Fellow Federationists:
We are moving into the fall, and we’ve had a very exciting and productive summer. We returned from the 2025 NFB National Convention energized and reinvigorated. We held three fantastic NFB BELL Academies. Our students participated in the Mid-Atlantic Student Seminar in Philadelphia. We hosted several seminars and workshops for parents and seniors. We are just days away from the NFBMD Crab Feast and Blind Equality Achievement Month, where our chapters will be busy holding events like our annual Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main and Baltimore Running Festival Water Stop. We’re getting ready for the NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction. For the first time, we’ll host a Winter Market for venders and small businesses to share their products with the community in Baltimore. And of course we’re busy working on individual advocacy for our members related to education, employment, transportation, and services.
Read on for more happenings in the NFB of Maryland.
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 19, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Where: Rosedale Gardens – 8037Philadelphia Road - Baltimore, MD 21237
Tickets are $95 each. 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@NFBMD.org
We are also holding a silent auction in conjunction with the Crab Feast. Visit https://nfbmd.org to view and bid on the items. The auction will close at 9PM on September 19, 2025. You do not have to be present to bid.
Winter Market Vendors Needed!
The NFB of Maryland will be hosting a Winter Market on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at the NFB National Center in Baltimore, Maryland. We are seeking vendors, so please share this opportunity with your colleagues, friends, and small businesses you frequent. For information on how to sign up and for questions, email Coordinators Danielle McCann and Karen Anderson at nfbmdwintermarket@gmail.com.
Get ready for Austin in 2026!
The NFB 2026 National Convention will take place from July 3 – 8, 2026 in Austin, Texas. The JW Marriott Austin Hotel will be the primary location and host all convention meetings and seminars, while the Austin Marriott Downtown will serve as our overflow hotel. Both hotels will offer a nightly convention rate of $139 per night for singles and doubles and $155 for triples and quads, plus a tourism fee and taxes of 19%. You can begin making your reservations on January 1, 2026.
Convention pre-registration will open March 1 and close May 31, 2026.
We hope to see you in Austin!
NFBMD Bid for Opportunity Dinner and Auction!
Get ready for a nice evening out. Join us on November 15 for our Bid-for-Opportunity dinner and auction to benefit the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program and NFBMD youth activities. The dinner will be held from 5PM – 9PM at the College Park Knights of Columbus, 9450 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, MD 20740. Tickets cost $65. Dinner includes fried or baked chicken, grilled salmon, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, green beans, salad, rolls, beverage, and dessert.
There will be an auction for all tastes, including a $10 table. Those wishing to donate items to the auction should contact Debbie Brown at 301-881-1892 or deborahb14@verizon.net.
Those wanting transportation to reserve a seat on the van from the NFB (Baltimore) should contact Ellen Ringlein at Germlish77@gmail.com by November 7, 2025.
To purchase tickets, send a check to NFB of Maryland, Debbie Brown’s attention, at 11923 Parklawn Drive, #104, Rockville, MD 20852, via Zelle (President@nfbmd.org), or pay online using the PayPal button at https://nfbmd.org/.
2026 State Convention Theme
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: “Lead, Love, Live,” “Expect Much, Give Much, Get Much,” “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.
The 2026 Convention theme is: Pilots of Progress: Sixty Years Strong, Soaring to New Horizons! The winner of the theme submission contest is Ryan Strunk!
Pilots of Progress: Sixty Years Strong, Soaring to New Horizons: The State Convention is Coming!
You will not want to miss the state convention at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club in Ocean City which takes place on February 12 - 15, 2026. Come and meet our National Representative. You may reserve your room by calling the Ashore at 410-524-3535. Convention Room Rates: Standard Room - $102 per night plus tax; cabana and other types of sleeping rooms range in cost from $132 - $152 per night plus tax. The deadline for making room reservations is December 31, 2025.
Pre-registration is open through December 31, 2025. Visit https://nfbmd.org/convention to register online.
Below are the prices for the various convention activities (prices are per person unless otherwise stated):
- Registration: $25 on or before December 31; $35 after - Kids age 12 and under are free
- Transportation from Baltimore and New Carrollton: $75 on or before December 31; $100 after
- Banquet: $65 on or before December 31; $75 after
- Friday Boxed Lunch: $25 on or before December 31
- Friday Dinner & a Play Pizza Buffet: $28 on or before December 31; $38 after
- Saturday Luncheons (Seniors, Parents, and Students): $33 on or before December 31; $43 after
- Saturday Leadership Networking Breakfast (all welcome): $33 on or before December 31; $43 after
- Sunday Training Center Alumni and Networking Breakfast: $33 on or before December 31; $43 after
Financial Assistance Application for State Convention – Due November 15, 2025!
Individuals who wish to request financial assistance to attend the 2025 NFB of Maryland State Convention must complete and submit a Financial Assistance Application Form no later than November 15, 2025. Individuals are encouraged to first check with their local chapters and divisions to see what financial assistance may be available. If a member’s chapter does not have a financial assistance program, members may complete and submit the form to the State affiliate. In order to be eligible for financial assistance, applicants must provide: 1) proof of preregistration including payment for preregistration; and 2) a letter of support from the individual’s local chapter. More information about the NFBMD Financial Assistance Application Form is available at https://nfbmd.org/financialassistance. For questions, please contact me at 443-426-4110 or at President@nfbmd.org.
Seeking Resolutions for the State Convention
The Convention is the supreme authority of the National Federation of the Blind, and this too is true of the affiliates. One of the most important charges of the Convention is to consider and vote on resolutions that come before it; those resolutions become the policy of the organization. To that end, individuals interested in submitting resolutions should send them to NFBMD Resolutions Chairperson Chris Danielsen by email at cdanielsen@nfb.orgby January 15, 2026.
Seeking Convention Sponsors and Exhibitors
We are seeking sponsors for our 2026 NFB of Maryland State Convention. There are various levels of sponsorship, and the various levels include different benefits. Entities and individuals interested in serving as an NFBMD Convention sponsor should contact Convention@nfbmd.org to request additional information. Sponsorship forms and additional information may also be found at https://nfbmd.org/convention.
We are also seeking exhibitors for our Friday Exhibit Hall. Individuals and entities interested in exhibiting should also contact Convention@nfbmd.org to request additional information. Exhibitor forms are available for download at https://nfbmd.org/convention.
The sponsorship and exhibitor deadlines are November 15, 2025.
Seeking Door Prize Donations
We are seeking donations of door prizes to give away at the NFB of Maryland Annual Convention. Door prizes should have a cash value of a minimum of $25 each. For questions, please contact Door Prize Co-chairs Qualik Ford at Qford@bism.org and Juhi Narula at Jnarula@bism.org. Please bring door prizes to the convention.
Seeking Donations for the NFBMD Bake and Experience Auction!
We are seeking donations of baked goods and experiences for the NFBMD auction. Some examples of experiences include taking the winner to dinner, giving cooking lessons, musical or show tickets, etc. We are asking for donation commitments prior to January 15, 2026. Please notify Convention Logistics chairperson Justin Young of your donation via email at Jyoung@nfb.org.
Seeking Baked Deliciousness for NFBMD Fire Sale!
Attention all!
This message is going out to all you bakers, non-bakers, and anyone else with baked goods. As state convention rolls around again, so does our annual fire sale. If you want to help feed our movement and fund the important work we do, please take the time to donate your freshly baked goods, whatever they may be. Cookies, cakes, candies, and croissants, we'll take them all. Please contact Justin Young with your donation commitment via email at Jyoung@nfb.org.
State Convention Orientation: February 4, 2026
All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a First-Timers Orientation from 8 to 9:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 4. The Ambassadors Committee will walk you through the events that will take place throughout the weekend, explain processes such as door prizes and voting, as well as make sure every first-time convention attendee is matched with a mentor.
Connection information is as follows:
Zoom Meeting ID: 624 813 8327
One-Number Conference Call: 339-209-4083
Seeking Nominations for the NFBMD Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award!
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is seeking nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award. Please tell us how your child’s teacher, administrator, or school counselor works to help their students live the life they want with high expectations and strong skill development. Nominations should be sent to Committee Chairperson Teresa Graham at teresagraham3@gmail.com. To download the nomination form and for more information, visit http://nfbmd.org/node/317. For assistance completing the form or for questions, please call Teresa Graham at 443-557-8696. The award will be presented at the NFB of Maryland state convention Banquet on February 14, 2026. Nominations are due by December 20, 2025.
Pay Your 2025 Dues!
NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2025 dues by January 15, 2025 so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate for State Convention voting.
Individuals may use NFBMD’s Dues Portal to pay their 2025 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. The portal is located at http://nfbmd.org/dues. Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to their chapter or division treasurer.
Individuals may also pay their chapter dues at the Registration Table at the State Convention.
Please note that those paying via the online portal will incur a small processing fee.
Important Upcoming Dates
- September 19, 2025 – NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland
- October 1 – 31, 2025 – Blind Equality Achievement Month
- October 15, 2025 – White Cane Awareness Day
- November 15, 2025 – NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction, College Park, Maryland
- November 16, 2025 – NFBMD Winter Market, Baltimore, Maryland
- January 22, 2026 – NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
- January 25, 2026 – Washington Seminar Great Gathering In, Washington, DC
- January 26, 2026 – NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC
- February 4, 2026 – NFBMD State Convention Orientation, Virtual
- February 12 – 15, 2026 – NFBMD 2026 Convention, Ocean City, Maryland
- March 1, 2026 – Preregistration opens for NFB National Convention
- March 13, 2026 – Basket and Bag Bingo, Catonsville, Maryland
- March 31, 2026 – Deadline for National Scholarship Applications.
- March 31, 2026 – Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship Applications.
- Spring TBD, 2026 – NFBMD STEM2U, Baltimore, Maryland
- May 31, 2026 – Deadline to Preregister for NFB Annual Convention, Austin, Texas
- Summer TBD, 2026 – Southern Maryland NFB BELL Academy, Southern Maryland, Maryland
- Summer TBD, 2026 – Montgomery County NFB BELL Academy, Montgomery County, Maryland
- Summer TBD, 2026 – Eastern Shore NFB BELL Academy, Salisbury, Maryland
- Summer TBD, 2026 – Baltimore NFB BELL Academy, Baltimore, Maryland
- July 3 – 8, 2026 – NFB National Convention, Austin, Texas