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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>I’m so excited to be able to be with you in about ten days at our national convention. I am writing to share information about the NFB National Convention as pertains to Marylanders. Please read to the end of this message.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First, we will be holding a convention orientation for those who are first-timers, those who haven’t attended a convention in a while, and those who just want to kick off the convention with a Maryland-specific event. Those attending virtually and those who just want to come for any reason or no reason are welcome. This orientation will take place via Zoom on Thursday, June 22 from 8 – 9:30PM. Information to access the meeting is below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Click this link to join: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09">https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09</a> <span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Meeting ID: 624 813 8327<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>One tap mobile<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>+13017158592,,6248138327#<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Second, we will hold our Maryland Caucus beginning at 8:00PM on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Room 335A. We are planning to hold the caucus in person only at this time due to logistical and technology challenges. We will talk about resolutions, meet the 2023 academic scholarship finalists – national and state – and much more. Those who want to sit with Maryland at the banquet will also turn in their banquet tickets for Banquet Ticket Exchange. Hope to see you there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Regarding Banquet Ticket Exchange, I’ll accept tickets any time on July 1 and 2. I plan to try to exchange on July 3, so please find me during the Board Meeting, at the Lawyers Meeting, and of course at the Caucus. If you don’t arrive at the convention until later in the week and you want your ticket exchanged, you need to make arrangements with someone else to get your banquet ticket – reach out to me once you know who that person is so I can help you try to get this done and put you on my list. To the extent you already know who you want at your tables of 10, please email me those names so I can start the coordination now. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to coordinate Banquet Ticket Exchange for a large state like ours, and I’m trying to do as much as possible early on rather than having my focus during general session on this instead of the presentations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Remember, having a banquet ticket means you get a seat, but you have to exchange your banquet ticket to get to sit with people you want or know. We don’t have open seating at our banquets. Those who don’t exchange their tickets will be seated wherever space is available and after those who have exchanged are seated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am your point of contact if you have challenges or emergencies during the convention. Please call or text me at 708-829-0523. The number in my signature block is the affiliate phone number and is not a fast way to get in touch with me. Please put my number – 708-829-0523 – into your phone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Individuals with serious medical conditions are encouraged to share relevant information with me so that I can assist in the event of an emergency. I work with those individuals who self-identify to have a medical plan in place, which includes information I can share with emergency response personnel, any instructions about care, the location and names of rescue or emergency medication, emergency contacts and appropriate notification permissions, medication lists, and any instructions pertaining to your particular medical condition. NFBMD will not be providing any care ourselves – we just need to know how you want your care handled and what your instructions to us are in the event of a medical emergency. This information will be kept confidential.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to remind folks about our NFB Code of Conduct, which is also in affect during the Convention and all Federation activities. Please read the Code of Conduct before arriving at or participating in the Convention. The Code of Conduct is located at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct">https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB of Maryland will be accepting donations during the NFB Convention. We very much appreciate the support. We will have an Exhibit Table in the Exhibit Hall. Individuals may receive tokens of appreciation for their donations. Such tokens of appreciation include:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Clear stadium backpacks<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Snack foods<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Fidget spinners<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Pop-its<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>NFBMD Scrubs<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>We will also be holding a raffle in Maryland, but we will have tickets available in Texas as well. This Sorry, Try Again raffle allows an individual who donates $1 to pick a card. The card will reveal whether the individual earned $1, $5, $10, $20, or a piece of candy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>Please visit the Maryland Table at Convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those of you participating in our virtual experience will also have plenty of opportunities for door prizes and other exciting aspects of the convention. I urge you to register for the convention virtual experience by visiting <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">https://nfb.org/convention</a>. That web page will also have information on how to access the convention. I am listing some of those ways below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accessing the Convention virtually:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Zoom: The agenda lists the Zoom links for the General Sessions, Board Meeting, Resolutions, and Banquet.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Smart Speaker: Ask your Amazon device to launch Nation’s Blind to stream the resolutions meeting, general sessions, board meeting, and banquet.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Web link: Visit <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">https://nfb.org/convention</a> for the link to the web stream.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>One Call Number: Maryland will once again provide a single-number conference line for the same sessions that are listed above for streaming. Call 339-209-4083. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>I’m looking forward to spending quality convention time with you all in the coming weeks. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, suggestions, or ideas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><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><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><p class=MsoNormal><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><p class=MsoNormal><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></div></body></html>