November 2019 Minute Message

Fellow Federationists:

 

We have shared our stories and charted our path forward at our 53^rd Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.  I am immensely grateful to each of you who played a role, from running a workshop, to organizing or leading a tour, to coordinating the Exhibit Hall and soliciting sponsors, to providing door prizes and auction items, to organizing Bingo, to running sound, technology, and social media, and on and on and on.  As you can see, it takes a myriad of people to put on a convention, especially one as big and energetic as ours.  Please visit our website, nfbmd.org, to find the 2019 resolutions as well as some key highlights such as our Audio Quilt, the History of the NFBMD, and some other important moments you’ll want to revisit.  Please find below some important announcements and information about our activities as an affiliate. 

 

National Convention Date Change

The 2020 national convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be held July 14-19 in Houston, Texas. While the convention was originally planned for two weeks earlier, the Federation agreed to move its convention to accommodate activities in the city of Houston. We believe this change will further enhance the program, exhibits, and dynamic content provided at America's civil rights and resource convention of blind people and their families. More information regarding convention arrangements will be published in the December issue of the Braille Monitor.

 

Blind Cruising 2020

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be hosting a cruise fundraiser from September 27, 2020 to October 4, 2020.   The affiliate will receive a portion of the cost of each cabin that is booked.  All are welcome, including members of the NFBMD, other affiliates, families, colleagues, and friends.  For additional information or to reserve your cabin, please email NFBMD.outreach@gmail.com.  Details are as follows:

Ship: Carnival Pride

Date: September 27 – October 4, 2020

Port of Departure: Baltimore, Maryland

Number of nights: 7

Ports visited: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; and Freeport, Bahamas

Key Dates:

• First deposit due: January 10, 2020 = $25 per person
• Second deposit due: April 15, 2020 - $250 per person plus full names of sailors
• Final payment due: June 15, 2020

 

Types and prices of cabins (this is a per person price based on double occupancy and includes cabin fee, port charges, and taxes)

• Balcony cabin (extended balcony) = $951.64 per person
• Balcony cabin (standard balcony) = $928.64 per person
• Balcony cabin (obstructed view) = $885.64 per person
• Ocean View cabin = $835.64 per person
• interior cabin = $770.64 per person
• if anyone needs a triple or quad cabin, they should let us know.

 

Participants Needed for National Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

As part of its mission to promote Braille reading, the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is sponsoring Braille Readers Are Leaders 2019-2020. Braille readers in grades K-12 compete with others in their grade category to read the most pages during the reading period from December 1 to January 18. An adult category allows adults who want to practice their Braille skills to participate as well. Registration began on November 1, and it will remain open until the final day of the reading period. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top readers in each category, and each participant will receive a packet of Braille-related gifts.

You can find the registration form, reading log form, and contest rules by visiting https://actionfund.org/BRAL. If you have questions, email braillereadingcontest@actionfund.org or call 410-659-9315.

 

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, 2020, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April 15, 2020.

 

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, 2020.
• 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 2020 (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 Houston, Texas from July 14 through 19, 2020 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).
• To apply:
  
  • Submit an application using the online application system at https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login; or
  • 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, 2020.
• To be eligible, applicants must:
  
  • Be legally blind in both eyes;
  • Be a legal resident of Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at a school in Maryland;
  • Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program in the Fall of 2020; and
  • Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Houston, Texas from July 14 through 19, 2020 and the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Towson, Maryland from November 6 – 8, 2020 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).
• To apply:
  
  • Submit an application using the online application system at http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply; or
  • 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 months of May and June, you have the opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday. Purchase a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $10. 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 $10. 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 at MelissaARiccobono@gmail.com. Help us sell all 1,000 tickets!  The individual who sells the most winning tickets will win a prize, provided we sell all 1,000 tickets.

 

Update on Voting Lawsuit

In August, the National Federation of the Blind, the NFB of Maryland, and three blind members, Joel Zimba, Marie Cobb, and Ruth Sager, filed suit in Federal Court against the Maryland Board of Elections.  The suit asserts that the Maryland Board of Elections maintains a segregated system of voting that denies blind voters their right to a secret ballot and equal voting experience as non-disabled voters.  The suit claims this violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act and that the Board of Elections’ actions are discriminatory based on disability.  In early September, the Board of Elections filed a Motion to Dismiss our lawsuit, claiming: 1) the Board could not get the appropriate number of BMDs from the manufacturer; 2) the policy the Board adopted in June 2019 to require 5 people to use the BMD at each polling location solves our problem of not having private ballots; and 3) it would be too costly to obtain a sufficient number of BMDs.  The Board later corrected itself, saying it could indeed get enough BMDs from the manufacturer to make the BMDs the default, but it was standing by its other two reasons for not thinking it should have to do so. 

 

On September 20, 2019, we filed for a preliminary injunction to compel the Board of Elections to have to use the BMDs as the default means for all voters in the 2020 General Election unless a voter specifically asks for a paper ballot.  We argued that we should not have to sacrifice our privacy and civil rights for the illusion of security and that since the Board is able to obtain enough machines, they should do so.  We also argued that since the Board couldn’t successfully get even two people to use the BMDs before, they aren’t going to succeed in getting five to use them unless the BMDs are the default method of voting.

 

In mid-October, the Board filed an Answer to our Motion, arguing that it would, in essence, be too costly and burdensome for the State to make using the BMDs the default voting method in Maryland.  We now wait for the judge to rule on our preliminary injunction request.

 

The parties are currently in discovery, meaning we are exchanging information, evidence, and depositions.  The Judge has scheduled a hearing on the Board’s Motion to Dismiss our lawsuit for January 13, 2020, and we will definitely be in attendance. 

 

Meanwhile, we know for certain there will be a Special Primary and a Special General Election  in February and in April, respectively, in Congressional District 7 to fill the vacant seat of the late Elijah Cummings.  Our preliminary injunction request did not envision a special election, and thus, we will be forced to go through the special election cycle without the ability to vote in secret, and we know that segregated voting due to disability will remain in place for that election.  Despite this, we will not stop fighting until Maryland desegregates voting for voters with disabilities. 

 

NFB RideShare Testing Program

We continue to 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

1. On the top left corner of the screen, you will find a button that says, Menu button. Double tap Menu.
2. After double tapping on menu, at the top left corner of the screen, you will see Home.
3. Swipe to the right once and you will see Fast Facts. Double tap Fast Facts.
4. You will swipe right until you see, Rideshare Survey. Double tap Rideshare Survey.
5. 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.

 

use Amazon smile

Since this is the season of gift giving, be sure

to use Amazon smile and choose NFBMD for your charity when you purchase that special gift.    Go to

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1301033.

 

Important Upcoming Dates

• January 16, 2020 – Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
• February 10, 2020 – Great Gathering In, Washington Seminar, Washington, DC
• March 13, 2020 – Basket Bingo
• March 31 - The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship
• April 15 - deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship
• July 14 –19, 2020 – NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
• August 8, 2020 – Crab Feast, Parkville, Maryland
• September 27 – October 4, 2020 – Blind Cruising 2020, Carnival Pride, Departing from Port of Baltimore
• November 6-8, 2020 – Annual State Convention, Towson, Maryland