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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First, thank you to each of you who attended, supported, and participated in our 55<sup>th</sup> annual NFB of Maryland annual convention. We had about 300 registrants, which is outstanding during a pandemic. Most of those individuals attended in person, but we had a significant number of folks who attended virtually. It was so nice to be with so many of you in the same physical space and so many others virtually.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So many people were critical to making this convention possible, including our new door prize team, the auction team, the many speakers and seminar facilitators, our IT and AV teams, our zoom hosts, our logistics folks, our registration team, and so so so many others. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will be holding our 2022 convention November 11 – 13, 2022 at the Sheraton Baltimore North in Towson. We can’t wait to see you all there, and in New Orleans for our national convention July 5 – 10 of course.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We held an election at our state convention and have had a few changes to the Board. First, we are extremely grateful to Anil Lewis and Melba Taylor for their service on the Board. They are going to remain active in the affiliate and you won’t see the last of either of them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Board of Directors of the NFB of Maryland is as follows:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President: Ronza Othman, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First Vice President: Debbie Brown, Rockville<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Second Vice President: Dezman Jackson, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary: Judy Rasmussen, Kensington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Treasurer: Jenivieve White, Owings Mills<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Qualik Ford, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Sharon Maneki, Columbia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Garrett Mooney, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Millie Rivera, Halethorpe<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Melissa Riccobono, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board Member: Marguerite Woods, Baltimore<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations to the new Board Members, Qualik Ford and Garrett Mooney.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>