Fellow Federationists:
Happy New Year! May 2019 bring each of you and the Federation great happiness and success.
Annapolis Begins
The 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly began on January 9, and there were more than 60 new legislators at the Capitol this session. We visited all 188 Delegates and Senators early in the legislative session. Many thanks to the more than 65 people who attended this function. This year we hope to restore the secret ballot to disabled voters by ensuring a single voting system for all; establish regulations for electronic/Dockless scooters; and protect the $250,000 appropriation in the Governor’s budget for the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA) to Education, Public Information, and Commerce. You may read the fact sheets about each issue by visiting https://nfbmd.org/legislative/2019 and or on the Information Channel on Newsline.
Washington Issues
On January 29, Maryland will join Federationists from throughout the country on Capitol Hill to let Congress know about the priorities for blind Americans. The three issues that we will discuss are: cosponsoring the Access Technology Affordability Act; cosponsoring the Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology Act; and cosponsoring the Disability Employment Act. You may read the Washington Seminar fact sheets by visiting r or on Newsline. The Great Gathering In will take place at 5:00PM on Monday, January 28, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Capitol. Maryland will be visiting our Congressional Delegation on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, and there will be a reception for Congressional members beginning at 5:00PM at the hotel. If you plan to attend the Great Gathering In, the Congressional meetings, the Reception, or all of the above, please let Ronza Othman know by emailing President@nfbmd.org.
Basket & Bag Bingo is coming
Would you like to win over $4,000 in prizes? Would you like to play 23 games of BINGO? Snacks and raffles will also be available. Buy your tickets early because we always sell out.
We are busy arranging and filling baskets and procuring bags (purses). We need financial contributions to help with these purchases. Please let us know whether you would like to sponsor a basket or bag for $100. All contributions of any amount are welcome. You may also purchase your ticket for $25. Please contact Sharon Maneki at NFBMD@earthlink.net for more information.
Win Prizes for Reading – and Support the Library at the Same Time!
Want to earn prizes for reading? Want to help your library compete for a $35,000 cash prize? The Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) is participating in the second annual reading challenge, which takes place between January 1 and 31, 2019. There are still a few more days in the contest, so get to reading! Sponsored by Mark Cuban, of Shark Tank Fame, top performing libraries could receive a cash prize of up to $35,000! Think of what that could do for the community – and how many Braille books Maryland LBPH could acquire and audiobooks they could produce and duplicate. Our library has exceeded its original goal of 50,000 minutes and has raised that goal to $150,000 minutes. Many of you are already avid readers, so you can be entered to win prizes for something you already do. And those who aren’t, well, in honor of Louis Braille’s birthday month, perhaps you could spare some time for a good book.
To register for the contest and to track minutes read, visit https://marylandlbph.beanstack.org.
NFB RideShare Testing Program
We still need your help. If you use a service animal or are accompanying someone who does, please fill out a short form about your experience each time you use Uber or Lyft. In Maryland, we have to complete a certain number of surveys each year. You can submit a survey for every trip you took, so please look back at your ride history and do this if you haven’t already done so. Please go to https://nfb.org/rideshare-test or use the NFB Connect app (instructions below) to complete the survey. Please give us information about both good and bad experiences. Spread the word, we need information from every blind person whether they are a member of NFB or not. Ashley Alvey is the Maryland coordinator for this program. If you have questions email her at ashleyalvey1994@gmail.com.
NFB Connect App instructions for Rideshare Survey
- On the top left corner of the screen, you will find a button that says, Menu button. Double tap Menu.
- After double tapping on menu, at the top left corner of the screen, you will see Home.
- Swipe to the right once and you will see Fast Facts. Double tap Fast Facts.
- You will swipe right until you see, Rideshare Survey. Double tap Rideshare Survey.
- Lastly, swipe to the right. When you see First Name, this is where the form begins and this is where you put in the information for the survey.
NFB and NFBMD Scholarship Programs
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for post-secondary students. The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship is March 31, 2019, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April 15, 2019.
- National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based scholarships totaling at least $120,000. Scholarships range in amount from $3,000 to $12,000.
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and community service.
- The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and attend the National Convention, where they are awarded a specific scholarship.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by 11:59PM on March 31, 2019.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be legally blind in both eyes;
- Reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;
- Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the Fall of 2019 (one scholarship may be awarded to an individual who works full-time and attends school part-time); and
- Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind (and all scholarship activities) in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 7 through 12, 2019 (scholarship finalists will o receive convention assistance).
- To apply:
- o Submit an application using the online application system at https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login; or
- o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by visiting: https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program.
- State Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB of Maryland awards the John T. McCraw Scholarship to two students in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,500 each. NFBMD may award a third scholarship to a former McCraw scholarship recipient.
- - Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and community involvement.
- - Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by 11:59PM on April 15, 2019.
- - To be eligible, applicants must:
- o Be legally blind in both eyes;
- o Be a legal resident of Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at a school in Maryland;
- o Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program in the Fall of 2019; and
- o Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 7 through 12, 2019 and the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland from November 8 – 10, 2019 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).
- - To apply:
- o Submit an application using the online application system at http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply; or
- o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by visiting: http://nfbmd.org/scholarship.
Do you feel lucky?
The NFBMD spring raffle is underway. During the month of May, you have the opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday. Purchase a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $5. You will be the only one who has this number. Between now and February 10, you may request a specific number from Melissa Riccobono and pay the $5. You might want to request your birthday, your anniversary, or some other significant number. After February 10, tickets will be available from chapter presidents and you will not necessarily be able to get the specific number you want. If you want to buy or sell tickets, please contact Melissa Riccobono by email. Help us sell all 1,000 tickets!
Calling All Families!
The Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is sponsoring an event on February 16, 2019 beginning at 2:00PM at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, 200 East Wells, Baltimore, Maryland. This event will be hosted by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and the Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children. In this increasingly technological world, science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) skills are key to every child’s success. The Maryland LBPH invites families to participate as they present innovative and accessible STEAM activities modified for kids who are blind. In order to be eligible, children must be between age 5 and 10, and a parent needs to be in the building when he is using any exercise equipment. For additional information, contact Melissa Riccobono at Melissa@riccobono.us.
Important Dates for 2019
- January 28th – Great Gathering meeting in Washington DC at the Holiday Inn at the Capitol.
- January 29th – Visit to Maryland Congressional Delegation in Washington DC.
- February 9th – Regional Braille Challenge, held at the Maryland School for the Blind.
- March 8th – Basket Bingo at The Lodge 2832 9 Mile Cir. Catonsville, MD.
- March 31st – Deadline for National Scholarship Applications.
- April 15th – Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship Applications.
- July 7-12th – NFB National Convention Las Vegas, NV.
- August 14th – Annual Crab Feast - Tall Cedars, 2501 Putty Hill Ave., Parkville, MD 21234
- November 8-10 – Annual State Convention – Crown Plaza Baltimore Downtown
Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland