[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1793

Mon Dec 21 11:52:37 UTC 2020

December 21, 2020

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

From:  Jennifer Bazer, President

803-960-9977

Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com

Positive Note 1793

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

As I write this next to the last Positive Note for 2020, it is Sunday
afternoon. The dryer is humming; the washer is whirling; the dogs are
sleeping; and I am reflecting on the upcoming week that will bring us to
Christmas Eve and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I ponder creating
new Christmas traditions with my kiddos as 2020 went in a different
direction than anyone could have imagined. My aunt went to be with her
Heavenly father after a battle with cancer; my grandparents are battling
health concerns and are not able to get around as they did in previous
years.; and, as a single parent of two young children, from Thanksgiving
until the first of the year, I struggle with what use to be and what no
longer is present for the three of us. I am blessed beyond measure; the
struggle to create a new me as a single parent with my children is real.
Even after three years of being divorced, sadness, emptiness, and loneliness
overwhelms me at times during this time of year. Everywhere you turn, the
focus is on happiness, love, and family. 

Just before I sat down to write this portion of the Positive Note, I
received a group text that said, "Please pray for the Wahl family as they
lost everything this morning in a house fire; everyone got out safely." This
family goes to our church, plays baseball with my son, attends school with
my children, and is in cub scouts with Cade. Heart wrenching. Tears streamed
down my cheeks for this family's loss. My feelings of loneliness for what I
use to have as a family now seemed insignificant as the Wahl family works to
rebuild everything. I am building new Christmas traditions; they are
thankful to be alive and just concerned about immediate necessities. The
pain for this family overshadows my small and insignificant sadness during
the holiday season. 

My son, Cade, decided to make a video to collect gift  cards and monetary
donations for this family who means so much to us. In the video, he
mentioned giving up his Christmas wants to insure his teammate, his friend,
his scout buddy, and his schoolmate, had food and clothes and essentials. It
is not me creating new traditions for our family, it is my 10-year-old son,
Cade who always is thinking of others and doing without so others can have a
Merry Christmas. It is the innocence of young children who help me remember
that, no matter how hard I think  I have it, there is always someone in a
more difficult place. As I finish this portion of the Positive Note, the
dryer is still humming, the washer is still whirling, the dogs are still
sleeping, and there is joy in my heart knowing, my children are always there
to teach me, remind me, that life is precious, God is good, and I am
blessed! I hope each of you have a very Merry Christmas!

As 2020 draws to a close, just a few things we all need to do as active
members in our Palmetto affiliate.

Dates to remember; please mark your calendars. See more specific details on
these action items further in this Positive Note.

Fulfill our state convention pledges by December 31.

Submit our 22021 state dues of $10 by December 31.

Notify David Houck at the Center by calling 803-254-3777 if you plan to
attend the statewide seminar on January 9, 2021.

Chapter and division presidents, submit your financial reports for 2020 by
January 31 2021 to the state office.

Notify David Houck at the Center by calling 803-254-3777 if you plan to
attend the leadership seminar on April 10, 2021.

Increase or hop on the PAC plan by May 31, 2021 to have your name entered
into a $100 gift card drawing.

Submit new chapter and division officers to Steve Cook, Thom Spittle and me
by December 31, 2020 so that it can be updated on the website and membership
roster.

Movie Night

Come join your Federation Family, Wednesday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m. via
The NFB of SC zoom as we watch audio described, Christmas with the Cranks.
Bring your favorite candy and popcorn and relax with us as Christmas week
continues.

>From Thom Spittle, Chairman, Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of
the Blind

The Board of Directors and staff of Rocky Bottom would like to take this
time to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New
Year.

PAC Plan Challenge:

We will be running a contest from December 5, 2020  through May 31, 2021 for
our NFB of SC affiliate. We are currently 13 and would like to be in the top
10 or higher. One of our members would like to see us as an affiliate
contribute $1,500 to PAC each month between chapters, divisions, individuals
and our NFB of SC affiliate. If you join PAC, your name will be entered into
a drawing for a $100 visa gift card. If you increase your PAC donation, your
name will be entered into a different $100 visa gift card drawing. I have a
list of chapters, divisions, and individuals who are on PAC at this time. On
June 1, I will ask the national office for another list which I will use to
have the two drawings on June 1. There are many ways to give. Below, is a
little about PAC.

Thank you for your interest in the National Federation of the Blind's
Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program. This program allows you to
contribute to the NFB through recurring monthly donations. These can be
direct withdrawals from a checking account or charges to a credit card.
Please contact  <mailto:PAC at nfb.org> pac at nfb.org with any questions. Thank
you for your generosity.

You can go to

https://www.nfb.org/pac

to complete the online form.

You may also call the national office at 410-659-9314 extension 2622 or
email PAC at nfb.org <mailto:PAC at nfb.org>  with questions.

There are several chapters and divisions within our state who are on PAC and
we are grateful for  those contributions. There are individuals who are on
PAC and we are appreciative of those members who give each month. As an
affiliate, we are averaging $17.41 per person and less than 10% of our
members are on PAC. Let's see if we can increase those percentages to over
$20 per month and have at least 20% of our members on PAC. I appreciate you
considering to get on the PAC plan or increasing your donation each month!

              We will have our next SC connects meeting  Thursday, January 7
2021 at 5:00 p.m. Please encourage your chapters, divisions, committees to
attend to learn about the latest happenings in the NFB of SC!

              Our statewide seminar will be held January 9 at the Center in
Columbia from 10:00 until 4:00. This will be a hybrid seminar meaning you
can attend in-person and over Zoom so as many individuals can participate as
possible. Please make plans to attend in-person or through Zoom. Please
call, text or email me with suggested agenda items. Please also call David
at the Center at 803-254-3777 to let us know if you will be attending in
person. First come, first serve as we have limited seats to effectively
promote social distancing at the Center. Chapter and division presidents
along with FCB, NFB of SC, and Rocky Bottom board members are required to
attend via zoom or in-person.

If you notify David Houck by January 5, 2021 whether you plan to attend on
zoom or in-person, your name will be entered into a $50 gift card drawing.
You must be present to win. There will be additional door prizes throughout
the seminar; only individuals who notify David by calling 803-254-3777 or
emailing nfbsc at sc.rr.com <mailto:nfbsc at sc.rr.com>  about your zoom or
in-person attendance will be entered into the $50 gift card drawing.

Leadership Seminar:

Our next leadership seminar will be April 10, 2021 at the Federation Center.
All presidents of divisions and chapters along with Federation Center board
members, Rocky Bottom board members and NFB of SC board members are required
to attend in-person or through zoom. Others who are interested are welcome
to attend via zoom or in-person as well.

If you notify David Houck by  April 5, 2021 whether you plan to attend on
zoom or in-person, your name will be entered into a $50 gift card drawing.
You must be present to win. There will be additional door prizes throughout
the seminar; only individuals who notify David by calling 803-254-3777 or
emailing nfbsc at sc.rr.com <mailto:nfbsc at sc.rr.com>  about your zoom or
in-person attendance will be entered into the $50 gift card drawing.

We plan to have door prizes at each of these seminars on January 9 and April
10. Calling David Houck at the Center at 803-254-3777 will guarantee your
name entered into a separate drawing for registered in-person and zoom
attendees of a $50 gift card for each seminar that will be drawn at an
undisclosed time during each seminar and you must be present to win. .
Anyone who attends via zoom or in-person will be eligible for door prizes
and must be present to win, even if, you do not register prior to the
seminars. Only registered individuals who call David Houck to let us know
how you will be participating either in-person or zoom will be entered into
the $50 gift card drawing for each seminar.

              The following meetings are scheduled on the Zoom platform this
week. You are welcome to attend any of these meetings, even if you are not a
member of the chapter or committee.  All Committee meetings are open to the
public for listening. Contact President Bazer if you would like to be added
to any NFB of SC committee so that information stays current on our website
and membership list.

              Here is  what is coming up on Zoom for the week of December 21
2020. All meetings are on the main Federation ID of 803-254-3777, unless
noted.

Monday, December 21, Membership, 7pm

Wednesday, December 23, Sports and Rec, 6pm

Wednesday, December 23, audio described Christmas movie, 7:30pm

              NFB of SC Federation Center is inviting you to a scheduled
Zoom meeting.

Topic: NFB of SC Chapter and Committee meetings

Times are in  Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09

Meeting ID: 803 254 3777

Passcode: 124578

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,8032543777# US (New York)

              If you made a pledge at our state convention banquet in
August, those tax -deductible contributions are due at the Center no later
than December 31, 2020. If you did not make a pledge, but wish to donate to
the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, please send
donations to 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. You may also pay on
our website at www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org>  and look for the
donations link to pay through pay Pal. Thank you to all of those
individuals, chapters, and divisions who have fulfilled their pledges. I
will list all donors in the first Positive Note of 2021.

              Big News! The National Federation of the Blind of SC now has
an online enrollment membership form to pay your 2021 state dues. You will
be able to fill out the form online to provide the state office with updated
personal and contact information. You will also be able to pay your $10
state dues via secure Pay Pal. You will still need to pay your
chapter/division dues on the local level. After submitting the membership
form, you will be provided with a link to pay your $10 state dues through
Pay Pal. Your membership will not be confirmed until payment has been
received. After paying your $10 state dues via Pay Pal, we will receive a
message stating you have paid your state dues to confirm your membership.
Then you will be sent a message with a copy of your receipt for confirmation
later in the day. Please retain this confirmation for your records and proof
of payment.  Also, Pay Pal charges the NFB of SC a percentage for each
transaction. We would greatly appreciate you adding an extra $0.30 for every
$10 to your donation to offset this charge. So, $10.30, $20.60 and so on.

              If you need assistance completing the online form, you are
welcome to call Steve and Shannon Cook to help at (803) 254-0222. Leave a
message with your name and contact number if we are unavailable to answer
the phone.

              Thank you to those who have already paid your state dues! We
hope to see close to 100% of dues paid by December 31. Our membership
committee along with the help of our district reps will follow-up as we get
closer to the end of the year to assist those in completing their membership
form so that we can have all completed documentation to the national office
in a timely manner. This has normally been due at the end of January to pay
your state dues; however, that does not give me time to submit all necessary
data to the national office by January 31. We want to be prompt in our
membership dues and information to President Riccobono.  https://forms.
gle/MGYktJPG3SatVBFWA

If you do not have a credit or debit card to pay your state dues online,
please mail your $10 dues to David at the Federation Center, 119 S.
Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. Once it has been received, someone from
our Computer Science and Technology Division will call you to assist you in
completing the online form with all your contact information that national
headquarters is obtaining. If you are sending in your $10 via mail, please
include your full name, address, phone number, and email address so that we
may reach out to you to gather additional required information. 

Final Thought: "What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, courage
for the present, and hope for the future." - Agnes M. Pahro

NFB Pledge - I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National
Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for
the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
abide by its constitution.

NFB One Minute Message - "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." 

If this message was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it
directly in your inbox, as well as, receive messages regarding the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, please email Steve Cook at
cookcafe at sc.rr.com <mailto:cookcafe at sc.rr.com> .

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