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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have just returned from our 82<sup>nd</sup> NFB National Convention, and it was epic. I hope you felt as rejuvenated and energized by the convention as I did. It was so amazing to be with each of you in New Orleans, and I honestly didn’t realize how much I needed the in person connection for my own mental health and morale.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For me, some of the highlights of the convention included the resolutions process, which sets our policies as an organization, the passing of the constitutional amendment that is trauma informed and ensures due process, the presidential report that highlights our work the last year and brings home how much our work influences the world, the banquet, the banquet address which inspires and invigorates, the scholarship finalists who remind us that our future is so bright, the roll call of states where we hear about our sister affiliates and I get to brag about all of you, and so many more. My favorite part of the convention is being able to connect with all of you and thousands of Federationists from all over the world, and I am one of 52 lucky people who even have an assigned seat during the convention so it is easy to find me. I’d love to hear what your favorite moments were at convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m very grateful to the Louisiana affiliate for putting on an incredible convention. As many of you doubtlessly remember from Maryland hosting the convention in 2021, it is a ton of work, it is thankless, and it is exhausting to be the host. But the rewards and energy from hosting is unparalleled. If you think of it, please sent Pam Allen an email sharing your gratitude and appreciation for all that she and the Louisiana Crew did to make this convention amazing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Relatedly, we are fortunate to have in our delegation most of the staff of the National Center for the Blind. I found myself once again in absolute awe at how effortlessly they made running a convention appear. Of course it is far from effortless, and they too are doubtlessly exhausted. Think about it: they manage and implement our technology, from microphones to streaming to video to music and so on; they coordinate registration, packet pick-up, banquet sales, banquet ticket exchange; they handle room setup, assignments, and logistics; they literally pack up the independence market and materials center, transport them across the country, unpack them, and set them up in the convention, and then they reverse the process; they design and implement the agenda, the crowd compass app, the web presence, the social media, the press engagement; they manage the exhibit hall, with hundreds of vendors and sponsors; they solicit and engage sponsors so we can pay for it all; they troubleshoot, they respond to emergencies, they pitch in wherever they are needed. This year, they administered oh so many COVID-19 tests, enforced testing requirements and masking, and reacted to quickly isolate those who were positive to limit the spread. They did all of this and so much more while actively participating in the convention as members. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>John Berggren and the staff are always amazing, but this convention, in my view, they rose to truly heroic levels. Please take the time to thank a staff member when you get the opportunity. They literally made this convention possible and undertook thousands of tasks, big and small throughout not just this week but in the year leading up to it – and in the months following.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m also sorry to share that in spite of significant and effective precautions, several of our members contracted COVID-19. Everyone appears to be doing well with mild or moderate symptoms. I am keeping a list of anyone from the Maryland delegation who contracted the virus and attempting contact tracing to the extent possible. If you are comfortable sharing, please reach out to me privately to let me know if you contracted COVID-19. You can text, call, or email me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now that we are home, and having absorbed all the amazing aspects of convention, we turn to our next significant set of activities. We are just 10 days away from the NFB BELL Academy in Baltimore. We are three weeks away from the 2022 Crab Feast. We are less than a month away from the NABS Mid-Atlantic Seminar, which we are cohosting with NABS. We are just a few short months away from Blind Equality Achievement Month, where our chapters will be active in the community spreading positive philosophy on blindness. And, we are 120 days away from our NFB of Maryland State Convention. And, we have so many other activities, events, and gatherings between now and then at the chapter and division level. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am grateful to you all for your membership, your participation, your support, and your love. Let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind.<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>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><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>