[Central-MD-Chapter] August 26, 2023 NFB of Maryland Board Meeting and Convention Planning Retreat!
guy kelly
g4keeps at gmail.com
Tue Jul 25 15:01:46 UTC 2023
Hello Ronza,
My wife and I would like to attend the board meeting on Saturday, August
29,2023. I will also have my daughter with me as the weekend of the meeting
is my weekend visit with my daughter.
I would like to pay for 2 lunches for my wife and myself. I have garlic
allergies. I will provide lunch for my daughter.
Guy Kelly and Latisha Kelly
Thank you,
Guy Kelly - 202-286-2610
On Sun, Jul 23, 2023 at 11:40 PM Maryland President via Central-MD-Chapter <
central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Everyone is invited to attend the NFB of Maryland Board of Directors
> meeting and convention planning retreat on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
> Here, in addition to our fall business, we will be planning the state
> convention. We will be meeting at the Convention Hotel, the Delta by
> Marriott Baltimore Hunt Valley located at 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley.
> The meeting will begin at 9:30 and end at 4:00. Lunch will be available
> for purchase for $30. To RSVP, please email me at President at nfbmd.org
> or text me at 708-829-0523. Individuals who plan to attend should let me
> know by August 10, 2023; they should advise whether they intend to purchase
> lunch, whether they have any dietary restrictions, and whether they need
> any reasonable accommodations to participate.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Ronza Othman, *President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>
> 443-426-4110
>
> Pronouns: she, her, hers
>
>
>
> *From:* Maryland President <president at nfbmd.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 28, 2023 8:50 PM
> *To:* 'nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org>; '
> nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org' <nfb-maryland at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmd at nfbnet.org' <
> nfbmd at nfbnet.org>; 'greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org' <
> greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>; 'nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org' <
> nfbmdtlc-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org' <
> central-md-chapter at nfbnet.org>; 'md-atlarge at nfbnet.org' <
> md-atlarge at nfbnet.org>; 'md-sligo at nfbnet.org' <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>; '
> nationalharbor at nfbnet.org' <nationalharbor at nfbnet.org>; 'mabm at nfbnet.org'
> <mabm at nfbnet.org>; 'mdabs at nfbnet.org' <mdabs at nfbnet.org>; '
> mdpobc at nfbnet.org' <mdpobc at nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland, Baltimore
> County List' <md-baltimore-county at nfbnet.org>
> *Subject:* June 2023 Minute Message from the Movement
>
>
> June 2023 Minute Message
>
>
>
> Fellow Federationists:
>
>
>
> We are literally hours away from the NFB 2023 national convention. It
> will be wonderful to be with you all on Zoom and in person as we gather to
> define the future of the organized blind. This month’s newsletter has
> plenty of information about Convention and about some of our other upcoming
> initiatives. Read on for all the important news.
>
>
>
>
> *Get ready for Houston in 2023!*
>
> The NFB 2023 National Convention will take place from July 1 – 6, 2023 in
> Houston, Texas. The convention will take place at the Hilton Americas –
> Houston Hotel, and all rooms at the main hotel and overflow hotel are sold
> out. You may find available rooms at some additional nearby hotels listed
> on https://nfb.org/convention. Preregistration for the convention closed
> May 31, 2023, but on-site registration will be available beginning July 1.
> There is also a virtual convention experience, for which registration is
> free. To register for the virtual experience, go to
> https://nfb.org/convention.
>
>
>
> We can’t wait to see you in Houston!
>
>
> NFBMD Caucus– July 2, 2023 8PM Central
>
> We will be holding the Maryland Caucus in person during the NFB National
> Convention, and it promises to be action-packed. Come to meet the NFBMD
> State Scholarship winners, our National scholarship winners, discuss the
> resolutions that will come before the convention, and so much more! This
> is a very important event, so please plan to attend.
>
>
>
> We will meet from 8 – 10PM on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Room 335A.
>
>
>
> We are going to try to have a virtual option, but since we have little
> control over technology and the Internet in Houston, we’ll do our best but
> no promises. Here’s the information for those wishing to attend virtually,
> but remember this meeting is in the Central Time Zone.
>
>
>
> Click this link to join:
> https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09
>
>
>
> Meeting ID: 624 813 8327
>
> One tap mobile
>
> +13017158592,,6248138327#
>
>
> Support NFBMD By Donating and Then Getting Stuff
>
> We will be accepting donations in Houston at our affiliate table at the
> Exhibit Hall, and members of the affiliate may also be on hand to receive
> donations to NFBMD. In appreciation for donations at a certain level, we
> will offer in appreciation a particular item. You can donate at various
> levels and can combine levels to get more tokens of appreciation. Here’s
> what our menu looks like:
>
> - In appreciation for a donation of $ or more1, you can get a snack or
> the equivalent of one snack for each $1 donation.
> - In appreciation for a donation of $5, you can get a fidget spinner
> or pop-it ball.
> - In appreciation for a donation of $10, you can receive an entire
> back of assorted snacks.
> - In appreciation for a donation of $20, you can receive a clear
> backpack with the NFB of Maryland logo on it. This stadium-approved bag is
> fun and practical, and it even has an outside pocket for your other stuff.
> - In appreciation for a donation of $40, you can get your very own set
> of NFB of Maryland Scrubs, complete with the Maryland crab and NFBMD logo
> on them.
>
>
>
> We’ll also have available the Sorry Try Again raffle, where you can, for a
> dollar per try, win instantly $1, $5, $10, $20, or some delicious mints.
>
>
> Speaking of Donations: Help Us Out With a Zell Donation!
>
> NFB of Maryland is proud to share that we can now accept Zell payments for
> purchases and donations. We encourage donations during the next few months
> in particular, as we have significant programming we need to fund with our
> NFB BELL Academies and John T. McCraw Scholarship Program, among many other
> important initiatives.
>
>
>
> To send a payment via Zell, just use the email address President at nfbmd.org.
> Please notate what the payment is for, e.g. general donation, crab feast
> ticket, etc. in the notes section. If using your bank mobile application
> or online banking, NFB of Maryland will appear when you enter the email
> address. If using the Zell application, please select “personal banking”
> instead of “corporate banking” for the Zell information for NFBMD to appear
> in connection with the email address President at nfbmd.org.
>
>
>
> If you have questions, please contact me at 443-426-4110 or at
> President at nfbmd.org.
>
>
>
>
> 2023 State Convention Theme Contest
>
> Each year, we choose a State Convention theme that is representative of
> our hope, priorities, or expectations for the convention and what comes
> after. Recent themes have included: “Celebrating our Stories, Defining our
> Future,” “Rise Up,” “Focus Forward,” and “Reconnect, Reimagine, Reignite.”
>
>
>
> We use the theme to inform the opening ceremonies, tie together the
> presidential report, and hold seminars and other activities.
>
>
>
> If you have a suggested theme, please call, text, or email it to me by
> June 30, 2023. The person whose theme is chosen will get a free banquet
> ticket for the 2023 state convention.
>
>
>
> Please email me at President at nfbmd.org, text me at 443-426-4110, or call
> me at that number. Please be sure to tell me in your email, texts, or
> voicemail who you are.
>
>
> The BELLs Toll Once Again in Maryland!
>
> The NFB BELL Academy provides children with Braille and nonvisual skills
> instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL
> Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille
> Enrichment for Literacy and Learning®—is a nationwide summer program that
> prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and
> independent blind people who live the lives they want. Activities at NFB
> Maryland BELL are provided in a day program. In addition to Braille crafts,
> games, and other engaging projects, children learn vital independent living
> skills, interact with blind adult mentors, and enjoy field trips to sites
> related to the NFB BELL Academy curriculum. Through these activities and
> interactions, the children learn that blindness or low vision does not
> define them or their future.
>
>
>
> The NFB BELL Academy is appropriate for blind and low vision children ages
> four through twelve who:
>
> - Do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in
> school
> - Could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer
> - Would enjoy connecting with blind role models
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is offering a two-week in
> person NFB BELL Academy session in Baltimore, Maryland, From August 7, 2023
> – August 18, 2023. We are also offering, with the support of the Maryland
> School for the Blind Outreach Department, NFB BELL Academy Southern
> Maryland, a one-week in-person session, in St. Mary’s County from July 17 –
> 21, 2023. We are also holding NFB BELLX, in partnership with Blind
> Industries and Services of Maryland, in Salisbury, from August 7 – 11, 2023
> for older kids. The National Federation of the Blind is also offering one
> three-week virtual program of the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition July 24
> through August 11, 2023, for which options are available for beginner,
> intermediate, and advanced students. Space is limited.
>
>
>
> To register for NFB BELL Academy In Person in Baltimore, NFB BELL Academy
> in person in St. Mary’s County, NFB BELLX in Salisbury, or NFB BELL In Home
> Edition, visit: https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy. For
> questions, contact NFB of Maryland NFB BELL Academy Coordinator Brittany
> Bomboy at 757-969-3724 or by email at Bnbomboy at gmail.com.
>
>
> Crabbing for Student Scholarships
>
> Please purchase your tickets today for the NFB of Maryland Annual Crab
> Feast. This fundraiser supports the John T McCraw Scholarship Program,
> which provides scholarships to blind post-secondary education students.
>
> When:* Friday*, September 15, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
>
> Where: Rosedale Gardens – 8037Philadelphia Road - Baltimore, MD 21237
>
> Tickets are $70 each if purchased before August 31, or $75 afterword’s.
> Children 6 and under are free.
>
> *Special Promotion:* Buy or Sell 25 or more tickets and get your ticket
> *FREE!*
>
> Dancing, 50 / 50 Raffle, Door Prizes, and more.
>
> Menu Includes:
> Steamed Crabs, fried chicken, beef Bar B Que – All You Can Eat!
> Plus a Buffet of Entrees Including Maryland-style crab soup,
> corn-on-the-cob, other sides, salad, fruit, cake…
> Yuengling and Miller beer
> Carbonated Beverages, iced tea, and Coffee
>
> To purchase tickets, visit http://www.nfbmd.org/crabs.
>
> For additional information contact me at (443) 426-4110 or email
> President at NFBMD.org
>
>
>
>
> *Update to NFBMD Policy on In-Person Gatherings *
>
> The NFB of Maryland Board of Directors voted on June 10, 2023 to suspend
> the In-Person Events Policy in light of the end of the COVID-19 Public
> Health Emergency and lack of Federal and state tracking mechanisms as a
> result. Should there be another public health emergency in the future, we
> will review, update, and if appropriate, reinstate this policy.
>
>
> *Remember to Pay Your 2023 Dues! *
>
> NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and
> division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2023 dues as soon as
> possible so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate for the annual
> national membership data call.
>
>
>
> Individuals may use NFBMD’s Dues Portal to pay their 2023 annual dues
> and/or lifetime membership dues for those chapters that have lifetime
> membership. The portal lists all NFBMD chapters and divisions and their
> dues amounts. Individuals may pay for as many chapters and divisions as
> they wish. One dollar will be added to chapter and division annual dues
> amounts for processing those dues payments online. The portal is located
> at http://nfbmd.org/dues. Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to
> their chapter or division treasurer.
>
>
> *NFBMD Advocacy Skills Training Session: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social
> Security*
>
> The Advocacy Committee will present its first offering for 2023 on July 29
> called "Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social Security". We will explore common
> mistakes made by people when applying for benefits, keeping track of SSI
> and SSDI regulations, and what you do when you get a letter from Social
> Security about the dreaded overpayment. At the end of the afternoon you
> will be able to help someone with the basics of Social Security or tell
> them where to go for help. To sign up for this session, please email
> Sharon Maneki at NFBMDSM at gmail.com.
>
>
> *Seeking Blind Veterans *
>
> Do you have all of your benefits? Are you aware of the PACT Act? Do you
> need support as a blind or low vision veteran? Would you find value in
> speaking to other blind and low vision veterans? We’re starting an NFB of
> Maryland group to help us help one another to live the lives we want. We
> will have zoom calls and hopefully in person meetings to bring us together
> for assistance and camaraderie. If you are interested, please send your
> contact information to Guy Kelly, Central MD Chapter at G4keeps at gmail.com
> or 202-286-2610. Like a Swiss Army knife, we reveal our capabilities when
> we open up.
>
>
> *Important Upcoming Dates *
>
> - July 1 – 6, 2023 – NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
> - July 2, 2023 – Maryland Caucus, Houston, Texas and Zoom
> - July 17 – 21, 2023 – In Person NFB BELL Academy, Leonardtown,
> Maryland
> - July 25– August 11, 2023 –NFB BELL Academy In Home Edition, Anywhere
> and Everywhere
> - August 7 – 18, 2023 – In Person NFB BELL Academy, Baltimore, Maryland
> - August 7 – 11, 2023 – In Person NFB BELLX Academy, Salisbury,
> Maryland
> - September 15, 2023 – NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland
> - October 1 – 31, 2023 – Blind Equality Achievement Month
> - October 6 – 8, 2023 – Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main Festival,
> Ellicott City, Maryland
> - October 21, 2023 – NFB Greater Baltimore Chapter Meet the Blind
> Month Activity: Baltimore Running Festival Water Station, Baltimore,
> Maryland
> - November 10 – 12, 2023 – NFBMD Annual Convention, Hunt Valley,
> Maryland
> - December 3 – 10, 2023 – NFBMD Blind Cruising 2023, Bahamas
> - January 18, 2024 – NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
> - January 29 – February 1, 2024 – Washington Seminar, Washington, DC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Ronza Othman, *President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>
> 443-426-4110
>
> Pronouns: she, her, hers
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Central-MD-Chapter at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/central-md-chapter_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Central-MD-Chapter:
>
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>
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