'll share more as it becomes available. Date: October 26, 2024 Time: 11am Location: Kingdom Worship Center 6419 York Road Baltimore, MD 21212 Ronza Othman, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 443-426-4110 Pronouns: she, her, hers From: Maryland President Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2024 8:36 AM To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' ; 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' ; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org' ; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org' ; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org' ; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org' ; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org' ; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' ; 'nationalharbor at nfbnet.org' ; 'mabm at nfbnet.org' ; 'mdabs at nfbnet.org' ; 'mdpobc at nfbnet.org' ; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County List' Subject: Sad News: Liam Lindsay Federation Family, I'm very sorry to share that Liam Lindsay passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2024. Liam had been a member of our NFB of Maryland Greater Baltimore Chapter. Liam recently joined the staff of the National Federation of the Blind, working in the NFB Independence Market. Prior to that, Liam worked as a consultant, including providing training on adjustment to blindness to various companies and governmental entities. Liam had also worked for many years in the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) CORE Program, including as an instructor in several areas and most recently as the Apartment Manager. Many of us remember Liam's beautiful singing voice from various Federation events. Please keep Liam's daughter, parents, other family members, friends, colleagues, and all who loved him in your thoughts and prayers. I'll share information about arrangements once they are available. Regards, Ronza 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 12 13:53:42 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:53:42 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] August, September, and October 2024 Minute Message from the Movement Message-ID: <092401db1cae$273f2ae0$75bd80a0$@nfbmd.org> August, September, and October 2024 Minute Message Fellow Federationists: We?ve been so busy working on our Federation activities that I haven?t had the chance to send out this newsletter in a while. I urge you to visit our website regularly for the latest updates and information about our programs. Since the last Minute Message from the Movement, we?ve concluded the last two NFB BELL Academies in Maryland for the year, hosted, along with NFB and our student division, the 2024 NABS Mid-Atlantic Student Seminar, held a wildly successful NFBMD Crab Feast to support our scholarship programs, held our first fundraiser with the Give A Hoot Comedy Club, held our fifth annual Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main festival, attended and received several White Cane Awareness Day Proclamations from Maryland counties, and so much more. In the coming weeks, we will hold our Fall Basket and Bag Bingo event, our Scholarship Dinner and Auction event, our NFBMD Merchants Mixer, our NFBMD Parents Division Ice Skating event, our NFB Greater Baltimore Chapter Running Festival Water Stop event, and so many more at the state and local level. Our members will march along with members and allies from throughout the country in San Francisco to protest Uber and Lyft?s discriminatory rideshare practices against those who use guide dogs and are blind. We?re also working hard on planning for the 2025 legislative session and planning for our 2025 State Convention. And of course, we continue to work on case advocacy in education, in employment, and in government spaces. Read on for more information! Fall Basket and Bag Bingo! 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. Join us at NFBMD Fall Basket and Bag Bingo on October 18, 2024 in Catonsville. Buy your tickets before they sell out. You may purchase your ticket for $25 before October 18 and $30 on October 18 if tickets are available. Please find more information or purchase your ticket online using this link. You may purchase your tickets via Zelle ( President at nfbmd.org), cash or check (Payable to: NFB of Maryland, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1, Baltimore, MD 21230), or PayPal using the web link above. For questions ,contact Latonya Phipps at 443-465-8761 or email Phippslatonya at gmail.com. NFBMD Bid for Opportunity Dinner and Auction! Get ready for a nice evening out. Join us on November 16 for our Bid-for-Opportunity dinner and auction to benefit the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program and NFBMD youth activities. The dinner will be held from 5PM ? 9PM at the College Park Knights of Columbus, 9450 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, MD 20740. Tickets cost $60. Dinner includes fried or baked chicken, grilled salmon, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, green beans, salad, rolls, beverage, and dessert. There will be an auction for all tastes, including a $10 table. Those wishing to donate items to the auction should contact Debbie Brown at 301-881-1892 or deborahb14 at verizon.net. Those wanting transportation to reserve a seat on the van from the NFB (Baltimore) should contact Ellen Ringlein at Germlish77 at gmail.com by November 8, 2024. To purchase tickets, send a check to NFB of Maryland, Debbie Brown?s attention, at 11923 Parklawn Drive, #104, Rockville, MD 20852, via Zelle (President at nfbmd.org), or pay online using the PayPal button at https://nfbmd.org/bidforopportunity. 2025 State Convention Theme Each year, we choose a State Convention theme that is representative of our hope, priorities, or expectations for the convention and what comes after. Recent themes have included: ?Expect Much, Give Much, Get Much,? ?Celebrating our Stories, Defining our Future,? ?Rise Up,? ?Focus Forward,? and ?Reconnect, Reimagine, Reignite.? We use the theme to inform the opening ceremonies, tie together the presidential report, and hold seminars and other activities. The 2025 Convention theme is: Lead, Love, Live! The winner of the theme submission contest is Linda Furiate! Congratulations, Linda! Lead, Love, Live: The State Convention is Coming! You will not want to miss the state convention at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club in Ocean City which takes place on February 13 - 16, 2025. Come and meet our National Representative. You may reserve your room by calling the Ashore at 410-524-3535. Convention Room Rates: Standard Room - $99 per night plus tax; cabana and other types of sleeping rooms range in cost from $129 - $149 per night plus tax. The deadline for making room reservations is December 31, 2024. Pre-registration is open through December 31, 2024. Visit https://nfbmd.org/convention to register online. We will not be mailing hard copy registration forms this year, so those needing to register via hard copy will need to download, print, and mail the hard copy form or request assistance from their chapter president. Below are the prices for the various convention activities (prices are per person unless otherwise stated): * Registration: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after - Kids age 12 and under are free * Transportation from Baltimore and New Carrollton: $65 on or before December 31, 2024; $75 after * Banquet: $60 on or before December 31, 2024; $70 after * Friday Boxed Lunch: $25 on or before December 31, 2024 * Friday Dinner & a Play Pizza Buffet: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after * Saturday Luncheons (Seniors, Parents, and Students): $30 on or before December 31, 2024; $40 after * Sunday Training Center Alumni and Networking Breakfast: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after Financial Assistance Application for State Convention ? Due November 15, 2024! Individuals who wish to request financial assistance to attend the 2024 NFB of Maryland State Convention must complete and submit a Financial Assistance Application Form no later than October 15, 2024. Individuals are encouraged to first check with their local chapters and divisions to see what financial assistance may be available. If a member?s chapter does not have a financial assistance program, or if there is still unmet financial need, members may complete and submit the form to the State affiliate. In order to be eligible for financial assistance, applicants must provide: 1) proof of preregistration including payment for preregistration; and 2) a letter of support from the individual?s local chapter. More information about the NFBMD Financial Assistance Application Form is available at https://nfbmd.org/financialassistance. For questions, please contact me at 443-426-4110 or at President at nfbmd.org. 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 cdanielsen at nfb.org by January 31, 2025. Seeking Convention Sponsors and Exhibitors We are seeking sponsors for our 2025 NFB of Maryland State Convention. There are various levels of sponsorship, and the various levels include different benefits. Entities and individuals interested in serving as an NFBMD Convention sponsor should contact Jen White at Jwhite at nfb.org or Justin Young at JYoung at nfb.org to request additional information. Sponsorship forms and additional information may also be found at https://nfbmd.org/convention. We are also seeking exhibitors for our Friday Exhibit Hall. Individuals and entities interested in exhibiting should also contact Jen White at Jwhite at nfb.org or Justin Young at Jyoung at nfb.org to request additional information. Exhibitor forms are available for download at https://nfbmd.org/convention. The sponsorship and exhibitor deadlines are November 15, 2024. 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 Qford at bism.org and Juhi Narula at Jnarula at bism.org. 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 January 31, 2025. Please notify Convention Logistics chairperson Justin Young of your donation via email at Jyoung at nfb.org. Seeking Baked Deliciousness for NFBMD Fire Sale! ?Attention all! This message is going out to all you bakers, non-bakers, and anyone else with baked goods. As state convention rolls around again, so does our annual fire sale. If you want to help feed our movement and fund the important work we do, please take the time to donate your freshly baked goods, whatever they may be. Cookies, cakes, candies and croissants, we'll take them all. Please contact Justin Young with your donation commitment via email at Jyoung at nfb.org. State Convention Orientation: February 8, 2024 All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a First-Timers Orientation from 8 to 9:30 p.m., on Thursday, February 8. The Ambassadors Committee will walk you through the events that will take place throughout the weekend, explain processes such as door prizes and voting, as well as make sure every first-time convention attendee is matched with a mentor. Connection information is as follows: Zoom Meeting ID: 624 813 8327 One-Number Conference Call: 339-209-4083 Seeking Nominations for the NFBMD Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award! The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is seeking nominations for the 2025 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 teresagraham3 at gmail.com. To download the nomination form and for more information, visit 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 February 15, 2025. Nominations are due by November 15, 2024. Get ready for New Orleans in 2025! The NFB 2025 National Convention will take place from July 8 ? 13, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Marriott Hotel will be the primary location. The NFB Board of Directors also announced that the 2026 and 2027 national conventions will take place in Austin, Texas, and the 2028 and 2029 national conventions will take place in Chicago, Illinois. It?s never too early to start preparing for the largest and most powerful gathering of blind people in America. Remember to Pay Your 2024 Dues! NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2024 dues as soon as possible so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate. Individuals may use NFBMD?s Dues Portal to pay their 2024 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. Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to their chapter or division treasurer. Individuals may also pay their chapter dues at the Registration Table at the State Convention. Please note that those paying via the online portal will incur a small processing fee. Important Upcoming Dates * October 1 ? 31, 2024 ? Blind Equality Achievement Month * October 15, 2024 ? NFBMD Participates in NFB Rideshare Rally, San Francisco, California * October 18, 2024 ? Basket Bingo, Catonsville, Maryland * November 16, 2024 ? NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction, College Park, Maryland * January 16, 2025 ? NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland * February 3, 2025 ? Washington Seminar Great Gathering In, Washington, DC * February 4, 2025 ? NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC * February 14 ? 16, 2025 ? NFBMD 2025 Convention, Ocean City, Maryland * July 8 ? 13, 2025 ? NFB National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana * September 19, 2025 ? NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 12 14:20:19 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2024 10:20:19 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Revised August, September, and October 2024 Minute Message from the Movement Message-ID: <095a01db1cb1$df724a40$9e56dec0$@nfbmd.org> August, September, and October 2024 Minute Message Fellow Federationists: We?ve been so busy working on our Federation activities that I haven?t had the chance to send out this newsletter in a while. I urge you to visit our website regularly for the latest updates and information about our programs. Since the last Minute Message from the Movement, we?ve concluded the last two NFB BELL Academies in Maryland for the year, hosted, along with NFB and our student division, the 2024 NABS Mid-Atlantic Student Seminar, held a wildly successful NFBMD Crab Feast to support our scholarship programs, held our first fundraiser with the Give A Hoot Comedy Club, held our fifth annual Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main festival, attended and received several White Cane Awareness Day Proclamations from Maryland counties, and so much more. In the coming weeks, we will hold our Fall Basket and Bag Bingo event, our Scholarship Dinner and Auction event, our NFBMD Merchants Mixer, our NFBMD Parents Division Ice Skating event, our NFB Greater Baltimore Chapter Running Festival Water Stop event, and so many more at the state and local level. Our members will march along with members and allies from throughout the country in San Francisco to protest Uber and Lyft?s discriminatory rideshare practices against those who use guide dogs and are blind. We?re also working hard on planning for the 2025 legislative session and planning for our 2025 State Convention. And of course, we continue to work on case advocacy in education, in employment, and in government spaces. Read on for more information! Fall Basket and Bag Bingo! 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. Join us at NFBMD Fall Basket and Bag Bingo on October 18, 2024 in Catonsville. Buy your tickets before they sell out. You may purchase your ticket for $25 before October 18 and $30 on October 18 if tickets are available. Please find more information or purchase your ticket online using this link. You may purchase your tickets via Zelle ( President at nfbmd.org), cash or check (Payable to: NFB of Maryland, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1, Baltimore, MD 21230), or PayPal using the web link above. For questions ,contact Latonya Phipps at 443-465-8761 or email Phippslatonya at gmail.com. NFBMD Bid for Opportunity Dinner and Auction! Get ready for a nice evening out. Join us on November 16 for our Bid-for-Opportunity dinner and auction to benefit the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program and NFBMD youth activities. The dinner will be held from 5PM ? 9PM at the College Park Knights of Columbus, 9450 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, MD 20740. Tickets cost $60. Dinner includes fried or baked chicken, grilled salmon, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, green beans, salad, rolls, beverage, and dessert. There will be an auction for all tastes, including a $10 table. Those wishing to donate items to the auction should contact Debbie Brown at 301-881-1892 or deborahb14 at verizon.net. Those wanting transportation to reserve a seat on the van from the NFB (Baltimore) should contact Ellen Ringlein at Germlish77 at gmail.com by November 8, 2024. To purchase tickets, send a check to NFB of Maryland, Debbie Brown?s attention, at 11923 Parklawn Drive, #104, Rockville, MD 20852, via Zelle (President at nfbmd.org), or pay online using the PayPal button at https://nfbmd.org/bidforopportunity. NFBMD Fall Theater Donation Drive The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is conducting a Theater Donation Drive, with the support of Access Maryland. In appreciation for your financial support, we will enter contributors in this program into a monthly drawing for a pair of tickets to a hit musical. The shows and associated dates are listed below. MJ, the Musical - November 17, 2024 at 2:00PM Life of Pi - December 14, 2024 at 2:00PM Annie - January 11, 2025 at 2:00PM The show will be audio described. 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. The drawing will take place on a monthly basis one week before each show date. Here are the rules: - Contributions will be taken on a rolling basis one week before the final show 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 a monthly basis, one week before the scheduled show date, one name from those who have contributed at least $10 during the campaign. That individual will receive 2 tickets to the next show. - Tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. To make a donation as part of this drive, please use Zell ( President at nfbmd.org), use the PayPal button at: Https://nfbmd.org/theaterdonation, or mail a check to NFBMD Fall Theater Donation Drive, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1, Baltimore, MD 21230. 2025 State Convention Theme Each year, we choose a State Convention theme that is representative of our hope, priorities, or expectations for the convention and what comes after. Recent themes have included: ?Expect Much, Give Much, Get Much,? ?Celebrating our Stories, Defining our Future,? ?Rise Up,? ?Focus Forward,? and ?Reconnect, Reimagine, Reignite.? We use the theme to inform the opening ceremonies, tie together the presidential report, and hold seminars and other activities. The 2025 Convention theme is: Lead, Love, Live! The winner of the theme submission contest is Linda Furiate! Congratulations, Linda! Lead, Love, Live: The State Convention is Coming! You will not want to miss the state convention at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club in Ocean City which takes place on February 13 - 16, 2025. Come and meet our National Representative. You may reserve your room by calling the Ashore at 410-524-3535. Convention Room Rates: Standard Room - $99 per night plus tax; cabana and other types of sleeping rooms range in cost from $129 - $149 per night plus tax. The deadline for making room reservations is December 31, 2024. Pre-registration is open through December 31, 2024. Visit https://nfbmd.org/convention to register online. We will not be mailing hard copy registration forms this year, so those needing to register via hard copy will need to download, print, and mail the hard copy form or request assistance from their chapter president. Below are the prices for the various convention activities (prices are per person unless otherwise stated): * Registration: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after - Kids age 12 and under are free * Transportation from Baltimore and New Carrollton: $65 on or before December 31, 2024; $75 after * Banquet: $60 on or before December 31, 2024; $70 after * Friday Boxed Lunch: $25 on or before December 31, 2024 * Friday Dinner & a Play Pizza Buffet: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after * Saturday Luncheons (Seniors, Parents, and Students): $30 on or before December 31, 2024; $40 after * Sunday Training Center Alumni and Networking Breakfast: $25 on or before December 31, 2024; $35 after Financial Assistance Application for State Convention ? Due November 15, 2024! Individuals who wish to request financial assistance to attend the 2024 NFB of Maryland State Convention must complete and submit a Financial Assistance Application Form no later than November 15, 2024. Individuals are encouraged to first check with their local chapters and divisions to see what financial assistance may be available. If a member?s chapter does not have a financial assistance program, or if there is still unmet financial need, members may complete and submit the form to the State affiliate. In order to be eligible for financial assistance, applicants must provide: 1) proof of preregistration including payment for preregistration; and 2) a letter of support from the individual?s local chapter. More information about the NFBMD Financial Assistance Application Form is available at https://nfbmd.org/financialassistance. For questions, please contact me at 443-426-4110 or at President at nfbmd.org. 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 cdanielsen at nfb.org by January 31, 2025. Seeking Convention Sponsors and Exhibitors We are seeking sponsors for our 2025 NFB of Maryland State Convention. There are various levels of sponsorship, and the various levels include different benefits. Entities and individuals interested in serving as an NFBMD Convention sponsor should contact Jen White at Jwhite at nfb.org or Justin Young at JYoung at nfb.org to request additional information. Sponsorship forms and additional information may also be found at https://nfbmd.org/convention. We are also seeking exhibitors for our Friday Exhibit Hall. Individuals and entities interested in exhibiting should also contact Jen White at Jwhite at nfb.org or Justin Young at Jyoung at nfb.org to request additional information. Exhibitor forms are available for download at https://nfbmd.org/convention. The sponsorship and exhibitor deadlines are November 15, 2024. 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 Qford at bism.org and Juhi Narula at Jnarula at bism.org. 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 January 31, 2025. Please notify Convention Logistics chairperson Justin Young of your donation via email at Jyoung at nfb.org. Seeking Baked Deliciousness for NFBMD Fire Sale! ?Attention all! This message is going out to all you bakers, non-bakers, and anyone else with baked goods. As state convention rolls around again, so does our annual fire sale. If you want to help feed our movement and fund the important work we do, please take the time to donate your freshly baked goods, whatever they may be. Cookies, cakes, candies and croissants, we'll take them all. Please contact Justin Young with your donation commitment via email at Jyoung at nfb.org. State Convention Orientation: February 10, 2025 All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a First-Timers Orientation from 8 to 9:30 p.m., on Monday, February 10. The Ambassadors Committee will walk you through the events that will take place throughout the weekend, explain processes such as door prizes and voting, as well as make sure every first-time convention attendee is matched with a mentor. Connection information is as follows: Zoom Meeting ID: 624 813 8327 One-Number Conference Call: 339-209-4083 Seeking Nominations for the NFBMD Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award! The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is seeking nominations for the 2025 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 teresagraham3 at gmail.com. To download the nomination form and for more information, visit 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 February 15, 2025. Nominations are due by November 15, 2024. Get ready for New Orleans in 2025! The NFB 2025 National Convention will take place from July 8 ? 13, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Marriott Hotel will be the primary location. The NFB Board of Directors also announced that the 2026 and 2027 national conventions will take place in Austin, Texas, and the 2028 and 2029 national conventions will take place in Chicago, Illinois. It?s never too early to start preparing for the largest and most powerful gathering of blind people in America. Remember to Pay Your 2024 Dues! NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2024 dues as soon as possible so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate. Individuals may use NFBMD?s Dues Portal to pay their 2024 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. Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to their chapter or division treasurer. Individuals may also pay their chapter dues at the Registration Table at the State Convention. Please note that those paying via the online portal will incur a small processing fee. Important Upcoming Dates * October 1 ? 31, 2024 ? Blind Equality Achievement Month * October 15, 2024 ? NFBMD Participates in NFB Rideshare Rally, San Francisco, California * October 18, 2024 ? Basket Bingo, Catonsville, Maryland * November 16, 2024 ? NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction, College Park, Maryland * January 16, 2025 ? NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland * February 3, 2025 ? Washington Seminar Great Gathering In, Washington, DC * February 4, 2025 ? NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC * February 13 ? 16, 2025 ? NFBMD 2025 Convention, Ocean City, Maryland * July 8 ? 13, 2025 ? NFB National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana * September 19, 2025 ? NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nfbmdsm at gmail.com Sun Oct 13 15:34:24 2024 From: nfbmdsm at gmail.com (Sharon Maneki) Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2024 11:34:24 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Meeting Reminder and Minutes Message-ID: ATTENTION AT-LARGE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, The next meeting of the At-Large chapter will be Tuesday, October 15. There is a special time for this meeting: 7:45-9pm. We want to do the round robin at 7:45pm because we will be listening to the rally against Uber and Lyft that takes place in San Francisco. These companies have been taking advantage of blind citizens throughout the nation by passing them up, refusing to take their trips, etc. It's time that they heard from the blind. You will not want to miss this event. The minutes for the August meeting are below. The September minutes will be arriving shortly. NFBMD At Large Chapter Meeting Minutes for August 20, 2024 The Presidential Release was played at 7:30 PM. The meeting was started at 8:00 PM by Marguerite Woods, President. The round robin took place. Everyone announced themselves, stated where they are in the state, and answered the question do you think doing the NFB survey is important? There were approximately 20 members on the call. The Presidential Release trivia game took place hosted by Sharon. Charles led Willie in the NFB pledge. Sharon gave the treasurers report. Opening Balance: $2594.50 No income. Expenses: $200 for Get well wishes, $838 for National Convention rooms and stipend, $75 donation for the fall basket bingo Total expenses $1113.50 Final balance $1481.50 A motion was made to accept the treasurer?s report. It was seconded and approved. Barry made the motion that the At Large Chapter contribute $5 to the PAC plan. It was seconded. Discussion took place and the motion was tabled. Tonight?s guest speakers are John and Sandy Halverson. They received the tenBroek award at this year?s national convention. John has been a member of the NFB since 1973. He spoke about how he learned about the Federation and how it has helped him through his life. He also spoke about various positions that he has held within the NFB in different states. Sandy?s story is so different than John?s. She is a graduate of the Maryland School for the Blind. The 2024 national convention was her 47th convention. She spoke about her various positions in the Federation in every state she has lived in. She became the first blind court reporter in the United States. Members asked questions. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM. 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. Everyday 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nfbmdsm at gmail.com Mon Oct 14 19:39:53 2024 From: nfbmdsm at gmail.com (Sharon Maneki) Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:39:53 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Tomorrow's Meeting October 15 Message-ID: Hello All, Remember tomorrow's meeting starts at 7:45 pm with the Round Robin. We will be listening to the Presidential Release Commentary on the rally against Uber and Lyft. Here are the September minutes. NFBMD At Large Chapter Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2024 The Presidential release was played at 7:30 PM. The meeting was started at 8:00 PM by Marguerite Woods, President. The round robin took place. Everyone announce themselves, stated where they are in the state, and answered the question what is your favorite cocktail or summer drink? There were approximately 25 members on the call. Charles led David in the NFB pledge. Sharon play her trivia president release game. Sharon announced the At Large Chapter Movie fund raiser. The flyer is below: The NFB of Maryland At Large Chapter Presents: A Night at the Movies! All the Light We Cannot See - Episode One! In this series, the paths of blind French teenager Marie-Laure and German soldier Werner cross in occupied France, as the two try to survive the destruction and dangers of World War II. Following the movie, guest speaker, Joe Stretchay, an Accessibility Consultant for Film and Television, who is blind, will talk about his interesting career and lead our discussion of the movie. We request a donation of $12 to participate in the event, including the discussion of this movie, to benefit the At Large Chapter of the NFB of Maryland. Date: Saturday, October 26 Time: 7:00pm Place: Anywhere and Everywhere on Zoom Requested Donation: $12 per person. Please register by Wednesday, October 23, so that we have time to send you the Zoom information. Be sure to include your email address when you register. You may donate in one of three ways: Credit Card and PayPal*: Visit: https://nfbmd.org/nightatthetheater OR Zelle: President at nfbmd.org OR Check: Payable to NFBMD At-Large Chapter 9013 Nelson Way Columbia, MD 21045 Tonight?s guest speaker is Dezman Jackson. He is the membership chair for the NFB. He spoke about the history of the federation, how the federation is organized, what being a member means, and how you can participate. What does a member mean? Members stated what membership means to them. Sharon made a motion to contribute to the PAC plan at $5 a month. It was seconded and approved. Please paid your 2024 Dues if you have not done already. Pay online at NFBMD.org and look for the link about paying dues or send them to Sharon. Her address is above in these minutes. The Meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM. 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. Everyday 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nfbmdsm at gmail.com Tue Oct 15 15:37:05 2024 From: nfbmdsm at gmail.com (Sharon Maneki) Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:37:05 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Friends Annual Meeting Message-ID: Hello All, Did you register for the Friends Annual Meeting yet? It is on October 26, from 9:30am to 12:30pm. You may attend virtually or in-person. You will have the chance to meet the new state librarian, learn about what Friends has been up to in the past year, and enjoy two keynote speakers. Our speakers will be Cindy Freeland, a children's author of books about the Chesapeake Bay, and Eric Thomas, a syndicated advice columnist to the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, and several others. If you join in-person, we will have lunch. There will be door prizes and so much more! You must register by either writing an email to reference.desk at maryland.gov or calling 410-230-2443. We are extending the registration deadline until close of business Monday, October 21. You must register in order to receive lunch OR to get the Zoom link if you are joining virtually. Come and help us thank our wonderful volunteers! *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. Everyday 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Thu Oct 17 23:25:56 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:25:56 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Vacancy Announcement: Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist In-Reply-To: <02ad01db20e8$b639e2b0$22ada810$@gmail.com> References: <04da01dacbf8$1e952630$5bbf7290$@gmail.com> <02ad01db20e8$b639e2b0$22ada810$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <05e101db20eb$eb192a60$c14b7f20$@nfbmd.org> Folks, I'm seeking to fill a GS-12 vacancy for an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist on my staff. This is a GS-12 position. The position is located in Baltimore, with frequent telework available - our current policy for positions of this nature is one day in the office per week. Those with Schedule A eligibility are encouraged to apply but need to use the MP position announcement. There are two vacancy announcements - one for members of the public (DE), and the other for current and former Federal employees (MP). The Schedule A opportunity is part of the current and former Federal employee opportunity, even if those individuals have never worked for the government (I don't know why it's set up that way). Those who wish to apply for both postings can do so as long as they are eligible. The position has been posted to USAJobs, opening 10/9/2024 and closing on 10/23/2024. The direct links to the job are below: MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/813352400 DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/813352500 Information is below: Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (OEOCR) This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (OEOCR), Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance Group (EEOCG). As a Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, GS-0260-12, you will serve as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist processing employment discrimination complaints through various stages. Overview * Accepting applications * Open & closing dates 10/09/2024 to 10/23/2024 * Salary $99,200 - $128,956 per year * Pay scale & grade GS 12 * Location 1 vacancy in the following location: * Woodlawn, MD * Remote job No * Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy. * Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel 10% for this position. * Relocation expenses reimbursed No * Appointment type Permanent * Work schedule Full-time * Service Competitive * Promotion potential 12 * Job family (Series) * 0260 Equal Employment Opportunity * Supervisory status No * Security clearance Not Required * Drug test No * Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR) * Trust determination process * Credentialing * Suitability/Fitness * Financial disclosure No * Bargaining unit status No Duties * Principal participant in the formulation of operating policies and guidelines that address EEO complaint processing at CMS to ensure that all complaints of alleged discrimination are promptly and fairly adjudicated. * Process informal complaints within the regulatory time frames and pursuant to established case law. * Analyze formal complaints of discrimination and develops sound legal arguments for acceptance or dismissal. * Conduct an initial interview with the Counselee for purposes of determining the claim(s) and basis(es) raised and for clarification of jurisdictional questions. * Draft settlement agreements in the informal and formal complaint processes. Qualifications ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration. In order to qualify for the GS-12, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: 1. Processing employment discrimination cases through various stages (e.g., pre-complaint / EEO counseling, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), formal complaint filing, accept/dismiss, EEO investigation, electing a Final Agency Decision or hearing, issuing a Final Agency Decision, conducting discovery, preparing for hearing, facilitating and processing appeal, and negotiating and implementing settlement); AND 2. Interpreting Federal employment, anti-discrimination, and civil rights laws (e.g., Code of Federal Regulations, Equal Opportunity Commission Management Directives) to provide guidance to employees or managers; AND 3. Conducting research and/or analysis of laws, regulations, data, processes and/or policies to formulate EEO related arguments; AND 4. Preparing written materials (e.g., final decision memorandums, appeal briefs, settlement agreements, technical guidance, policies, reports) related to the processing of EEO Complaints. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Thu Oct 17 23:29:05 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:29:05 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] URGENT Action: Update on James Pharmacy Issue Message-ID: <05ee01db20ec$5bb74630$1325d290$@nfbmd.org> Colleagues, Here?s a quick update. An investigatory body has decided to investigate the complaints we have filed regarding James Pharmacy?s passing through the cost of accessible prescription labels. I can?t say more at this time in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation. This entity wants to speak with everyone who has been impacted. Please email me privately if you were such an individual so I can put you in touch with them. Thanks, Ronza Ronza Othman, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 443-426-4110 Pronouns: she, her, hers From: Maryland President Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2024 1:54 PM To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' ; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org' ; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org' ; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org' ; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org' ; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org' ; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' ; 'nationalharbor at nfbnet.org' ; 'mabm at nfbnet.org' ; 'mdabs at nfbnet.org' ; 'mdpobc at nfbnet.org' ; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County List' Subject: Accessible Prescription Label Updates and List of Pharmacies in Maryland Currently Providing Service Friends, This is an update on the accessible prescription label issues we?ve been discussing. First, James Pharmacy has not responded to our multiple letters or phone calls. We do not at this point expect them to respond. Here are the actions the NFB of Maryland has taken. 1. We sent James Pharmacy a cease and desist letter both via email and certified mail, which they received. 2. We called and left multiple messages. 3. We met with EnVision to raise our concerns, and Envision attempted to contact them without success as well. 4. We notified the Maryland Attorney General and the Maryland Board of Pharmacy of James Pharmacy?s discriminatory practices. 5. We have encouraged, and where needed, assisted blind individuals to file complaints with the HHS Office of Civil Rights. We believe this action on the part of James Pharmacy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 1557 (the anti-discrimination provisions) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, giving HHS Federal jurisdiction. You may initiate an OCR complaint by visiting: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html 6. We filed an HHS OCR complaint on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in this matter. 7. We will share information about how to file complaints within Maryland once the Maryland Attorney General?s Office advises who has jurisdiction. In other related news, we provided our comments to the Maryland Board of Pharmacies regarding the Board?s proposed regulations to implement the Accessible Prescription Label law that?ll go into effect on January 1, 2025. We worked with other disability advocacy organizations in Maryland to ensure that our feedback and requested changes were aligned with one another, with NFBMD taking the lead. We?ll keep you posted on those regulations as they are finalized. In the meantime, for those of you seeking to use a pharmacy other than James Pharmacy, below is a list of all Maryland Pharmacies which offer ScripTalk or some form of accessible prescription label. Company Phone Address City State ZIP Code ScripTalk Braille ScripView Translation Pharmacy Level Walmart #1717 301-705-7040 11930 Acton Lane Waldorf MD 20601 x National Chain St Patrick's Pharmacy 301-632-1000 10 Saint Patricks Dr Waldorf MD 20603 x Delivery;Independent Pharmacy Walmart #1981 301-737-0611 45485 Miramar Way California MD 20619 x National Chain Walmart #1716 410-535-5552 150 Solomons Island Rd North Prince Frederick MD 20678 x National Chain Giant Food Pharmacy #0310 301-809-3151 15520 Annapolis Road Bowie MD 20715 x Walmart #1893 301-805-8853 3300 Crain Hwy Bowie MD 20716 x National Chain Walmart #1985 301-604-0148 3549 Russett Green E Laurel MD 20724 x National Chain Walmart #2799 301-877-4025 8745 Branch Avenue Clinton MD 20735 x National Chain UMMC Pharmacy at Capital Region 301-618-2686 901 Harry S Truman Dr N Largo MD 20774 x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy Giant Food Pharmacy #0198 301-983-4211 9812 Falls Rd Potomac MD 20854 x Albright Pharmacy Services-Maryland 301-216-5216 333 Russell Ave. Gaithersburg MD 20877 x Long Term Care Giant Food Pharmacy #0368 301-926-2044 842 Muddy Branch Road Gaithersburg MD 20878 x Safeway Pharmacy #1620 301-670-1631 20211 Goshen Rd Gaithersburg MD 20879 x Mails in State;National Chain Giant Food Pharmacy #0196 301-990-0627 20044 Goshen Road Gaithersburg MD 20879 x Giant Food Pharmacy #0135 301-598-3208 3860 International Dr Silver Spring MD 20906 x Wegmans Pharmacy #014 410-773-3945 122 Shawan Rd Hunt Valley MD 21030 x Regional Chain Giant Food Pharmacy #0308 410-956-4150 13 Lee Airpark Dr Edgewater MD 21037 x Walmart #5228 410-740-8554 6405 Dobbin Rd Columbia MD 21045 x National Chain UMMC Pharmacy Services 410-328-6445 920 Elkridge Landing Linthicum MD 21090 x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy Walmart #3804 443-576-3155 8730 Liberty Road Randallstown MD 21133 x National Chain UMMC Pharmacy at Weinberg 410-328-5233 22 S Greene St Baltimore MD 21201 x x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy UMMC Pharmacy at Redwood 410-328-5243 11 S Paca St Baltimore MD 21201 x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy UMMC Midtown Campus Pharmacy 410-856-3650 821 N Eutaw St, Baltimore MD 21201 x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy UMMC Pharmacy at Baltimore Washington 410-328-2267 255 Hospital Dr Glen Burnie MD 21201 x x Hospital Pharmacy;University Pharmacy Sam's Club #6239 410-628-7264 15 Texas Station Court Timonium MD 21202 x National Chain Safeway Pharmacy #1513 410-319-8620 4401 Harford Rd Baltimore MD 21214 x Regional Chain AHF Pharmacy - Baltimore 410-246-4877 2510 Saint Paul St Baltimore MD 21218 x Delivery;National Chain;Spanish Option;Specialty Pharmacy Walmart #3481 410-335-1135 112 Carroll Island Rd Baltimore MD 21220 x National Chain Walmart #2435 410-284-0126 2399 North Point Blvd Dundalk MD 21222 x National Chain Walmart #3720 410-737-7712 3601 Washington Blvd Arbutus MD 21227 x National Chain James Pharmacy 410-752-5810 1119 Light Street Baltimore MD 21230 x Delivery;Independent Pharmacy;Mails in State Northern Pharmacy 4106310544 6701 Harford Rd Baltimore MD 21234 x Delivery;Independent Pharmacy Walmart #2045 410-882-9943 8118 Perry Hills Rd Nottingham MD 21236 x National Chain Walmart #3489 410-687-6832 6420 Petrie Way Baltimore MD 21237 x National Chain Johns Hopkins Outpatient Pharmacy @ The Arcade 443-287-9200 1800 Orleans Street Baltimore MD 21287 x x Delivery;Hospital Pharmacy;Mail Order Walmart #2027 301-729-5088 12500 Country Club Mall Rd Lavale MD 21502 x National Chain Walmart #1715 410-819-0507 8155 Elliott Rd Easton MD 21601 x National Chain Walmart #2790 301-739-7597 10420 Walmart Drive Hagerstown MD 21742 x National Chain Riverside Pharmacy 410-742-1188 540 Riverside Dr Salisbury MD 21801 x Independent Pharmacy Walmart #2514 410-957-9610 2132 Old Snow Hill Rd Pocomoke MD 21851 x National Chain Walmart #1860 410-398-1123 1000 E Pulaski Hwy Elkton MD 21921 x National Chain Walmart #2853 301-392-9106 40 Drury Dr LA Plata MD 20646-4220 x National Chain Walmart #5345 410-257-2913 10600 Towne Center Blvd Dunkirk MD 20754-2737 x National Chain Walmart #2357 301-515-6703 20910 Frederick Rd Germantown MD 20876-4134 x National Chain Sam's Club #6653 240-631-7716 610 N Frederick Ave Gaithersburg MD 20877-2527 x National Chain Walmart #2577 410-628-6168 1 Frankel Way Cockeysville MD 21030-3220 x National Chain Walmart #2412 410-418-9703 3200 North Ridge Rd Ellicott City MD 21043-3363 x National Chain Walmart #2279 410-863-1285 6721 Chesapeake Center Dr Glen Burnie MD 21060-6572 x National Chain Walmart #2850 410-374-0332 2320 Hanover Pike Hampstead MD 21074-1511 x National Chain Wye Oak Pharmacy 410-536-0555 1935 Lansdowne Rd Halethorpe MD 21227-1707 x Delivery;Independent Pharmacy Walmart #2248 410-719-0042 6205 Baltimore National Pike Cantonsville MD 21228-2908 x National Chain Walmart #3843 410-479-0758 610 Legion Rd Denton MD 21629-2040 x National Chain Walmart #2233 301-631-2171 7400 Guilford Dr Frederick MD 21702-5100 x National Chain Walmart #2931 410-341-6208 409 N Fruitland Blvd Salisbury MD 21801-2701 x National Chain Walmart #5450 410-287-3479 75 North East Plz North East MD 21901-3617 x National Chain All Rite Aid Locations via Central Fill Ronza Othman, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 443-426-4110 Pronouns: she, her, hers From: Maryland President > Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2024 2:11 PM To: 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' >; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org' >; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org' >; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org' >; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org' >; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org' >; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' >; 'nationalharbor at nfbnet.org' >; 'mabm at nfbnet.org' >; 'mdabs at nfbnet.org' >; 'mdpobc at nfbnet.org' >; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore County List' > Subject: Message to James Pharmacy Friends and Colleagues, Some of the lists have been discussing the decision by James Pharmacy to begin charging for accessible prescription labels effective September 1, 2024. I am sharing a letter I sent to the Pharmacy below. I will keep you posted on any response I receive. In the meantime, the affiliate is working to gather both a list of other pharmacies that provide ScripTalk and other accessible options without charging customers as well as a list of avenues available to patients who wish to file complaints. Dear Santosh Dwarkar, I am writing to you in my capacity as President and CEO of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (NFBMD). NFBMD is Maryland?s oldest and largest organization of and for blind and low individuals. A number of our members have shared that you have recently contacted them to inform that you will be charging them to provide accessible prescription labels when filling their medications effective September 1, 2024. Several of those individuals have informed you and your staff that this action is unlawful. They report that they?ve been told by members of your staff that James Pharmacy does not care if this practice is unlawful and intends to do so anyway. Since 2012, James Pharmacy has been providing accessible prescription labels to blind and low vision patients with ScripTalk labels at no cost in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Maryland law ?12 ?505.1. and the Affordable Care Act Section 1557 on Discrimination in Health Care. In fact, James Pharmacy was one of the first independent pharmacy in the Baltimore to establish this service, and consequently numerous blind and low vision Marylanders use this pharmacy and recommend it to others. James Pharmacy has been held out as a model pharmacy for accessibility and customer service as a result. It is very disappointing that James Pharmacy appears to be moving away from its customer-focused and inclusive business practices and instead blatantly violating the civil rights of its patients. Your recent notification to patients that James Pharmacy will be charging customers $3.50 per ScripTalk label is an open announcement that you plan to violate all three of these civil rights laws by charging for accessibility accommodations. We strongly urge you to immediately rescind this decision to avoid violating the law, which will result in patient complaints being filed with the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, and/or any other applicable entities with jurisdiction. If you have questions or would like to meet with me to discuss our concerns and your plans to rectify this matter, please provide some available days and times for this week. Regards, 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Fri Oct 18 15:41:57 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:41:57 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Sad News: AG Message-ID: <00a801db2174$44de64b0$ce9b2e10$@nfbmd.org> Friends, I'm very sorry to share that Annette Gordon passed away last night after a long illness. Annette has been a long-time member of our Baltimore County Chapter. She worked at BISM for many years up through her passing in the SAIL program. She was for some time a spokesperson for the NFB Diabetes Action Network, and much of her advocacy in this area is available if you Google her. Please keep Annette, her children and family, her friends and colleagues, and all who love her in your thoughts and prayers. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nfbmdsm at gmail.com Sat Oct 19 16:22:45 2024 From: nfbmdsm at gmail.com (Sharon Maneki) Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:22:45 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] At Large Movie Night Message-ID: Hello All, This is a reminder to donate your 12 dollars for the At Large movie night Saturday, October 26, beginning at 7pm. You must donate your money to get the zoom link. We will be listening to part 1 of the Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See. After the movie, we will hear a presentation from Joe Stretchy, an accessibility consultant to television and various movies who happens to be blind. There will also be a discussion. Donate right away, but not later than Wednesday, October 23rd. You may donate in one of three ways: Credit Card and PayPal*: Visit: https://nfbmd.org/nightatthetheater OR Zelle: President at nfbmd.org OR Check: Payable to NFBMD At-Large Chapter 9013 Nelson Way Columbia, MD 21045 *Note: Credit card and PayPal payments incur an additional $1 for processing. For questions, email: Mwoods719 at gmail.com *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. Everyday 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Mon Oct 21 00:20:59 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2024 20:20:59 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Reminder: NFB of Maryland Bid for Opportunity Scholarship Dinner and Auction - November 16, 2024 - Tickets Now Available! Message-ID: <032f01db234f$1b2093f0$5161bbd0$@nfbmd.org> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND 2024 BID FOR OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP DINNER & AUCTION November 16, 2024 DINNER AND AUCTION TO SUPPORT THE JOHN T. MCCRAW SCHOLARSHIP FUND Cost: $60* Location: College Park Knights of Columbus 9450 Cherryhill Road College Park, MD 20740 Time: Saturday, November 16 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Menu: Fried or baked chicken, grilled salmon, sweet potatoes, Mac and cheese, green beans, salad, rolls, beverage, dessert. Auction for all tastes and budgets, including a table with $10 items. You may pay in three ways: Send check made payable to NFB of Maryland to: 11923 Parklawn Dr #104 Rockville, MD 20852 OR Zelle: President at nfbmd.org OR Use the PayPal button located at: https://nfbmd.org/bidforopportunity *Due to PayPal servicing costs and other administrative handling, tickets purchased online cost $63 per person. For questions and more information, contact: Debbie Brown Debbie Brown (301) 881-1892 We ask those who are not able to attend this event but wish to make a donation to do so by mailing a check to NFBMD, 11923 Parklawn Drive, #104, Rockville, MD 20852, sending a Zelle donation ( President at nfbmd.org), or donating using the PayPal donation button at https://nfbmd.org. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Mon Oct 21 00:36:11 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2024 20:36:11 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Website Down Time This Week Message-ID: <034a01db2351$3a8b6a60$afa23f20$@nfbmd.org> Colleagues, The NFB of Maryland website and databases are expected to be taken offline for a period of time starting the evening of October 23, 2024 so we can implement some major upgrades and facilitate a significant migration. We expect the site will be back up around 5PM, Thursday, October 24, 2024 if all goes smoothly, and if things don't go smoothly within another day or two, but we expect there may be some glitches when we come back online no matter when that is. The down time will include the NFBMD.org website and all associated pages as well as the State Convention Registration and Dues platforms. We can receive Zelle payments but will not be able to receive web-based PayPal or credit card payments for the Bid for Opportunity, Theater Donation Drive, State Convention, or At Large Night at the Theater starting 5PM on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. However, individuals can log into their own PayPal accounts and use the email President at nfbmd.org to send payments manually. The listserves and affiliate email addresses should not be impacted during the website migration. Our Web and Technology Committee will be conducting post-migration testing for remediation, but you can also assist us by sending an email to me if you notice anything isn't working the way it is supposed to, e.g. broken links, missing PayPal buttons, or missing or funky pages, and so on. You should expect some slight variations on the look and feel of the website, but Convention Registration should look and feel the same. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as we implement these necessary upgrades and migrations. Thanks, Ronza 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dj.77genesis at yahoo.com Thu Oct 24 14:53:36 2024 From: dj.77genesis at yahoo.com (Dorothy Norris) Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2024 10:53:36 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] At Large Movie Night In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 26 02:53:35 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (Maryland President) Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2024 22:53:35 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Sad News: JC Message-ID: <05df01db2752$40f7ba20$c2e72e60$@nfbmd.org> Federation Family, It is with a very heavy heart that I share that John Cheadle passed away this morning after an illness. John and his beloved Barbara are founding and lifetime members of the TLC Chapter as well as lifetime members of the Greater Baltimore Chapter. John worked for many years at the National Federation of the Blind, where he served as Executive Director of Buildings and Facilities for 18 years. He also served as an active volunteer with the Maryland affiliate in many roles, including as a driver, a member of the financial audit team, a reader, a builder (he literally built things for us for conventions and meetings), and an auctioneer among many other roles. In fact, John continued to support the Federation as a volunteer for the NFB of Maryland up until his passing. We will share additional information as it is finalized, but here is some preliminary information about services. Grave side service: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 10:00AM Serenity Ridge Cemetery 2406 Ridge Road Windsor Mill, Maryland 21244 Reception: 12:30PM Christian Temple 5820 Edmonson Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21228 John leaves behind his wife and soul mate Barbara, their three children, John, Chaz, and Anna, and countless loved ones and friends. Please keep John and all who love him in your thoughts and prayers. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From president at nfbmd.org Sat Oct 26 19:26:00 2024 From: president at nfbmd.org (President@nfbmd.org) Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:26:00 -0400 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] Sad News: JC In-Reply-To: <05e401db2752$41a908c0$c4fb1a40$@nfbmd.org> References: <05e401db2752$41a908c0$c4fb1a40$@nfbmd.org> Message-ID: <086EDC22-AAF4-4849-80E5-C906040B9895@nfbmd.org> Federation Family, a little more information about the services for John this Wednesday. We will be arranging transportation from the NFB for those who want it. We?re also trying to get a rough count of the number of people who plan to attend the reception so the family can arrange for food. If you plan to attend, please let me know as soon as possible but no later than noon Monday. If you need transportation from NFB, please let both Ellen Ringlein and Me know by noon on Monday. The service will be at the graveside. This particular cemetery is natural, which is consistent with John?s love of the environment. That means that it may be a little difficult to navigate for those with mobility challenges because the pathways are not paved, and their will be a bit of walking up and downhill. There will be some seating, but getting to the graveside may prove a little challenging. The family says it completely understands if people are unable to traverse the cemetery, and everyone is welcome at the reception which is at an accessible facility. Please reach out to me directly with questions. Ronza Ronza Othman, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 443-426-4110 Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 25, 2024, at 10:53?PM, Maryland President wrote: > > ? > Federation Family, > It is with a very heavy heart that I share that John Cheadle passed away this morning after an illness. John and his beloved Barbara are founding and lifetime members of the TLC Chapter as well as lifetime members of the Greater Baltimore Chapter. John worked for many years at the National Federation of the Blind, where he served as Executive Director of Buildings and Facilities for 18 years. He also served as an active volunteer with the Maryland affiliate in many roles, including as a driver, a member of the financial audit team, a reader, a builder (he literally built things for us for conventions and meetings), and an auctioneer among many other roles. In fact, John continued to support the Federation as a volunteer for the NFB of Maryland up until his passing. > > We will share additional information as it is finalized, but here is some preliminary information about services. > > Grave side service: > Wednesday, October 30, 2024 > 10:00AM > Serenity Ridge Cemetery > 2406 Ridge Road > Windsor Mill, Maryland 21244 > > Reception: > 12:30PM > Christian Temple > 5820 Edmonson Avenue > Baltimore, Maryland 21228 > > John leaves behind his wife and soul mate Barbara, their three children, John, Chaz, and Anna, and countless loved ones and friends. Please keep John and all who love him in your thoughts and prayers. > > > > 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 > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From azlotescu at BISM.org Tue Oct 29 11:45:50 2024 From: azlotescu at BISM.org (Anica Zlotescu) Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:45:50 +0000 Subject: [MD-AtLarge] BISM Internship Program: Accepting Spring 2025 Applications Message-ID: Hi everyone, Please see information below about BISM's Internship Program. This is a full-time, in-person paid internship in Baltimore, Maryland, with housing options available. The deadline for Spring Applications is November 1st. Please share this with individuals who are interested! BISM's Internship Program (DEADLINE FOR SPRING: NOV 1, 2024) The BISM Internship Program offers an opportunity to promote real-world experience and mentoring in a supportive environment. In-person internships are available for fall, spring, and summer for approximately 3 to 4 months. Interns will have an opportunity to explore a variety of fields, some of which might include: management, teaching, human resources, and communications, among others. This opportunity is available for prospective and current college students, recent graduates, and adults undergoing career exploration. BISM will work with interns to offer a customizable work experience centered around the intern's areas of interest. This is a paid internship opportunity with housing options available. We are looking for applicants who: * Are comfortable with Microsoft Word and Excel, or willing to learn * Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills * Take initiative appropriately and apply problem-solving skills * Are prompt and professional * Are able to multitask, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously * Feel comfortable working both independently and as a team member * Are passionate about changing what it means to be blind * Exhibit a positive attitude * Are self-driven, eager to learn, and want to be challenged If you would like to apply, please complete the BISM Internship Program Application here. The deadline to apply for the Spring 2025 season is November 1, 2024. You may apply for future seasons as well if desired. With any questions, please contact Juhi Narula at jnarula at bism.org or Anica Zlotescu at azlotescu at bism.org. We look forward to seeing your application soon! Warmly, Anica Zlotescu, M.S. (she/her) Manager of Training & Accessibility Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) 3345 Washington Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21227 (O): 410-737-2656 (C): 240-962-2733 azlotescu at bism.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: