Fellow Federationists:
We have kicked off 2026 with a bang! We’ve already held a wildly successful Day in Annapolis, attended Washington Seminar in person and virtually in light of the weather compelling us to pivot and be flexible, and have held a number of fun and interesting events in our local chapters including Louis Braille’s birthday party. And yet, we have a great deal ahead, first of which is our Diamond Jubilee Convention.
Read on for information about what is happening in the NFB of Maryland.
NFBMD Blind Cruising 2026
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be cruising to Bermuda in 2026. Join us for this five-night cruise on the beautiful Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, which departs the Port of Baltimore on Saturday, September 5, 2026. We will have two full days in Bermuda. Balcony cabins cost $1520.84 per person assuming double occupancy, including port charges and tax. Ocean view and inside cabins are also available at the prevailing rate. A $250 deposit is required to book the cabin, and final payment is due May 15, 2026.
Supply is limited, so please make your reservations as soon as possible.
To make your deposit for a balcony cabin, or to request pricing for ocean view and inside cabins, please contact our travel agent, Cindy Kiper, at ckiper@dreamvacations.com or at 813-418-0647.
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, Shawn Callaway, President of the NFB of the District of Columbia and a NFB national board member.
Late registration is open through February 15, 2026. Visit https://nfbmd.org/convention to register online.
We will be using a different format, with the NFBMD Board Meeting and several other committee meetings taking place on Thursday afternoon and evening. General Session will kick off Friday evening, with division meetings, seminars, and chapters meeting in person on Friday during the day. Dinner and a Play will take place just before the General Session kicks off. Saturday will feature General Session in the morning, a number of workshops and meetings in the late morning, luncheons for students, seniors, and parents, and then a General Session afternoon session. The NFBMD banquet, which will include our keynote address from our National Representative and a number of awards will take place Saturday evening. We will have our last General Session, which will include our Business Meeting, Sunday morning, with an anticipated 1PM adjournment.
We want to thank our Title Sponsor, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, for its support of our 2026 NFBMD Convention!
See you in Ocean City!
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 February 2, 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
Success in Annapolis!
The 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly began on January 14, and we brought the collective action as soon as the session began. Our Legislative Advocacy Team was on sight from nearly the first moment the gavel dropped on the new session. We held our NFB of Maryland in person Day in Annapolis on January 22, and we gathered to debrief at Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs once more. We engaged with all 188 Delegates and Senators early in the session in order to maximize the time we have to push our issues through both chambers. 80 Federationists participated in a tremendously successful Day in Annapolis.
Our legislative priorities this year are:
- Telephone Voting for Voters with Disabilities for State, County, and Federal Elections
- Mobile Voting for Municipal Elections
- Improving Transportation: Use of Autonomous Vehicles for Persons with Disabilities
- Protecting and Funding the Independent Living for Older Blind (ILOB) Program
- Center for Excellence in Nonvisual Access (funding)
Congratulations to everyone who has participated thus far. This is what collective action looks like.
Success at Washington Seminar!
On January 26 and 27, Maryland joined Federationists in person and virtually from throughout the country to let Congress know about our legislative priorities for blind Americans. You may read the Washington Seminar fact sheets by visiting https://nfb.org/washington-seminar or via Newsline. Thank you to everyone who attended meetings, particularly those who pivoted to become the in person team and the virtual team.
We will continue to work to advocate for our Federal legislative priorities in our home districts. We ask our members to attend town halls and events held by your representatives and ask for support of our legislative priorities.
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 with a reservation deadline of May 31, 2026.
Convention pre-registration will open March 1 and close May 31, 2026.
We hope to see you in Austin!
Pay Your 2026 Dues!
NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2026 dues by December 31, 2025 so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate for State Convention voting.
Individuals may use NFBMD’s Dues Portal to pay their 2026 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 Membership Table at the State Convention, but we strongly encourage individuals to pay dues prior to convention.
Please note that those paying via the online portal will incur a small processing fee.
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 both scholarship programs is March 31, 2026.
National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based scholarships totaling $300,000.
- Each scholarship recipient will receive $10,000 and additional prizes.
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and community service.
- The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and attend the NFB National Convention, where they are mentored by blind role models.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by 11:59PM on March 31, 2026.
- 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 2026 (a few scholarships may be awarded to an individual who attends school part-time with certain parameters);
- Be age 18 before July 3, 2026; and
- Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind (and all scholarship activities) in Austin, Texas from July 3 through 8, 2026 (scholarship finalists will receive convention grants).
- To apply, submit an application using the online application system at https://scholarships.nfb.org/.
State Scholarship Program: The NFB of Maryland will award up to four scholarships of $4,000 each as part of the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program. NFBMD may award a scholarship to a former McCraw scholarship recipient.
- Scholarships are merit-based and awarded based on academic achievement, community involvement, and leadership.
- Application materials must be submitted (online only) by 11:59PM on March 31, 2026.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be legally blind in both eyes;
- reside in Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at a school in Maryland;
- be age 18 prior to July 3, 2026;
- Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time or part-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program in the Fall of 2026 and Spring of 2027 (priority will be given to full-time students); and
- Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Austin, Texas from July 3 through 8, 2026 and the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Maryland in February 2027 (scholarship finalists will receive convention grants).
- To apply, submit an application using the online application system at http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply.
NFBMD Cruise Donation Drive and Drawing – Blind Cruising 2026!!
Want to win a free cabin on the NFBMD 2026 Cruise to Bermuda? Here's your chance!
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is hosting the 2026 NFBMD Cruise donation drive. For each $20 donation, you will get one chance in the cruise drawing. For example, if you donate $100, you will get five chances.
The winner will have their cabin costs covered (excluding taxes and port fees) by NFBMD. The drawing will take place at the NFBMD banquet on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The winner does not need to be present to win. The fundraiser is open through 3PM on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
The rules for the drawing are as follows:
1. For each $20 donated, the donor will receive one chance. For example, if the donor contributes $100, that equates to 5 chances.
2. The donor must expressly state that they wish to have their name placed in the cruise drawing.
3. Donations must be made separately from any door prize contributions, convention registration donations, end-of-year contributions, or any other NFB of Maryland fundraising campaigns.
4. Donations must be received on or before 3PM on February 14, 2026.
Individuals may make donations using the PayPal button located at https://nfbmd.org/cruisedrawing
OR
via Zelle (President@nfbmd.org),
OR by mailing checks to:
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
Cruise Donation Drive
1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1
Baltimore, MD 21230
do You Feel Lucky?
The NFBMD spring raffle is beginning. 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. Tickets are available from chapter presidents and affiliate Board Members. Help us sell all 1,000 tickets!
Basket and 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. Join us at NFBMD Spring Basket and Bag Bingo, hosted by the Central Maryland Chapter, on March 13, 2025 in Catonsville. Buy your tickets early.
Prizes will feature baskets and bags from designer brands. We need financial contributions to help with these purchases. Please let us know whether you would like to sponsor a basket or bag for $200. All contributions of any amount are welcome.
You may also purchase your ticket for $30 before March 13 and for $40 on March 13 if tickets are available. Please find information on how to purchase your ticket by visiting https://nfbmd.org/bingo.
Important Upcoming Dates
- 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.
- April 18, 2026 – NFBMD STEM2U, Baltimore, Maryland
- Spring TBD, 2026 – NFBMD Spring Market, 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
- September 5 – 10, 2026 – NFBMD Cruise to Bermuda, Baltimore, Maryland
- September 18, 2026 – NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland
- October 1 – 31, 2026 – Blind Equality Achievement Month
- October 15, 2026 – White Cane Awareness Day
- November 14, 2026 – NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction, College Park, Maryland
- November 15, 2026 – NFBMD Winter Market, Baltimore, Maryland
- January 21, 2027 – NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
- TBD, 2027 – Washington Seminar Great Gathering In, Washington, DC
- TBD, 2027 – NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC