Fellow Federationists:
It’s time to register for the NFBMD Convention
Save money and pre-register for the convention now. You will not want to miss this action packed event during the weekend of November 10-12 at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204. You will be receiving a print registration form and announcement in your mailbox soon. You may pre-register either by mail or online. For online registration go to:
nfbmd.org/convention/register
You must pre-register by October 15. Don’t forget to call and make your hotel room reservation. Please call 410 321-7400 by October 13.
Convention Sneak Preview
Friday at the convention will be filled with special interest meetings, workshops on technology, tips to get in shape, and fun and fellowship. This year we will hold a special seminar about maintaining independence for seniors and others who are relative newcomers to low vision. The seminar will be on Friday from 9:30 – 2:00 followed by a chance to play Bingo and win prizes from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The Bingo will be sponsored by BISM.
Parents will have special activities highlighting the orientation and mobility skills that blind children need to be successful. The Maryland Association of Blind Students and the Maryland Association of Blind Merchants will also hold sessions to share information of particular interest to these groups.
The holidays are always a time to entertain guests and to think of interesting gifts for yourself or for others. Our Friday afternoon ‘Accessible technology around the house’ workshop will help you solve these holiday challenges and more. Find out about Google and Amazon products and tools such as Insta-pot and iGrill. Be sure to include a visit to the exhibit hall between 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Friday. This is your chance to learn about services for the blind and browse offerings from the NFB Independence market and many other vendors.
deborahb14@verizon.net or call 301-881-1892. Who knows this may be your start of a new career! Don’t miss the NFBMD carnival. Try your hand at talking darts, accessible computer games, and good old-fashioned board games. Plan your winning strategies while enjoying snacks.
Everette Bacon, a member of the National Board of Directors and President of the NFB of Utah will serve as our National Representative. Everette’s speech at our Saturday evening banquet is sure to be one of the highlights of the convention. To learn more about Everette Bacon consult the fall edition of the Braille Spectator which will be at www.nfbmd.org and on the listservs soon.
Don’t miss the 51st convention. Help us to celebrate service to country and service to the Federation.
Special opportunity for parents of blind children
As you know, NFB and the Maryland School for the Blind are jointly sponsoring The Braille Literacy in the 21st Century Conference on October 19-20. The conference will be held at the Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. We are able to offer parents of blind children the opportunity to attend this conference on October 20. Parents will learn about how to choose appropriate technology tools for Braille access, promote recreational reading in Braille, and how to help your child achieve tactile graphics fluency. If you want to register for this event send an email to Sharon Maneki at nfbmd@earthlink.net.
Did you sign up for the Braille literacy for life contest yet?
Did you learn Braille when you were over the age of eighteen? Would you like to win money while improving your Braille reading speed and skill? For further information or to register contact Ellen Ringlein at greaterbaltimore@nfbmd.org. You will be provided with a mentor who can help you find books or magazines to read, or read with you. It is most appropriate that the contest will end on Louis Braille’s birthday; January 4, 2018. Register and start reading today!
Networking opportunity for blind merchants and entrepreneurs
Are you thinking about going into business for yourself? Do you want to find out about the Maryland Business Enterprise Program? Are you already in business but interested in getting more customers or gaining a new perspective? Experience good food and good company at the networking mixer sponsored by the Maryland Association of Blind Merchants.
- Date: September 29, 2017.
- Time 6:00 – 9:00 pm.
- Place: Peter’s Pour House at 111 Mercer Street in Baltimore, Maryland (main entrance is on Water Street).
For further information or to register contact Melba Taylor at m.taylor@encoreassoc.com.
Meet the blind month is coming
strong>October is meet the blind month. All of our local chapters are planning events. Be sure to go to www.nfbmd.org and look at the “Around the State” calendar for a list of these events. Keep checking the website because new events are being added regularly.
“Do You Dream in Color?” Coming soon
Keep consulting www.nfbmd.org to find screenings in your area of the “Do You Dream in Color?” movie. This documentary is the coming-of-age story of four courageous blind high school students as they strive to prove that their disability will not hold them back from achieving their dreams. This movie will appeal to people of varying backgrounds. It demonstrates adapting to, and overcoming, challenges – something that everyone encounters throughout life.
Important dates
- September 2017. Braille Reading Contest for Adults begins. For more information contact Ellen Ringlein at greaterbaltimore@nfbmd.org
- September 29, 2017. Networking mixer at Peter’s Pour House at 111 Mercer Street in Baltimore, Maryland. For more information contact Melba Taylor at m.taylor@encoreassoc.com
- October 1-31, 2017. Meet the Blind Month.
- October 5, 2017. Diabetes Conference Call, 7 pm. Call 641-715-3272. The access code is 720125#.
- October 15, 2017. National White Cane Safety Day.
- October 19-20, 2017. Braille Literacy in the 21st Century Conference, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Register at https://nfb.org/events/brl-literacy-registration
- November 10-12, 2017. Annual State Convention, Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson, Maryland. Register at nfbmd.org/convention/register