<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Remember our next meeting is June 16<sup>th</sup> at 8pm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Minutes for the At large chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2015<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. via conference call by Sharon Maneki. There were between 15 and 20 people on the call.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Sharon said she and Michelle met with Congressmen Delaney, who represents western MD, in Hagerstown. This was the first time the NFB was able to meet with him in person. They spoke with him concerning the bill to make it illegal for employers to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>On May 12, Sharon, Frank Henry, and others attended a bill signing by the governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan. The bill that was signed will give children more access to orientation and mobility training.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Sharon discussed two pieces of literature available from the NFB and read a portion of them to us. The first was “What is the National Federation of the Blind”. It gives information about the federation for those who may not know about it. The second item was “Do you know a blind person?” It discusses resources the NFB can provide to those who are blind. There is other literature available, and Sharon can send it out to people who want it, but she only wants to send it to people who will do something with it. It is also available on nfb.org in PDF format. Sharon took names of people who want to distribute brochures. We listed places we can leave literature, including doctors’ offices, supermarkets, churches, libraries, public transportation, and fundraising events.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Judy Rasmussen, the chair of our nominating committee, presented names of those nominated for office for the at large chapter. Sharon asked for any other nominations for each office, and no other names were given. Our new officers are:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President: Marguerite Woods <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Vice president: Sandra Burchette <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary: Danielle Shives <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Treasurer: Sharon Maneki <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board members: Dana Diaz and Henry Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Each of the new officers was invited to say a few words. Marguerite said she has gotten to know many of the members of the chapter through communications about meetings and thinks this is a great way for people to keep up with the NFB. She said when she first lost her sight, she didn’t want to “look like a blind person”, but she has met many people through the NFB who have helped her feel more comfortable, gain skills, and build self-esteem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sandra said she is new to the organization but thinks it is great and helps the blind feel more comfortable and shows them they are not alone. She mentioned how our chapter has grown so much in a short time just through word of mouth, and she hopes it continues to grow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Danielle talked about how she was formally part of a short-lived chapter of the NFB in the Hagerstown area but had mostly lost track of the federation until joining this chapter. She agreed that it has been neat to see how this chapter has grown and looks forward to seeing what will happen in the future. Sharon brought up Danielle’s previous participation in the NFB’s Braille Readers are Leaders contests, and Danielle also announced she is looking for employment as either an Elementary or Special Education teacher and has a screening interview scheduled with Washington County Public Schools.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon talked about how the at large chapter doesn’t need much money but does need some, primarily for paying for the service that calls people with the reminders about meetings. The yearly fee for the service was previously $258 which has been covered by a grant, but the grant runs out in August.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dana told us that she lost her sight due to a stroke and was living in North Carolina where no one knew how to help her. She discovered that her home state of Maryland had good services for the blind, so she moved back to take advantage of what was available. She emphasized the importance of advocating for yourself and how you want to be treated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Henry has been blind for a little over a year, and at first, he stayed away from things like the NFB and DORS. He said Sharon Maneki called him and got him involved in some things, and he now wants to do and be involved in everything he can, not only for himself but to help others as well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon emphasized that everyone in the at large chapter is important, whether they hold an office or not. Everyone is needed to make the chapter work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It was announced that national convention will be streamed online for those who are unable to attend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had two new people on the call, and they were invited to tell us about themselves. Several of our members also discovered they live near each other.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There will be no presidential release in June, so our conference call will begin at 8:00.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting ended at 9:00 P.M.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'>Submitted by Danielle Shives<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>