[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1467

[David Houck]

September 24, 2014

Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents &
Others

From:  Parnell Diggs, President

Positive Note 1467

Dear Fellow Federationists:

 

              I begin this Positive Note with a reminder about the January
31 Statewide Seminar.  As you know, members are accustomed to having the
Statewide Seminar in early January; however, because we moved the Christmas
Board Retreat to mid-December, it seemed prudent to move the Statewide
Seminar to the end of January to allow sometime between NFB of SC events.

Accordingly, the Statewide Seminar will occur on January 31, 2015.  It makes
perfect sense to hold the Seminar in late January in light of State Dues
being constitutionally required by the end of January and there will be
additional time to sell our $1 bus tickets to raise funds for the chartered
bus.  This gathering will occur after the Washington Seminar, and we will be
able to discuss the 2015 NFB Legislative Agenda.

I have an announcement from Anil Lewis, Executive Director of the National
Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, which says:  "October is
National Federation of the Blind Meet the Blind Month.

During this month, the members of the NFB will concentrate our efforts on
conducting outreach activities that will create opportunities for people to
meet the blind of their communities, and to recognize that we are vital
contributing members of society.

Some members will conduct creative MTBM projects and programs. Others will
staff NFB blindness information tables at local venues and events. Still
others will simply walk around in populated areas with brochures, a smile,
and a handshake. Whatever activity you choose, be sure to tell your story of
how the National Federation of the Blind helps you live the life you want.

We want to share what our members are doing across the country to promote
Meet the Blind Month, so we encourage you to highlight your Meet the Blind
Month activity by using social media. On Twitter, use hash tag #nfbmtbm14 to
give us updates on your activity.  On Facebook, post information about your
activity on the National Federation of the Blind's timeline.

Our independence market stands ready to ship brochures or other items you
can use during Meet the Blind month and beyond.  Our "What is the NFB"
brochure, some NFB Braille alphabet cards, and our "Straight Forward Answers
About Blindness" document are a few examples of information available for
you to use as handouts for any MTBM activity.

No event is too big and no activity is too small. We would easily create
hundreds of meet the blind opportunities if each chapter could conduct at
least one event.  Let's get to work and make this October a true Meet the
Blind Month."

Here is an announcement from the President of our Computer Science and
Technology Division, Steve Cook.  "In 2013, the Computer Science &
Technology Division (CSTD) provided a free class for users of iDevices with
a panel discussion!  Due to a great turn out and positive feedback, we are
having it again in 2014.  The CSTD will have a panel discussion for iDevices
on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Federation Center of the Blind on 119 S
Kilbourne, Columbia, SC 29205, from 10:00 to 4:00.  With the recent release
of IOS version 8, there are some changes in the operating system that will
be demonstrated as well.  We are requesting a $5 donation in order to
purchase lunch.  We are going to order pizza for everyone, and drinks will
be provided.  To suggest an app you would like to know more about or sign up
for the class, call Steve Cook at (803) 254-0222 or Email at
cookcafe at sc.rr.com."

"The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic which defines you or your future.  Every day, we raise
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams.  You can live the life you want:
blindness is not what holds you back."  Joining me for comments in this
Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC.  Here is Dr.
Capps.

              Hurricane Hugo has been in the news as this is the 25th
anniversary of that terrible event which caused so much destruction.  Do you
remember where you were and what you were doing at the height of that
terrible hurricane?  I was attending a function at the SC School for the
Deaf and the Blind and it was necessary to stay overnight to complete this
event.  During the late night I heard what sounded like a radio and
discovered that Betty was listening to the radio at 2:00 a.m., listening to
reports of the hurricane.  Soon after the storm, Betty and I along with Dr.
Jernigan took a trip on the QE II, celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary
sailing to Great Brittan.  During that trip Dr. Jernigan and I talked about
Hurricane Hugo with my discussing several blind persons who were injured or
had other severe loss.  Upon my arrival back in the country, Dr. Jernigan
sent a check from the NFB in the amount of $10,000 to assist these blind
victims.  At a meeting of the NFB of SC Board of Directors at RBRCCB held in
the living room of Osterneck Cottage, the Board of Directors distributed
these funds as fairly as possible.  The distribution was based on the
board's discussion of each individual's level of loss.  

              Last week public television featured a documentary on the life
of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  The documentary covered in detail
the fact that President Roosevelt supported the creation of Social Security
SSI, the vending facility program and vocational rehabilitation programs.
This was in the mid 1930's which was the time of the Great Depression.
President Roosevelt was also confronted with the terrible decision of having
to fight a war in the Atlantic and the Pacific simultaneously.  When Japan
bombed Pearl Harbor,  the Germans declared war on the USA following the
attack on Pearl Harbor.  Some years ago I was the national representative at
the NFB of Hawaii and had the unforgettable experience of visiting Pearl
Harbor which also included the USS Arizona Memorial ship.  It was a very
solemn occasion realizing that some 2,000 military personnel lost their
lives and have not been disturbed since that time.  Not many of you had been
born by December 7, 1941, 73 years ago when Pearl Harbor was bombed, but I
was a student at SCSDB.  I was 13 years old and was playing football with
the late Jimmie Smith when someone dashed out of the intermediate dormitory
building and told us that President Roosevelt was on the radio reporting on
the Pearl Harbor attack which the President said "would live on in infamy."
Incidentally, the late Jimmie Smith went on to become President of the
Anderson Chapter and Vice President of the NFB of SC.  His wife Jenny
continues to be active in the Anderson Chapter.

              As you know, President Roosevelt was disabled from polio which
he contracted as a young man but he never allowed polio to hold him back
just as we will not let blindness hold us back.  Perhaps this condition
contributed to President Roosevelt's strong support for many of the programs
which still help the blind and others today.  

              Finally, I've just begun to read the August/September Braille
Monitor and three presidents stand out including Dr. Marc Maurer who just
stepped down as NFB President, Mark Riccabono who was elected as NFB
President and our own outstanding NFB of SC President Parnell Diggs who
proudly told the convention that he was running for the office of Attorney
General of South Carolina.  I am pleased with the work done to date by our
new Resident Manager Gwen Ellenburg at RBRCCB.

 

Final Thought:  "Watching weekend football is one way we can release all of
our week long frustrations - to cheer emotionally and fervently - without
ever leaving our seat."

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