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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'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>April 2018 Minute Message<o:p></o:p></span></p><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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Fellow Federationists: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>A Big Thank You.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>We had two very successful fundraisers for our NFB BELL Academy programs, youth programs and the John T. McCraw Scholarships. The concert by Melissa Riccobono was excellent. We learned about some of Melissa’s favorite songs and she can definitely make a career of singing if she chooses. The Bid for Opportunity dinner and auction was a successful evening. We enjoyed good food, good friends and bidding on lots of must-have items. This event was sponsored by the Sligo Creek and National Harbor chapters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Progress on Information Access.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Three significant events occurred this month that will bring us closer to achieving our goal of reducing the barriers to information access faced by blind people. <b><br><br></b></span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Maryland General Assembly approved Governor Hogan’s appropriation of $250,000 for the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA) to Education, Public Information, and Commerce. </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Future messages will describe the projects that the CENA will be undertaking in 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>We look forward to better enforcement of the state of Maryland’s Nonvisual Access requirements because of the passage of HB 1088. This bill requires Maryland to adopt the new federal 508 accessibility standards by January 1 of 2020. The bill establishes a civil penalty against vendors who sell inaccessible information technology or information technology services to the state if they refuse to fix accessibility problems that were identified. The penalty for the first offence cannot exceed $5,000, and the penalty for subsequent offences may not exceed $10,000. Having a civil penalty is an important precedent in the enforcement of Nonvisual Access laws.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>On April 18, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the Marrakesh Treaty. This is an important step in gaining ratification of this treaty by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. This treaty will provide greater access to the printed word for blind people throughout the world by allowing countries to exchange accessible formats of books. Many thanks to everyone who worked diligently to achieve these three objectives, which will reduce information barriers. We are hoping that Governor Hogan will sign HB 1088 and that U.S. Senate will ratify the Marrakesh Treaty soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Do Good with Burritos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Join us at Chipotle for a fundraiser to support Maryland Association of Blind Students. Just come in to the 300 West Pratt Street location in Baltimore on Sunday, May 6<sup>th</sup> from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Tell the cashier that you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Maryland Association of Blind Students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Two Important Deadlines.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Be sure to turn your money and raffle stubs in so that you may begin to win $50 Sunday through Friday or $100 on Saturday, starting on May 1<sup>st</sup>. If you did not get a $5 raffle ticket yet, contact your chapter president or Melissa Riccobono. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Are you ready for the National Convention, July 3 – 8 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel? Did you make your hotel reservation yet? Remember to preregister and purchase a banquet ticket by going to <a href="https://convention.nfb.org/">https://convention.nfb.org/</a>. Preregistration closes on May 31<sup>st</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Important Dates for 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>May 6 – Chipotle Fundraiser, 4pm – 8pm. Maryland Association of Blind Students. 300 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>June 2 – Board of Directors Meeting, 9:30am. The location is Carroll Lutheran Village, 300 St. Luke’s Circle, Westminster, MD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>June 3 – 6-K Dot Dash for Braille Literacy, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>June 9- The Maryland Parents of Blind Children seminar “Family to Family Connections.” Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>June 23- <span style='color:black'>MABM Networking Mixer, 3pm-6pm. FLAVOR Restaurant, 15 East Centre Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>July 3-8 – NFB National Convention, Orlando, FL.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>July 16-27– NFB Bell Academy in Salisbury, MD. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>July 29 – August 4 – NFB EQ for blind high-school students. Go to </span><a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>July 30-August 10 – NFB Bell Academies in Baltimore and Glenn Dale, MD. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>August 4 – Annual Crab Feast, Columbus Gardens, Baltimore, MD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>November 9-11 – Annual State Convention, Carousel Hotel, Ocean City, MD. <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><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>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</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>