<div dir="ltr"><div>Good Morning,</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Earl Smith</b> (VP - Merchants Division) will attend the October 24th convention planning meeting at the Doubletree in Pikesville. He will not need lodging. I will Zelle funds to you to cover his non-vegetarian lunch. No dietary restrictions, and he will not need reasonable accommodations. </div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent">Earl is copied on this email and his phone number is 202-553-6092. </span><span style="background-color:transparent">Please let us know if you have any questions.</span></div><div> </div><div>Thanks,</div><div><br></div><div>Melba</div><div><br></div><div>__________________________________________</div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#a64d79" face="times new roman,serif" size="3" style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><strong><i>Melba J. Taylor</i></strong></font><font color="#351c75" face="times new roman,serif" size="3" style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><strong><i> </i></strong></font></div><font color="#351c75" face="times new roman,serif" size="3" style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><div style="text-align:left"></div></font><font style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#674ea7" face="arial narrow,sans-serif" size="4" style="color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><strong>Encore Associates, LLC</strong></font><font style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><div style="font-family:"arial narrow",sans-serif;color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><font color="#674ea7" face="arial narrow,sans-serif" style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><b>Phone: 240-381-1637</b></font></div><div style="font-family:"arial narrow",sans-serif;color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><font style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><b><font color="#674ea7" size="2">Email: m.taylor@EncoreAssoc.com </font></b></font></div><div style="font-family:"arial narrow",sans-serif;color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><font style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><b><font color="#674ea7" size="2">Website: </font></b><a href="http://www.encoreassoc.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#674ea7" size="2" style="background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><strong>www.EncoreAssoc.com</strong></font></a></font></div><div style="font-family:"arial narrow",sans-serif;color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align:left"><i><font color="#a64d79" face="arial, sans-serif"><b>"It always seems impossible until it's done" - Nelson Mandela</b></font></i></div><div style="font-family:"arial narrow",sans-serif;color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><font color="#0000ff"><br></font></div></font></div><font color="#351c75" face="arial narrow,sans-serif" style="color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;background-color:rgb(243,243,243)"><p style="text-align:right"><br></p><div style="text-align:left"></div></font><div style="color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:left"><br></div><font color="#0000ff" style="color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium"><p style="text-align:center"><br></p><div style="text-align:left"></div></font><p align="center" style="color:rgb(53,28,117);font-size:medium;text-align:right"><strong><br></strong></p></font><p style="font-size:medium"><br></p><p align="right" style="text-align:left"></p><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#0000ff"><br></font></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Aug 16, 2026 at 11:54\u202fAM president--- via NFBMD <<a href="mailto:nfbmd@nfbnet.org">nfbmd@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-376547714081976290"><div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="m_-376547714081976290WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">We will be holding an NFB of Maryland Board Meeting and the second of two state convention planning retreats on October 24, 2026. This second meeting will be in person at the Doubletree in Pikesville, which is our 2027 state convention hotel; the first convention planning retreat, which will take place September 26, 2026, will be virtual. Please save both dates. We will take a tour of the convention hotel in the morning. We will also hold small group discussions to fine-tune various aspects of the convention. As a result, we hope as many people as possible will come to this meeting.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is the relevant information about the October 24 in person meeting:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Date: October 24, 2026<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Time: 9:00 a.m. \u2013 3:30 p.m.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Location: Doubletree Baltimore North Hotel, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">All are welcome, but chapter and division presidents and committee chairs should definitely plan to attend as well as those responsible for meetings, workshops, or other convention aspects/logistics.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Lunch will be available for purchase for $30. A limited number of sleeping rooms is also available for the nights of October 23 and 24 at the convention rate of $109 plus tax. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are requesting that folks RSVP by October 3, 2026. Please email <a href="mailto:Convention@nfbmd.org" target="_blank">Convention@nfbmd.org</a> with the following information:<u></u><u></u></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Name of attendees<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Whether you need lodging at the hotel (we will work with you to make your sleeping room reservations, but you will need a credit card to secure your room)<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Whether you will buy lunch<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Whether you need a vegetarian meal (the non-vegetarian meal will be chicken)<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Whether you have any dietary restrictions<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Whether you need any reasonable accommodations for the meeting<u></u><u></u></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in">We ask that you pre-pay for your meal by October 3, 2026. You can use the following methods:<u></u><u></u></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Zelle: <a href="mailto:Payments@nfbmd.org" target="_blank">Payments@nfbmd.org</a><u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">PayPal: <a href="http://nfbmd.org" target="_blank">nfbmd.org</a> and use the Donate button (please add $2 if using this method for credit card processing fees)<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Physical check: NFBMD, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1, Baltimore, MD 21230<u></u><u></u></li><li class="m_-376547714081976290MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Cash: You may pay via cash at a local chapter meeting or other activity to Ronza Othman, Debbie Brown, Bre Brown, or Leah Mattern<u></u><u></u></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in">Those outside of the Baltimore area who are interested in shared transportation should reach out to their local chapter president, and arrangements may be possible with sufficient demand. We are not offering shared transportation for those within the Baltimore area. However, our convention hotel is accessible to MTA Mobility and fixed bus routes.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in">For questions, please reach out to me directly at <a href="mailto:President@nfbmd.org" target="_blank">President@nfbmd.org</a>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in">Regards,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in">Ronza<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">R<a name="m_-376547714081976290_WinZmBookmark_z24EE8">onza Othman is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.<u></u><u></u></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Join Zoom Meeting<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=3j1veR63Yr9IbB8Kv0xxaxMCA2tKOb.1&omn=97093137207" target="_blank">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=3j1veR63Yr9IbB8Kv0xxaxMCA2tKOb.1&omn=97093137207</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Meeting ID: 624 813 8327<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Passcode: 63263<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>---<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>One tap mobile<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>+13126266799,,6248138327# US (Chicago)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>+13092053325,,6248138327# US<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>---<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Join by SIP<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>\u2022 <a href="mailto:6248138327@zoomcrc.com" target="_blank">6248138327@zoomcrc.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Passcode: 63263<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Join instructions<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/meetings/97093137207/invitations?signature=nZY-xlnYk_otIjq8m1kSAwuWCeyteuu3CRkFnSdNN_s" target="_blank">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/meetings/97093137207/invitations?signature=nZY-xlnYk_otIjq8m1kSAwuWCeyteuu3CRkFnSdNN_s</a></span><a name="m_-376547714081976290_WinZmBookmarkEnd"></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ronza Othman, </b>President<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">443-426-4110<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pronouns: she, her, hers<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Need to meet with me? <a href="https://calendly.com/president-nfbmd/30min" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Please use this link to schedule through Calendly</span></a>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></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.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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