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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have learned that due to the delays with postal delivery, many individuals who prefer to register via hard copy form only received their mailed convention bulletin in the last few weeks though we sent them out in late August.  As a result, we are extending the pre-registration deadline through October 22, 2021.  Where possible, please register online or complete and email back the attached registration forms to expedite processing, as who knows how long it’ll take the Postal Service to return completed forms to us.  The link for online registration is below.  The convention bulletin is also attached.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.2in;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'><a href="https://nfbmd.org/convention/register"><span style='color:#0071B3'>2021 NFB of Maryland state convention online registration</span></a>           </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Or copy the below URL into your browser.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfbmd.org/convention/register">https://nfbmd.org/convention/register</a><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 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.2in;margin-left:0in;background:white'><strong><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>Focus Forward!  The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland State Convention is Coming!</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.2in;margin-left:0in;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B;background:white'>Date: November 12 to 14, 2021</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B;background:white'>Place: Holiday Inn Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor, 105 W Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B;background:white'>Make hotel reservations on or before October </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;background:white'>22<span style='color:#3B3B3B'>, 2021 by calling 410-347-5707. Room rates are $94 per night plus tax.</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B;background:white'>Registration on or before October </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;background:white'>22<span style='color:#3B3B3B'>, 2021 = $20 per adult and free for kids 16 and under</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B;background:white'>Registration after October </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;background:white'>22<span style='color:#3B3B3B'>, 2021 = $25 per adult and free for kids 16 and under</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>Meet our keynote speaker and National Representative, Julie Deden, Executive Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>Explore opportunities through special workshops for parents and teachers of blind children, blind merchants and entrepreneurs, and students. Check out our technology workshops and more.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>Examine new products at the exhibit hall on Friday.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6;background:white'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>Help us raise expectations for ourselves and for officials who manage services for the blind.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.2in;margin-left:0in;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;font-weight:inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-size:15.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'>To preregister, visit:</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.2in;margin-left:0in;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#3B3B3B'><a href="https://nfbmd.org/convention/register"><span style='color:#0071B3'>2021 NFB of Maryland state convention online registration</span></a>           </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Or copy the below URL into your browser.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfbmd.org/convention/register">https://nfbmd.org/convention/register</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For information about the convention, including sponsor and exhibitor information, agendas, and seminar and workshop information, please visit <a href="https://nfbmd.org/convention">https://nfbmd.org/convention</a>.  Information will continually be added over the coming weeks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join us for what promises to be a fun-filled and productive weekend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you need assistance registering, please contact me or your chapter president.<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>