[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1505

[David Houck]

June 17, 2015

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

From:  Parnell Diggs, President

Positive Note 1505

Dear Fellow Federationists:

 

              I want to begin this Positive Note by congratulating Charlis
Borodin on being elected President of our Grand Strand Chapter (which of
course is my home chapter).  Charlis succeeds Terry Knox, who has stepped
down after some five years as President.

The Columbia Marriott is accepting reservations for the 2015 State
Convention during the weekend of August 21 through 23!  Reservations for the
Convention should be made directly with Marriott reservations at (800)
593-6465 or (803) 771-7000.

I should add that pre-reservation is now open for the NFB of SC State
Convention.  The very affordable price of $70 per person will give you
admission to all events and cover your meals from Friday evening dinner
through Sunday morning breakfast.  Please make checks out to the NFB of SC
and send them to the State Office noting which members are covered.

Recently, I received an inquiry about the cost of Convention registration
and whether a member could simply pay a registration fee and skip the meals.
The answer is very simple.  Unfortunately, the hotel bases the room rates on
food and beverage charges, and the NFB of SC, like any other group, is
obligated to guarantee a specific amount of food and beverage purchases
during the Convention. 

Thus, the NFB of SC must pay the guaranteed price regardless of whether the
meals are consumed.  This creates a terrible cash-flow problem if
registration fees are not collected.  In past years, the NFB of SC routinely
lost thousands of dollars during the State Convention.  The State Convention
is not a revenue-generating endeavor but is a continuing struggle to break
even.

We have worked hard from year-to-year to find ways to provide excellent food
service and conduct activities which are not only entertaining but
informative for our members, as our goal is to make the State Convention
exciting and worthwhile to attend.

As to the cost, we believe that chapters should provide as much support for
their members as possible to enable members of the chapter to participate in
the State Convention.  For a room accommodating four persons, the cost is
only about $25 per night each including tax.  This amount plus $70
registration for meals throughout the weekend is manageable for those who
plan in advance, especially with some chapter support.

The total cost for a State Convention using these numbers is about $125 per
member staying in a four-person room.  For a married couple, the cost may be
closer to $350 per couple, which is still manageable with financial support.
But some planning must be made.  I have stated at leadership seminars that
convention attendance should be the most important chapter endeavor during
the year.

This is because the Convention is the time we gather and assess our progress
over the preceding twelve months and make plans for the future.  After all,
we are not merely a membership club, but rather we are a movement with a
defined purpose.

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.

              In a recent Positive Note I reported that the ladies of the
Columbia Chapter were given a single rose bouquet in honor of Mother's Day.
At the June 11 meeting of the Columbia Chapter, President Tiffiny Mitchell
reported that all the men at the chapter meeting would get their meal free
in honor of Father's Day.  The men appreciated this nice gesture and left
the meeting with a smile on their faces.  The guest speaker for the chapter
meeting was Dr. Matthew Clary who is a prominent Ophthalmologist here in
Columbia.   He made a super presentation.  Dr. Clary reported on the
treatment of various eye conditions which was interesting, and as he was
vacating the Center, several members stopped him as many business cards were
given out by Dr. Clary.  Most of us at one time or another have consulted an
Ophthalmologist and all members seemed to appreciate the latest information
given.  Dr. Clary is also on the national board of the Christian
Ophthalmology Society.  He reported to the chapter of his keen interest in
Christian matters.  I presented Dr. Clary with a kernel book explaining that
the federation has distributed several million copies which includes true
stories by successful blind persons.  All in all, Dr. Clary was a special
speaker.

              In last week's Positive Note I talked about the massive yard
sale sponsored in 1979 to assist in the erection of Osterneck Cottage as
more than $5,000 in profits were received.  It also was the first major
fundraiser for RBRCCB in 1979 which is memorable.  RBRCCB didn't have any
money in 1979 to pay for a Resident Manager.  At the same time we felt
someone should be present.  It had been my privilege to meet a young blind
man in the Clemson area in the late 1970's.  This gentleman was very
depressed and I saw the need to work very closely with him by telling him
about the federation.  His spirit almost immediately improved.  I'm talking
about Jerry Whittle who lived near Clemson.  Jerry readily agreed to serve
as Resident Manager in 1979 without pay.  During the wee hours of one
morning Jerry was awakened by the sound of a door shaking which he thought
someone was trying to open.  He grabbed his gun and went close to the door
and shouted that he would fire it if the shaking of the door continued.
Soon after that Jerry was relieved when a dog shook the door and barked at
the same time.  Jerry stayed in room 5 of Osterneck Cottage which was
designated as the "Oconee Room."  It still is today referred to as the
"Oconee Room" by some.  This was an important service by Jerry who went on
to get his Master's degree and ultimately accepted a position with the
Louisiana Center for the Blind.  He has received national prominence and has
put on plays at national conventions.  As he has recently retired, it is my
pleasure to report Jerry will be coming to South Carolina in September and
he will spend a week at RBRCCB utilizing the Oglesby Cottage.  A lot has
happened at RBRCCB since 1979 when he heard the dog bark.

 

Final Thought:  "The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it
seems, takes longer." ~Edward R. Murrow

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