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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>It has now been a week since our 2020 Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland adjourned. This was our first virtual convention, and it was incredible. We lived our theme to “Rise up” in numerous ways and highlighted that to “rise up” is in our blood as Federationists. WE will post highlights from the Convention on our website in the coming weeks, so I urge you to visit <a href="http://nfbmd.org">http://nfbmd.org</a> to relive the most memorable activities from our convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though it was our first virtual convention, it was our largest. We had participants access our vents using the main Zoom platform, Newsline, the One Call conference line, smart speaker, and web streaming, with over 750 participants. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our National Representative, Pam Allen, did a tremendous job and engaged with many of you. Our virtual Picnic and a Play was outstanding, and I for one haven’t been able to sleep comfortably since. Our parents, students, seniors, and merchants seminars were fantastic, and our banquet was unparalleled. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This convention was only possible because of the hard work and dedication of 54 individuals (that number is appropriate since this is our 54<sup>th</sup> convention) who handled technology, door prizes, auction, virtual exhibit hall, virtual information table, PAC table, streaming, social media, and all of the thousands of aspects of a convention. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WE held an election, and the following individuals were elected:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>President: Ronza Othman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>First Vice President: Debbie Brown<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Second Vice President: Dezman Jackson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Secretary: Judy Rasmussen<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Treasurer: Jen White<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Board Members:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Anil Lewis<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Sharon Maneki<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Melissa Riccobono<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Millie Rivera<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Melba Taylor<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Marguerite Woods<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Sharon, Melissa, and Millie were elected for two year terms, and Anil was elected for a one-year term which became vacant when Dezman Jackson was elected to an officer position. Congratulations to the NFB of Maryland Board.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>We are incredibly grateful to Shawn Jacobson, who after many years as our affiliate treasurer, is retiring from this role. Shawn has very big shoes to fill, and I am confident that Jen White will do an outstanding job as Shawn’s successor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>The message we learned from our 54<sup>th</sup> Annual Convention is that not even a global crisis will stop the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, that we will protect the rights of Maryland’s blind on routine matters and on those that are unique to a pandemic, and that we will do so with the same tenacity and energy that defines the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Here’s to another 54 years!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Yours in service,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><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>