<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello All,</div><div><br></div><div>The next meeting of the at large chapter is tomorrow, February 21st. The national president's message begins at 7:30 and the meeting is from 8-9 PM. We will be discussing Annapolis issues and will be talking about travel since the travel season is coming up. We are having a fundraiser that you won't want to miss. The calling number is 339-209-4083. Here are the minutes from last month's meeting. <br></div><div><br></div><div>



















<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" align="center">NFBMD At Large
Chapter Meeting Minutes for January 17, 2023<span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The presidential release was played at 7:30 Pm. <span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The meeting was started at 8:00 PM by Marguerite Woods,
President.<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Round robin took place. Everyone announced themselves, said
where they are located in the state, and answered the question what is your
favorite song or favorite type of music.<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Approximately 20 members on the call. <span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Charles led Harvey in the NFB pledge. <span></span></p>

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<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sharon spoke about the week in Annapolis from January 19^th
through the 26th. The <span style="color:black">four priorities are:</span><span></span></p>

<ul style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin:0in 0in 0.2in;line-height:normal;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span>Implementing an electronic ballot return system for
     voting<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin:0in 0in 0.2in;line-height:normal;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span>Expanding housing protections to include retired guide dogs.
     <span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin:0in 0in 0.2in;line-height:normal;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span>Ensuring the availability of accessible prescription
     drug labels <span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span>Ensuring funding in the budget for the Center for
     Excellence in Non-visual Access<span></span></span></li></ul>

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<p style="background:white;margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Sharon
also spoke about Washington Seminar, which is <span> </span>January 30^th. The three issues that
will be discuss are: </span><span></span></p>

<p class="gmail-xmsolistparagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:105%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:105%;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">       
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act</span><span style="color:black"><span></span></span></p>

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</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act </span><span style="color:black"><span></span></span></p>

<p class="gmail-xmsolistparagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:105%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:105%;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">       
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Blind Americans Return to Work Act </span><span style="color:black"><span></span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Marguerite announced that Chapter Dues will be $6 if you pay
through PayPal. <span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Marguerite, Sharon, and Judy shared what they learned from
the MD state leadership conference that they attended on January 13^th
and 14^th. <span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. <span></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Respectfully Submitted by Danielle Earl, Secretary <br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br><span></span></p>





</div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">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.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div>