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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Governor Hogan issued the below proclamation to commemorate White Cane Awareness Day. In addition, each of the 24 jurisdictions have also issued White Cane Awareness Proclamations. The NFB of Maryland decided to try to get a proclamation from every single Maryland jurisdiction, and due to the hard work of every single chapter and division, we succeeded. This was particularly important this year, as with COVID-19 public health restrictions we aren’t able to be as visible in the community as usual.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Proclamation </span></b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY </span></i></b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>OCTOBER 15, 2020 </span></i></b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="14%" style='width:14.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHEREAS, The white cane, which every blind citizen of our country has the right to carry, demonstrates and symbolizes the ability to achieve a full and independent life and the capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="14%" style='width:14.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHEREAS, The white cane, by allowing every blind person to move freely and safely from place to place, makes it possible for the blind to fully participate in and contribute to our society and to live the lives they want; and <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="14%" style='width:14.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHEREAS, Every citizen should be aware that the law requires that motorists and cyclists exercise appropriate caution when approaching a blind person carrying a white cane; and <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="3%" style='width:3.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="14%" style='width:14.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHEREAS, Maryland law also calls upon employers, both public and private, to be aware of and utilize the employment skills of our blind citizens by recognizing their work as individuals and their productive capacities; and <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="3%" style='width:3.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="14%" style='width:14.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>WHEREAS, The State of Maryland, through its public agencies and with the cooperative assistance of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, can and should facilitate the expansion of employment opportunities for and greater acceptance of blind persons in the competitive labor market. <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="1%" style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, do hereby proclaim OCTOBER 15, 2020 as WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY in Maryland, and commend this observance to all of our citizens. <br><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="3%" style='width:3.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="97%" style='width:97.0%'><tr><td width="43%" rowspan=5 valign=top style='width:43.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="57%" colspan=6 valign=top style='width:57.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="12%" style='width:12.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>15th </span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>day of <b>October <br><br></b></span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="18%" style='width:18.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="12%" style='width:12.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td width="22%" valign=top style='width:22.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" valign=top style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="4%" valign=top style='width:4.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="2%" valign=top style='width:2.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="17%" valign=top style='width:17.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="10%" valign=top style='width:10.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="22%" valign=top style='width:22.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New 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style='width:22.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" valign=top style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="4%" valign=top style='width:4.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="2%" valign=top style='width:2.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="17%" valign=top style='width:17.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="10%" valign=top style='width:10.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="22%" valign=top style='width:22.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="1%" valign=top style='width:1.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="4%" valign=top style='width:4.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="19%" colspan=2 valign=bottom style='width:19.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>,9Lteky 949L4 </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="10%" valign=top style='width:10.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>OCR in progress. Please wait for additional content.<o:p></o:p></span></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></div></body></html>