[NFBMD] NFB National Convention - Orientation, Caucus, and More!

Mon Jun 19 23:11:28 UTC 2023

Hi Everyone,

I'm so excited to be able to be with you in about ten days at our national
convention.  I am writing to share information about the NFB National
Convention as pertains to Marylanders.  Please read to the end of this
message.

First, we will be holding a convention orientation for those who are
first-timers, those who haven't attended a convention in a while, and those
who just want to kick off the convention with a Maryland-specific event.
Those attending virtually and those who just want to come for any reason or
no reason are welcome.  This orientation will take place via Zoom on
Thursday, June 22 from 8 - 9:30PM.  Information to access the meeting is
below.

Click this link to join: 

https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09  

Meeting ID: 624 813 8327

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,6248138327#

Second, we will hold our Maryland Caucus beginning at 8:00PM on Sunday, July
2, 2023 in Room 335A.  We are planning to hold the caucus in person only at
this time due to logistical and technology challenges.  We will talk about
resolutions, meet the 2023 academic scholarship finalists - national and
state - and much more.  Those who want to sit with Maryland at the banquet
will also turn in their banquet tickets for Banquet Ticket Exchange.  Hope
to see you there.

Regarding Banquet Ticket Exchange, I'll accept tickets any time on July 1
and 2.  I plan to try to exchange on July 3, so please find me during the
Board Meeting, at the Lawyers Meeting, and of course at the Caucus.  If you
don't arrive at the convention until later in the week and you want your
ticket exchanged, you need to make arrangements with someone else to get
your banquet ticket - reach out to me once you know who that person is so I
can help you try to get this done and put you on my list.  To the extent you
already know who you want at your tables of 10, please email me those names
so I can start the coordination now.  It takes a tremendous amount of time
and effort to coordinate Banquet Ticket Exchange for a large state like
ours, and I'm trying to do as much as possible early on rather than having
my focus during general session on this instead of the presentations.

Remember, having a banquet ticket means you get a seat, but you have to
exchange your banquet ticket to get to sit with people you want or know.  We
don't have open seating at our banquets.  Those who don't exchange their
tickets will be seated wherever space is available and after those who have
exchanged are seated.

I am your point of contact if you have challenges or emergencies during the
convention.  Please call or text me at 708-829-0523.  The number in my
signature block is the affiliate phone number and is not a fast way to get
in touch with me.  Please put my number - 708-829-0523 - into your phone.  

Individuals with serious medical conditions are encouraged to share relevant
information with me so that I can assist in the event of an emergency.  I
work with those individuals who self-identify to have a medical plan in
place, which includes information I can share with emergency response
personnel, any instructions about care, the location and names of rescue or
emergency medication, emergency contacts and appropriate notification
permissions, medication lists, and any instructions pertaining to your
particular medical condition.  NFBMD will not be providing any care
ourselves - we just need to know how you want your care handled and what
your instructions to us are in the event of a medical emergency.  This
information will be kept confidential.

I want to remind folks about our NFB Code of Conduct, which is also in
affect during the Convention and all Federation activities.  Please read the
Code of Conduct before arriving at or participating in the Convention.  The
Code of Conduct is located at:

https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct

The NFB of Maryland will be accepting donations during the NFB Convention.
We very much appreciate the support.  We will have an Exhibit Table in the
Exhibit Hall.  Individuals may receive tokens of appreciation for their
donations.  Such tokens of appreciation include:

*	Clear stadium backpacks
*	Snack foods
*	Fidget spinners
*	Pop-its
*	NFBMD Scrubs

We will also be holding a raffle in Maryland, but we will have tickets
available in Texas as well.  This Sorry, Try Again raffle allows an
individual who donates $1 to pick a card.  The card will reveal whether the
individual earned $1, $5, $10, $20, or a piece of candy.

Please visit the Maryland Table at Convention.  

Those of you participating in our virtual experience will also have plenty
of opportunities for door prizes and other exciting aspects of the
convention.  I urge you to register for the convention virtual experience by
visiting https://nfb.org/convention.  That web page will also have
information on how to access the convention.  I am listing some of those
ways below.

Accessing the Convention virtually:

*	Zoom: The agenda lists the Zoom links for the General Sessions,
Board Meeting, Resolutions, and Banquet.
*	Smart Speaker: Ask your Amazon device to launch Nation's Blind to
stream the resolutions meeting, general sessions, board meeting, and
banquet.
*	Web link: Visit https://nfb.org/convention for the link to the web
stream.
*	One Call Number: Maryland will once again provide a single-number
conference line for the same sessions that are listed above for streaming.
Call 339-209-4083. 

I'm looking forward to spending quality convention time with you all in the
coming weeks.  Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions,
suggestions, or ideas.

Thanks,

Ronza

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

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

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

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

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