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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m sorry to share that the Delta by Marriott Hotel Baltimore Hunt Valley has notified us that it will be closing at the end of October. As you know, this was our hotel for the 2023 State convention – and it is also where we were contracted to go in 2024 as well. As our NFB of Maryland State Convention is scheduled for November 10 – 12, 2023, we won’t be able to hold the convention at the Delta since it’ll go out of business ten days before we were scheduled to arrive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m working feverishly with Marriott to find an alternate convention location, and the affiliate Board has some contingency plans just in case. I’m sorry I don’t have more to share right now – I was hoping to tell you all what was happening and share our plans for the 2023 State Convention at the same time, but the Delta’s closure hit the news this morning and some of you have reached out to ask questions and express concern.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I expect that I should have something to share soon in terms of our alternate location and/or plans, hopefully within a week. In the meantime, we are keeping the convention registration open and the Financial Assistance Application deadline will not change (it is September 15, 2023). The sponsor and exhibitor deadline is also September 15, 2023, and we don’t anticipate extending those deadlines either. In the event we have to reimagine how we will hold the convention such that costs, the exhibit hall, or sponsorship changes, we’ll engage with those who have submitted applications directly. Those of you who have made hotel reservations don’t have to do anything at this time. We’ll reach out to you directly to explore transferring your reservation once we finalize our alternate plans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is the affiliate Board’s intention to have a convention on November 10 – 12, 2023, our hope is to do so in person in the Baltimore County/City area, and we’re optimistic that we can make it all come together. However, if we can’t find a physical hotel to accommodate us, we have backup plans and backup plans for the backup plans. Please be patient with us while we sort it all out. Please also keep in mind that shifting gears less than 2 months before a big convention like ours is quite a challenge, and it ordinarily takes a year or more to plan for a state convention in Maryland. We’ll be having to redo pretty much everything, from figuring out lodging to space to food to transportation to the agenda to programming – most of which was already done and has to be both undone with the Delta and redone for our new plan once finalized. All that is to say that we’re doing our best in a really tough situation, we won’t know all the answers right away, but we promise the convention will be fun and interesting once the dust settles.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And for criminy’s sake, buy a crab feast ticket or ten! Because that’s still happening this Friday, September 15, 2023, and we have scholarships to fund.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The business and the hope, love, and determination of the Federation continues regardless of what else might be happening in the world!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<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></div></body></html>