<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We’ll be holding our annual Day in Annapolis where we meet with all 188 members of the Maryland General Assembly on January 16, 2025. We need all hands on deck. This will be solely an in-person event, and there will be no virtual meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This will be a long day, so please be prepared to do a fair amount of walking, bring any needed medication, have snacks with you or plan to buy them from the cantina, and dress appropriately for meeting elected officials. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need those who plan to participate to RSVP to <a href="mailto:Annapolis@nfbmd.org">Annapolis@nfbmd.org</a> by December 15, 2024. This is a hard date because we need to sign a contract for dinner which has a guaranteed number of individuals and also ensure sufficient transportation resources. Moreover, with Day in Annapolis, Washington Seminar and state Convention all within 30 days of each other, we have to finish logistical planning for Annapolis well in advance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will provide transportation from the NFB for Baltimore-based individuals and from a location to be determined from the DC suburbs. Transportation will leave very early, likely around 6:30AM or earlier. We will have meetings between around 8AM and 4:30PM, and then we will transport folks to our restaurant for dinner and debriefing. We expect people will get back to their pick-up locations between 8:30PM and 9:30PM. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you want to reserve a space on NFB of Maryland transportation, please contact Ellen Ringlein (<a href="mailto:germlish77@gmail.com">germlish77@gmail.com</a>) for Baltimore-based transportation and Debbie Brown (<a href="mailto:deborahb14@verizon.net">deborahb14@verizon.net</a>) for the DC suburbs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will be meeting for dinner after our meetings with the legislature to debrief and report on our success. Each individual will be expected to bring cash for their meal, which will cost $30 including tax and tip.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will host a virtual training session on Monday, January 13 at 7PM via Zoom. We will use our affiliate Zoom number for this training session.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will publish the Fact Sheets in mid-late December on NFB Newsline, the listserves, and the NFB of Maryland website.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please consider joining us on January 16 – this is one way NFB of Maryland changes what it means to be blind of which you are a critical part.<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>