[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1496

[David Houck]

April 13, 2015

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

From:  Parnell Diggs, President

Positive Note 1496

Dear Fellow Federationists:

 

              I apologize for the length of this edition, but we have so
much to say after the Board meeting.  We are releasing the Positive Note on
Monday this week in advance of the 2nd Annual Advocacy Day for Access and
Independence at the Statehouse this Thursday with registration beginning at
9:30 AM.  I am honored to serve as Community Keynote Speaker in my capacity
as President of the NFB of SC.  I am scheduled to deliver this address at
11:20 AM.

Please join us on the Statehouse grounds this Thursday morning for the
celebration of access, independence, and equality for all people with
disabilities.  If you live close to the Columbia area, please make an effort
to be there, as we need a huge turnout to make a statement to our leaders
that we in the disability community insist on access, independence, and
equality.

You know, this is a great time to hold chapter fundraisers to provide
financial assistance for members who want to attend the State Convention.
At Saturday's State Board meeting, Columbia Chapter President Tiffany
Mitchell reported on what her Chapter is doing to assist members to attend
the Convention.  Likewise, State Board member Levern Wilson talked about his
efforts to bring all of his Conway members to the State Convention every
year.

The State Board has set the 2015 State Convention registration rates at $70
for those who pre-register.  We will open pre-registration on May 1 (rather
than June 1) and run it through August 14 because some of our members at
Saturday's meeting asked for it.  The registration rate at the door will be
$75.  You can also call the hotel at 803-771-7000 for room reservations.

Computer Science and Technology Division President Steve Cook asks that I
give you the following announcement.  "Come see what is happening in the NFB
of SC!  We have a new website for everyone to visit!  The new web address is
www.nfbofsc.org.  We currently have information posted pertaining to NFB
Scholarships, Chapters and Divisions, Upcoming Events.  The Federation
Center of the Blind and more!  We are in the process of adding material to
the site, so check back often.  If your chapter or division currently has
its own website, we can link to your website from the NFB of SC main page if
you send us the link.  Be sure to visit www.nfbofsc.org and give us feedback
on the site."

I also have an announcement from Scholarship Chairperson, Shannon Cook.
Here is what she says.  "It is that time of year again: Scholarship Time!
If you or someone you know will be attending college or graduate school in
the fall of 2015 and is blind, please encourage them to apply for a 2015 NFB
of SC Scholarship.  The web address is nfbofsc.org.  They can click on the
Scholarship link and complete the application.  Scholarships will be awarded
at the state convention the weekend of august 21-23.

We also want to remind our chapters and divisions that we are taking
donations, in any amount, for the Metro Fund, which allows the Scholarship
Committee to supplement worthy recipients with a little extra funding."

If you attended the Board meeting on Saturday afternoon, and many of you
did, you enjoyed the excellent report from Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman and
Jamie Allison regarding the 2015 BELL program, scheduled for July 20-31,
2015.  Information about this paramount initiative benefiting young blind
children in South Carolina is included at the end of this Positive Note 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic which defines you or your future.  Every day, we raise the
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.

              Last Saturday morning's RBRCCB board meeting was excellent.
We shared with the board communications from our new Resident Manager Brooke
West who is enthusiastic about her new position.  Brooke has been Resident
Manager for some 0ne and one-half months and has already grasped her
different responsibilities.  She has hosted several groups and has handled
this important activity in an excellent fashion.  Brooke is especially
protective of Rocky Bottom's property.  In addition Brooke has personally
done all of the cleaning and household chores as she enjoys this part of her
responsibilities.  The Labor Day Fun Day Festival was also discussed.  There
will be a charge of only $30 for the Labor Day Fun Day Festival and this
will include seven meals; three on Saturday, three on Sunday and breakfast
on Monday.  These well-established activities feature an auction and we need
to start securing items for the auction.  Also, it's not too early to make
your reservations for the Fun Day Festival by contacting the state office at
803-254-3777.  Reservations will be handled on a first-come, first-served
basis.  In 2014 we utilized all the overnight accommodations and still were
unable to accommodate chapters who wanted to attend including both our
Lancaster and Charleston Chapters.  Frank Coppel reported that senior camp
will once again have full capacity.  This is an important program and Frank
does an excellent job.  I am grateful that our chapters are supporting the
Lawton Hall project as we need to make repairs to this historic facility as
soon as possible.  Our thanks to four chapters which gave $100 each at the
board meeting.  These chapters include Greenville, Belvedere, Conway and
Cherokee.  We have now raised $1,635 for this fund and I'm confident that we
will hear from others in the near future.  We regret to report that Don
League, after a long illness, passed away on Sunday, April 5.  Don was the
first Director of the Conference Center in 1991.  We extend our sincere
sympathy to his wife Mary as well as to other survivors.

 

Final Thought:  "In 2015 we celebrate New Year's Day on January 1, the
Chinese celebrated it on February 19, and the Jews celebrate it on April 15.
Three times the charm!"

 

BELL Program Information

 

The webpage for NFB BELL is www.nfb.org/bell and general information can be
found on this page. The direct link to the application is:
https://nfb.org/bell-summer-program-form. 

 

The information from the flyer specific to NFB BELL in SC 2015 is here: July
20 - 31, 2015 . 8:15 AM - 3:15 PM Program Location: Hughston Transition
Living Center (TLC) South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind 355
Cedar Springs Road, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302 State Coordinator:
Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman jaduffell at yahoo.com . 803-287-5391 501 Gillsbrook
Rd, Lancaster, South Carolina 29720 Highlights: $40.00 fee please contact
program coordinator if this is cost prohibitive. Please apply online by June
8. Applications received after June 8, 2015 not guaranteed to receive
program give-a-ways. Lunch will be provided for students daily.
Transportation is not provided. NFB BELL of SC is offered, for its second
year, by two volunteers who are passionate about Braille literacy. One is a
certified teacher who is blind and Braille literate and the other is the
mother of two visually impaired sons. We will provide Braille instruction to
your child and information to you, so you can support your child's Braille
literacy. NFB BELL in SC will host participants ages 4-12 in 2015. For those
ages 13-18, up to entering grade 12, please call the program coordinator at
803-287-5391. Do not complete the online registration for participants ages
13-18.

The general information from the flyer is here: What is the NFB BELL
Program? The NFB Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) program
provides children, ages four through twelve, with two weeks of concentrated
Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning. This program is for all
blind children who could benefit from Braille enrichment over the summer.
This includes low-vision children, children who have recently lost their
vision, children who have been blind since birth, and children who have
additional disabilities. The program is designed to run Monday through
Friday for approximately seven hours each day. In addition to Braille
instruction, projects, games, and other engaging activities, children may
also enjoy field trips to local attractions. The NFB BELL program has grown
exponentially since its inception in 2008. Beginning as one site in the
state of Maryland, the program is now offered in numerous states around the
country! The NFB BELL program uses time-tested lessons and proven techniques
to build self-confidence, positive attitudes, and skills in blind children;
characteristics that are essential to ensuring blind children can live the
lives that they want now and in the future. What parents are saying:
"Besides Braille exposure, the most valuable thing my child gained at the
NFB BELL program is increased confidence. I can't believe the change in her
attitude and initiative since attending the program." "This was the most
positive program/experience we have ever been involved in. This program was
an incredible resource for us both." "The NFB BELL program changed our lives
this year. My daughter learned more in two weeks at NFB BELL than she did in
a two-month program last summer!

 

Jennifer A. Duffell-Hoffman, NFB BELL in SC, State Coordinator

SC Parents of Blind Children, State President

Lancaster, South Carolina  Mobile: 803-287-5391

E-mail: jaduffell at yahoo.com

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