[Mdabs] August Minute Message from the Movement

[nfbmd]

Fellow Federationist:

I have sad news.  We recently lost two members of our Federation family.  

On Monday, August 10, Shirley Morris lost her long, arduous battle with
cancer.  Shirley was battling cancer for decades.  Shirley's email address
was sureshirley.  It is an apt description of her life.  If she gave you her
word, she always kept it.  She exemplified loyalty, dedication and was a
diligent worker in our movement.  For many years Shirley ran registration at
both the National and Maryland Conventions.  I know more about her excellent
work helping the NFB of Maryland. Shirley was a tremendous asset in making
the Maryland Convention run smoothly.  She handled everything from making
room reservations to making sure that the banquet exchange and seating went
smoothly.  Shirley approached every task with graciousness and always
maintained a good sense of humor. Shirley enthusiastically assisted her
husband, Don, in his many activities, especially working with blind vendors
in the Randolph-Sheppard program. Shirley also assisted Don in his many
tasks as chairman of the board of trustees for Blind Industries and Services
of Maryland. We will miss her kindness and fun-loving spirit. There will be
a memorial service for Shirley in Maryland sometime in September. We will
announce details when we have them. 

 

Burnell Brown died suddenly sometime during the weekend of July 24-26.
Burnell was active in both the D.C. and Maryland affiliates. Her death was a
shock because she attended the July Meeting of the Sligo Creek Chapter and
had a great time at our 75th National Convention. Over the years, Burnell
served as both president and treasurer of the Deaf Blind division of NFB.
She was devoted to helping all blind people especially those who also
suffered hearing loss. We will miss her kindness and dedication.   

 

Congratulations to Us. We had three very successful BELL programs and were
able to make a difference in the lives of 24 children. Many thanks to
Melissa Riccobono, our BELL coordinator, and to the many volunteers who
served in Baltimore, Glenn Dale, and Salisbury. See our upcoming newsletter
for more details about these exciting programs. 

 

Many thanks to Steve Brand, his committee, and everyone who attended our
annual Crab Feast. Thanks to our efforts, we will be able to continue to
award college scholarships to students and stipends so that younger students
can attend summer training programs in the skills of blindness. We are
looking forward to our next fundraiser for these programs. 

 

Join us on October 3rd for dinner and our bid for opportunity auction. Time:
6:30-9:30 p.m. Location: College Park Knights of Columbus, 9450 Cherry Hill
Road, College Park 20740. Cost: $30. For more information, go to
www.nfbmd.org or contact Debbie Brown at 301-881-1892. 

 

The convention is coming. Save the weekend of November 13th, 14th, and 15th.
We are going to the Carousel hotel in Ocean City. Make your reservations
today by calling 410-524-1000. The cost of the hotel rooms are as follows:
Standard Room - $83 per night + taxes, Ocean Front Room - $120 per night +
taxes, and 2 Bedroom condo - $175 per night + taxes. Remember, taxes are
10.5% of the cost. Pre-registration information will be available soon. Our
national representative will be the newly elected treasurer of the National
Federation of the Blind, Jeannie Massay from Oklahoma. Come help us
celebrate the past and plan for the future.

 

Action needed. Please contact the White House to let them know it is time to
issue regulations making the internet a public accommodation that is
applicable to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Emails and phone calls
should be directed to Maria Town, the disability liaison at the White House.
The email for the disability office is disability at who.eop.gov, and the phone
number is (202) 456-1212. For further information, read "Time for the White
House to Upload the Internet Regs," at
https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/time-white-house-upload-internet-regs.

 

Calling all those interested in issues faced by people with both hearing
loss and blindness. NFBMD will host a special seminar to exchange
information and ideas on Saturday, September 26th from 10 am-1 pm at the
Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells Street. All are welcome to attend. For
further information, email Janice Toothman at janice.toothman at verizon.net.

 

Save the date. On Wednesday, September 30th at 7 pm, the National Federation
of the Blind will host the One Book One Maryland program sponsored by the
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Baltimore Rowing Club,
and the Maryland Humanities Council. Come to 200 East Wells Street to meet
and listen to a presentation by Daniel Brown. Mr. Brown is the author of The
boys in the boat: nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936
Berlin Olympics. You can download the book from BARD or request it from
LBPH. The book number is DB77138. Don't miss this interesting presentation.
Read below for important dates. 

 

August 20. 9am - 3pm.  Possibilities Fair to be held at BISM, 3345
Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227.  Registration of $20 includes lunch.
Call 410-737-2600.

 

August 22. Back to school picnic sponsored by MDPOBC. For more information
email Melissa Riccobono at mdpobc at nfbmd.org

 

August 29. NFBMD Board of Directors Meeting in Salisbury. Everyone is
invited to attend.

September 26. NFBMD seminar for blind people who also have hearing loss.

 

September 30. Daniel Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans
and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, speaks at the
Jernigan Institute. 

  

October 3.  Dinner and Bid for Opportunity Auction at the Knights of
Columbus, College Park. For the benefit of the John T. McCraw Scholarship
and Youth Empowerment Stipend programs.

 

October 15. White Cane Safety Day.

 

November 13-15.  NFBMD Annual State Convention, to be held in Ocean City,
MD.

 

 

Sharon Maneki, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596

 

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