[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1523

[David Houck]

October 21, 2015

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1523

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Hats off to Jennifer Bazer who represented the NFB of SC by
participating in a conference for exceptional Parents in Memphis, Tennessee.
October 11-13.  Jennifer was asked to speak on two panels: the first being a
legislative panel where Jennifer discussed her instrumental role in the
passage of the Blind Persons Right to Parent Act in 2014 and the second
being a panel in which Jennifer spoke concerning her experiences as a blind
parent of a five year old son and two year old daughter.  

On Thursday evening October 15, the Columbia Chapter held elections of
officers for 2016.  Congratulations to the following individuals who were
elected to office.  President - Tiffiny Mitchell, First Vice President -
Isaiah Nelson, Second Vice President - Jennifer Bazer, Secretary - Dorothy
Barksdale, Treasurer - Kattie Jackson, Board Members - Steve Cook and David
Bundy.  

I hope all of you are doing all you can in selling your 2016 Orlando
National Convention bus tickets.  I am hopeful about our ticket sales and
what we charge for each seat will cover the approximate $8,000 cost for a
chartered bus.  Remember, the drawing will be held at the conclusion of the
Statewide Seminar on January 9, 2016.  The individual who purchases the
winning tickets will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will
receive $300 and the chapter who sells the most tickets will receive $300.  

Steve Cook, President of the Computer Science and Technology Division would
like to make the following announcement; "If you would like to relive the
2015 NFB of SC State Convention, please stay tuned and I will let you know
how!  Let me start off by thanking some people first!  This year's stream
was sponsored by CNI Systems in Cayce, SC and Carolina Low Vision in
Harrisburg, NC.  Without the contributions from these companies the stream
would not have been possible.  I would like to thank Billy Irwin for hosting
our website www.nfbofsc.org to keep the world updated on the NFB of SC.  For
the past few years Larry and Valerie Warrington have been a crucial part in
streaming our state conventions by volunteering their time to monitor the
stream during the convention.  Larry has also downloaded the recordings to
host on our website.  In order for the files to play on everyone's computer.
Thom Spittle with www.thinkaccess.org converted the files to Mp3.  David
Bundy added the audio files to the agenda that is currently located on
www.nfbofsc.org for everyone to listen to.  I cannot thank the above people
enough that volunteer to perform these tasks!

Now for what you have been waiting for!  Go to the below link and you will
see the agenda from the 2015 NFB of SC State convention.  The link to listen
to the audio file is listed below the presentation.  If using JAWS, when you
press enter on the link that begins with "listen" the file should start
playing in your default media player.  

http://nfbofsc.org/blog/2015/10/08/2015-nfb-of-sc-state-convention/."

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that 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.  

              The recent NFB of SC convention adopted an important
resolution providing for the NFB of SC and the Commission for the Blind to
work together in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commission in
2016.  The resolution reads as follows:

"Resolution 2015-01

Whereas the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina will be celebrating
its Fiftieth anniversary in 2016; and

Whereas the NFB of SC was responsible for the creation of the Commission for
the Blind of South Carolina, having worked two years with the General
Assembly to pass necessary legislation; and

Whereas the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina offers vital programs
designed to promote independence, enhance opportunity, and improve the
quality of life for blind South Carolinians; and

Whereas the blind and low vision South Carolinians of all ages benefit
significantly from these programs and find such programs to be a helpful in
developing and improving skills that will assist them throughout life; 

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of
South Carolina in convention assembled this 23rd day of August, 2015 in the
city of Columbia that the organized blind movement in South Carolina
congratulate the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina for its fifty
years of continued service to the blind of this state, and be it further
resolved that this organization partner with the Commission for the Blind of
South Carolina in celebrating its Fiftieth Anniversary."

              It is suggested that both the NFB of SC and the Commission for
the Blind appoint committees to come up with a desirable and suitable
program.  The blind have certainly benefitted from this relationship with
the Commission for the Blind and there should be full recognition of this
service.  Understandably, there are not very many of us remaining who
participated in the establishment of the Commission 50 years ago.  Marshall
Tucker who is now in his 90's presented a very important paper to the 1964
convention.  This excellent presentation was presented word for word in the
Summer 2014 edition of the Palmetto Blind.  In 1965 the blind of the state
continued to contact their legislators and this approach was solely
responsible for the passage of the legislation one year later in 1966.  Less
than two and one-half months remain in 2015 and it's my belief that we
should get started on this project right away.  I hope that President Coppel
and Commissioner Kirby will commence work on this important undertaking
right away.  In addition to Marshall, others who were involved in this
legislation 50 years ago included Lois Tucker, Dr. Fred Crawford as well as
Tommy Ingle and Ruth Weeks.  Perhaps there were others who were involved 50
years ago but the preceding names are the ones I recall.  

 

Final Thought:  "I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that
everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness
those gifts toward the same goal." - Dr. Ben Carson

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