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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>The Convention is the supreme authority of the National Federation of the Blind, and this too is true of the affiliates. One of the most important charges of the membership is to consider and vote on resolutions that come before it; those resolutions become the policy of the organization. Though we will not be having a convention this calendar year, we will be holding a business meeting on November 11, 2023 from 1 – 5PM via Zoom. This Business Meeting will operate in the same way a full convention would have so we can discharge our constitutional duties as an affiliate. To that end, the membership will consider and vote on resolutions, which if adopted, will be come policy of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Individuals interested in submitting resolutions should send them to NFBMD Resolutions Chairperson Chris Danielsen by email at </span><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0563C1'>by November 1, 2023. We have extended the deadline by two weeks in response to the uncertainty created by having to postpone the full convention.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>It is important we consider resolutions this year, as the resolutions the membership adopts often drive our legislative and advocacy priorities for the coming year. We need to finalize those priorities prior to the beginning of the legislative session.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>For questions, please reach out to Chair Danielsen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<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>