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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>January 2015 Minute Message from the Movement<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fellow Federationists, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Happy New Year! January is turning out to be a jammed packed month of activities for the NFBMD. First, I want to congratulate our Sligo Creek chapter for promoting Braille awareness and commemorating the birthday of Lewis Braille on January 4<sup>th</sup> at the Rockville Public library. Congratulations are also in order to Tom Bickford. Check out the January Braille Monitor to read Tom’s speech given at the 2013 NFBMD convention. Congratulations to Desmond Jackson who appeared in the Baltimore city paper describing the BISM Rehabilitation Program. Chris Nusbaum was featured in an article in the December 15<sup>th</sup> edition of <i>Wired</i> magazine. You will be able to read these articles in the Braille Spectator when it comes out next month. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>You are in for a real treat when you go to <a href="http://www.nfbmd.org">www.nfbmd.org</a>. To commemorate the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of our parent organization, the National Federation of the Blind, we have the audio of the panel presentation by Dr. Maurer, Mary Ellen Jernigan, and President Riccobono at our 2014 convention. We also have the audio of Tom Bickford’s recollections of his journey in the Federation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>The spring raffle is coming! January is reserve your special three digit number from 000-999. If you have a favorite number and want to reserve it for the drawing in May, contact Melissa Riccobono at <a href="mailto:melissa@riccobono.us">melissa@riccobono.us</a>. Reserved numbers are not final until you pay the $5 per number. In February, March, and April, we hope you will sell or purchase random numbers. When you purchase one number, you have 31 chances to win. The drawings take place in May. Let’s sell all 1,000 tickets! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>We need a large turnout for Annapolis Day on Thursday, January 22<sup>nd</sup>. Tell your chapter president if you can attend and he/she will work out transportation. If you are not yet in a chapter and want to attend, send an email to me at <a href="mailto:nfbmd@earthlink.net">nfbmd@earthlink.net</a>. Look for the issue discussion documents, late in the week of January 19<sup>th</sup>, at <a href="http://www.nfbmd.org">www.nfbmd.org</a>. Go to “Current Advocacy Issues.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>I look forward to seeing many of you at the 5<sup>th</sup> Anniversary celebration of the founding of the National Harbor chapter on January 24<sup>th. </sup> President Riccobono will be the keynote speaker. There will be food, music, and dancing. For more information, contact Michelle Clark at <a href="mailto:mcikeyc@aol.com">mcikeyc@aol.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Plan to be in Washington DC on January 26<sup>th</sup> and January 27<sup>th</sup>. There will be many NFB activities including the 5pm meeting on January 26<sup>th</sup> at the Holiday Inn at the Capitol, 550 C Street, Southwest. On Tuesday, January 27<sup>th</sup>, we will be meeting the Maryland Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill. Remember, there will be a reception from 3 to 5pm to celebrate the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the NFB in Rayburn B339. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Other Important Dates:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jan 24 – 24-hour Polar Bear Plunge. Mike Gerlach, a member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter, will be raising money for Special Olympics. If you can help him, go to <a href="http://insightondisability.com/">http://insightondisability.com/</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Feb 7 – Braille Challenge for students K-12; there will also be parent activities. This event takes place at Maryland School for the Blind. The snow date, if needed, is February 21<sup>st</sup> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Feb. 28 – Goalball Clinic in Baltimore (for more information, email <a href="mailto:mdgoalball@gmail.com">mdgoalball@gmail.com</a>)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mar. 13 – Basket Bingo (for tickets and further information call 410-715-9596) Over $3,500 in prizes! All baskets filled!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mar. 22 – an afternoon of musical inspiration to be held at Pikesville International Seventh-Day Adventist Church (4619 Old Court Road Pikesville, Maryland 21208). This event will benefit NFBMD Youth Programs. For further questions or information send an email to <a href="mailto:AAOMI2015@gmail.com">AAOMI2015@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mar. 26-27 – Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mar. 31 – Deadline for National Scholarship applications. For applications go to: <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships">https://nfb.org/scholarships</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Apr. 11 – UEB Workshop, sponsored by NFBMD and ACBMD, to be held at LBPH. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Apr. 15 – Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship applications. For applications go to: <a href="http://nfbmd.org/drupal/scholarship">http://nfbmd.org/drupal/scholarship</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>April 18 – Bowl-a-thon to benefit Maryland Parents of Blind Children. Get your team ready to bowl from 2-4pm. For more information, contact Teresa Graham at <a href="mailto:teresagraham3@gmail.com">teresagraham3@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>June 7 – Third annual Dot Dash 6k. Run or walk for Braille literacy. Race begins at 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jul. 5-10 – 75<sup>th</sup> Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Aug. 7 – Crab Feast to be held at Columbus Gardens (<span style='color:black'>4301 Klosterman Ave Baltimore, MD 21236). </span>For the benefit of the John T. McGraw Scholarship. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nov. 13-15 – NFBMD Annual State Convention, to be held in Ocean City, MD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>