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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 20. The National President’s Message will start at 7:30, followed by the meeting at 8pm. Below are the minutes of the September meeting:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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, September 15, 2015<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. via conference call by Marguerite Woods. There were around 15 people on the call. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marguerite reminded everyone about muting their phones to reduce background noise by pressing star 6. You can unmute your phone by pressing star 6 again.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dana Diaz, one of our board members for the at large chapter, recently suffered a stroke. Marguerite spoke with her and said she did not ask for specifics on what was affected but noted she sounded good. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We were joined on the call by Jeannie Massay, who is the treasurer of the NFB, the president of the Oklahoma affiliate, and will be the keynote speaker at our state convention. Jeannie said that with all her roles in the NFB, she feels her most important one is that of a member because she knows that her voice, and everyone else’s, is heard equally. Speaking about state conventions, she shared that she attended her first in 2008 after applying for a scholarship which she did not win. She said she heard Gary Wunder speak at the convention who said that the people of the NFB are not just resources but are more like family. He also spoke about how it is great to be part of something that is so much greater than you are. Jeannie said she found this energizing and wanted to learn more. She also now considers Gary Wunder among her good friends. She said she went in only wanting the scholarship but got a “fantastic result”. She said it is great to be with a group of blind people that understands and supports you in every way possible because they believe in you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie told us she lost her sight as an adult. She shared that she took graduate courses to be a therapist and had 3000 hours with a supervisor. However, when she went to take a test she needed to take, she found it was inaccessible. She did all she knew to do, but nobody wanted to help her. She then contacted the NFB, who threatened to take legal action. She said the accessibility of the test was “no longer an issue” once the NFB got involved. She is now a licensed mental health therapist with her own practice. She specializes in working with children and adults with behavioral disorders such as AD/HD and also does a lot of work with people suffering from anxiety.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ron related to Jeannie’s issues with inaccessibility and said he is having issues with books at the community college he is attending. He is looking into getting e-books. Sharon said that the library for the blind will help him get e-books.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Judy commented that the NFB of Oklahoma has greatly increased their membership. Jeannie said that in 2008, there was only 1 chapter, but there are now 5, and there are plans for more. She said Maryland has done a great job by getting an at large chapter together, and she would like to see the same thing happen in Oklahoma.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marguerite asked if Jeannie had any suggestions for increasing membership, especially for an at large chapter. Jeannie stressed the importance of conversations with people and said a personal touch can mean a lot. She said this allows people to hear the conviction in your voice. She said that we have lost the ability to talk to people because of technology, and the great thing about the at large chapter meeting by conference call is that there are “real people” on the other end of the line.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marguerite asked about ideas for Meet the Blind month, which will be in October. Jeannie said one of the chapters in Oklahoma is planning a White Cane walk and an open house where they will display technology and other useful things for the blind. She said another chapter did a similar thing in the past and had 52 people come, 10 of whom later attended the state convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Judy shared a story about calling an alternate winner of a state scholarship because the original winner was unable to attend convention. She said the alternate had never been to a meeting and had no experience with the NFB, so Judy was not sure she would come, but she immediately said “yes”. Judy said she was amazed at how easy it was to get her to come. Jeannie said they will not all be that easy but, “If you don’t ask, you won’t know”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many members shared their plans for Meet the Blind month. Marguerite will be speaking at the senior center she attends on the first Friday of October and plans to share information about the NFB. Anyone who wants more information about this can contact Marguerite. Ron is participating in an art show on September 25 for people with various disabilities. It was suggested that we see about having someone there to hand out information. Judy and her husband will have a booth at their church’s fall festival, and she is brainstorming ideas for activities she could do that would be different from things she has done in past years. A couple people talked about how they have had stations where they brailled people’s names and agreed this is always well-received. Several people plan to distribute NFB literature in various places and asked Sharon to send them what they need.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The question was asked how one would go about setting up events for Meet the Blind month, such as the white cane walk Jeannie spoke about. Jeanie said that the mayor of the town gives an official proclamation, and there is an article in the local paper which tells about the event and invites anyone who wants to attend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon reminded us of a few upcoming events. On September 30, the author of the book “The Boys in the Boat” will be at the NFB center at 7:00. This event is co-sponsored by the library for the blind and the Baltimore rowing club. There will also be a seminar on September 26 for those who are blind and also dealing with hearing loss. Registration will be a 12:30, and the seminar will be from 1:00-4:00 at the NFB center.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The call ended at 9:00 P.M.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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>