[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1808
Jennifer Bazer
jhipp25 at sc.rr.com
Mon Apr 5 12:08:49 UTC 2021
April 5, , 2021
Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents &
Others
From: Jennifer Bazer, President
Positive Note 1808
803-960-9977
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
Greetings Fellow Federationists:
I hope that all of you who celebrate had a very blessed Easter! The Bazer
yard was egged with dozens of plastic candy filled eggs. This week is spring
break for my children Cade and Kaylin. I will be spending lots of time at
the park getting some much needed fresh air and natural vitamin D. We will
enjoy time together as a family. I know all of you will understand if I am
not as prompt at returning your calls and messages while we are having
family week.
As I prepare for our annual leadership seminar on Saturday, April 10, I have
been putting a lot of thought in preparing an event that will be mixed with
a little lighthearted and a little serious and to give you a dose of
individuals you may not have heard from before. I hope all of you from near
and far, from SC and beyond will join the Palmetto affiliate for our
leadership seminar. I am thrilled about our presenters and what they may
share with us. Preparing an all day event can be challenging, tricky and
definitely a balancing act. It is not always the perfect day, the perfect
time, the perfect topics; Just like running an affiliate, it is not always
smooth and may have some bumps or even some hills and mountains and even
some unexpected twists and turns. It will not be run with a perfect
president with perfect members. It will be run with love, hope and
determination; with passion, compassion and a dose of fun!
As I write the last of this portion of the Positive Note, I ask you for
grace, for forgiveness, for patience, for understanding, for love. I may not
always say or act the way you think I might or should. I will do or say
things that I could have done or said differently. From the beginning, I
have always said I will lead with authenticity and with transparency and
that promise still stands. Will I fumble? Yes I will. Will I fall?
Absolutely; however, I will always get up and try, try again. Will I forget
things? Not intentionally. Will I say the wrong things? Not intentionally.
Will I do something I could have done differently?? Probably so. I know that
with all of us working together, communicating all in unity, you will help
me to become the best person, the best leader I can be. We will also be an
affiliate who is strong, who is united with love, hope and determination and
who is transforming dreams into reality and living the lives we want. Thank
you for being you. Thank you for helping me in that process.
Ellen Taylor Memorial:
Our Federation family is deeply saddened by the loss of Ellen Taylor,
daughter of our first vice-president, Lenora Robertson. Ellen loved Rocky
Bottom and spent her time cooking along with Lenora Robertson and Glenda
Culick for many events and numerous years. As a result of her passion and
love for Rocky Bottom, Lenora is asking that memorials in Ellen's name be
made to Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind, RBRCCB, and
mailed to the Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.
You may also donate using Pay Pal at
www.rockybottomofsc.com <http://www.rockybottomofsc.com>
Please make checks payable to RBRCCB with Ellen Taylor Memorial in the memo
line. We appreciate your consideration in donating to RBRCCB in memory of a
lady whose love, passion, dedication and awesome cooking will never be
forgotten.
Sympathy:
Please join me in praying for and thinking about Sherlene Potts, member of
the Columbia chapter who lost her father on April 2. We also had several
members in March who lost loved ones and you all are in our thoughts and
prayers: Julie Bible's father, Roger Webb's father, Marty McKenzie's
brother, and those that I unintentionally left out. I will work harder to
include these losses in our Positive Note as I am made aware of them. Thank
you all for your patience and your grace as I strive to be the best I can
be.
Girl Scout Cookie Totals
I wanted to thank all of you who supported Kaylin by purchasing girl scout
cookies. I mentioned in a prior Positive Note that I would donate 10% of her
total cookie sales to the NFB of SC. She sold 484 boxes and was the top
seller in her troop. The total sales for 484 boxes at $5 per box is $2,420;
therefore, 10% of that total is $242. I have submitted that amount via Pay
Pal to the NFB of SC. Thank you all for supporting her, troop 3395 and the
NFB of SC!
Mary Kay Profits for March
Carolyn Cooley donated 40% of her Mary Kay sales to the NFB of SC for March.
She has submitted $226 to the NFB of SC. Thank you Carolyn for your support!
If you would like to be featured for one month during the year and are
willing to give at least 10% back to the NFB of SC, please call me at
803-960-9977 or email me at
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
I will need a small write up for the Positive Note.
The following meetings are scheduled on the Zoom platform this
month. 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
month. All meetings are on the main Federation ID of 803-254-3777, unless
noted.
Dates & Times of meetings are subject to change. All times are Eastern.
Monday April 5, 2021
Fund Raising Committee 7:00 PM
Presidential Release by President Riccobono 8:00 PM
Phone: 1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 922 4377 7679
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 5:30 PM
Legislative Committee 8:00PM
Wednesday, April 7 2021
Cooking With the At Large Chapter 6:30 PM
Sports & Rec Fund Raiser Meeting 8:00 PM
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Cherokee Chapter 1:00 Rocky Bottom
Columbia Chapter 6:15 PM
Special Speaker Gary Wunder, Editor of the Braille Monitor
Lancaster Chapter 7:00 PM Rocky Bottom
Friday, April 9, 2021
Federation Center Board Meeting 12:00 Noon
Saturday April 10, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 8:00 AM
Leadership Seminar 10:00 to 4:00
Student Division Social 8:00 PM
Sunday April 11, 2021
Lee County Chapter 7:00 PM
Monday, April 12, 2021
Braille Literacy Committee 6:00 PM
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 5:30 PM
At Large Chapter 7:00 PM
Sumter Chapter 7:00 PM Rocky Bottom
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Sports & Rec Division 6:00 PM
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Palmetto Connects 6:00 PM
Florence Chapter 7:00 PM
Clarendon Chapter 8:00 PM
Friday, April 16, 2021
Trivia Night 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 8:00 AM
Charleston Chapter 1:00 PM
Sunday April 18, 2021
Support Group for those who have experienced abuse 3:00 PM
Support Group for recently blind members 5:00 PM
Monday, April 19, 2021
Membership Meeting 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 5:30 PM
Diabetes Action Network 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Advocacy Committee 6:00 PM
Public Relations 8:00 PM
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Social Media 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 8:00 AM
Monday April 26, 2021
Anderson Chapter 6:00 PM Rocky Bottom
Doing Our Fair Share 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Get Fit with the Sports & Rec Division 5:30 PM
Diversity & Inclusion Committee 8:00 PM
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)
Palmetto Connects
We will have our next palmetto connects meeting on Thursday,
April 15, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please encourage your chapters,
divisions, committees to attend to learn about the latest happenings in the
NFB of SC! All are welcome from everywhere!
Recipes for Braille Monitor
In May, The Braille Monitor will feature recipes from the NFB of SC.
Below, you will see the requirements Gary Wunder has provided.
Please email me the recipe, a short bio of the contributor (see examples in
his note), and photo of the contributor. If all of these items are not sent,
I cannot choose the 3-6 recipes to send to Gary. We must have the recipe,
two sentence bio of contributor and photo of contributor sent in one email
to me please no later than April 5. I have to submit our recipes to Gary by
the fifth.
Please insure you submit the following to me by April 1. If all requirements
are not submitted to me by April first, I cannot guarantee the submission to
Gary. Please note, Gary is the editor and has final editing rights of what
is published.
Recipes, please be specific about amounts, prep time and cook time.
Two sentence bio of the contributor, see Gary's examples below.
Photo of contributor, required by Gary to publish.
Please email this information to me at
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
Thank you all for your support!
Advocacy Committee:
We will be developing an Advocacy committee which will meet the third
Wednesdays of each month at 6:00 PM Eastern starting April 21. If you are
interested in serving on this committee, please contact me at 803-960-9977
via text or phone, or, you may email me your interest at
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
Let's advocate for blind South Carolinians through the advocacy committee
under the NFB of SC. Below, I have shared some text from the www.nfb.org
<http://www.nfb.org> website that may give you insight on the interests and
responsibilities of the advocacy committee that we will launch on April 21
at 6:00 PM!
The National Federation of the Blind is continuously working toward securing
full integration, equality, independence, acceptance, and respect for all
blind Americans.
Our advocacy work has centered on issues related to education, employment,
transportation, voting, and civil rights, and is directed by the
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions> resolutions
that are passed every year during our
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention> national convention. As
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans, we are
able to provide expert advice in these areas to blind people, their
families, agencies for the blind, corporations, and the government.
Trivia Night April 16
In February we had a great time with everyone for Trivia Night! The National
Federation of the Blind of SC will be having another Trivia Night on Friday
April 16, 2021 at 8:00 PM eastern! You ask, who is invited? Well, let me
give you a clue! If you are reading this then you are invited. We are asking
everyone that plans to play to send an Email to cookcafe at sc.rr.com
<mailto:cookcafe at sc.rr.com> with your name and state. This will allow me to
put everyone on a team in order to save time. Below are the different
categories I have so far for Trivia Night!
Landmarks
Music
NFB
Sports
State Capitals
TV
US History
Misc.
>From Demetrius Williford and The Meet the Blind Committee
The Meet the Blind Committee will be hosting an event that will take place
via zoom on April 17, 2021 the hours will be 10 AM until 12 PM. We will have
a panel of 10 representatives of the national Federation of the blind Of
South Carolina. Each panelist will have five minutes to give A little
insight on what they do as a officer of the NfB of SC. The individuals that
we are going to invite to this event will be City and county councilman
State legislative officers and local leaders in the state of South Carolina.
We will have a question and answer portion that our guests can participate
in. For more information, please contact Demetrius Williford at
864-328-8177.
Sports and Rec Fund-Raising Meeting All Invited:
The Sports and Rec Division invites the Public Relations and Meet the Blind
committees along with anyone else interested in their October walk-a-thon
held in many cities in SC to their April 7 meeting on zoom. Times can be
found in the April zoom events in the March 29 Positive Note.
For more information, please contact David Rebocho, President of the Sports
and Rec Division at 401-484-4525 or email him at
drnfbsc at yahoo.com <mailto:drnfbsc at yahoo.com>
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 pac at nfb.org <mailto: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!
SUN Shares
Shares Unlimited NFB (SUN) is a rainy day fund. Shares are
just $10 each. We collected and others pledged toward this giving at our
statewide seminar. You can donate in increments of $10 for this rainy day
fund. The Palmetto state is currently 13 and we would love to be in the top
five. You are welcome to send checks made to NFB of SC with SUN in the memo
line to the Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.
You may also donate using our pay pal link on our page
www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org>
Please when you donate give a little extra to help cover the
cost of administration fees from pay pal, $.30 for each $10. Thank you for
considering if you can donate to this fund.
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 encouraged 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. All are welcome from everywhere!
I am excited about our presenters for this event:
Norma Crosby, President, NFB of Texas
Adelmo Vigil, President, NFB of New Mexico
Katie Keim, Second Vice President, NFB of Hawaii
David DeNotaris, Skies the Limit Communication
Eileen Rivera Ley, Blind Savvy
Gary Wunder, Editor of the Braille Monitor
Thank you to the following individuals who have recorded your attendance. We
appreciate your promptness in letting us know so we can plan appropriately!
We currently have around 75 individuals signed up and look forward to
doubling this number by the seminar!
LEADERSHIP SEMINAR APRIL 10
IN PERSON
Jennifer Bazer
David & Darlene Houck
Steve & Shannon Cook
Tracy and Thom Spittle
Frank & Shelley Coppel
Melanie Torrance
Ed & Julie Bible
David Rebocho
Pat & Dale Wolthoff
Ike Nelson
Doug Hudson
Kattie Spradley
Cassandra Richardson
Dominic Calabrese
ON ZOOM
Debra Canty
Frank Loza
Regina Mitchell
Jamie Allison -
Gail Cummings
George Johnson
Ronald Benjamin
Paul and Charlis Borodin
Debbie Zaleski
Bobby Joe Medlin
Courtney Rone
Demetrius Williford
Phillip Outland
Diane Haycraft
Melissa Staley
Tomecki Williams
Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman
Laverne Addison
Patricia Anthony
Dorothy Barksdale
Linda Dizzley
James Dizzley
Roosevelt Burgess
Lenora Robertson
Cheri Euton
Mary Sonksen
Donna O'Neal
Juanita Coleman
Beverly Anderson
Pathronda Anderson
Pearl Riley
JW Smith
Ora Bell Smith
Derique Simon
Belinda Banks
Gail Nelson
Arthur Williams
Jan Lewis
Keesha Caldwell, VA
Andrew Adams
Mary Peters
Jemekah Cooper
Gregory Jones
Gwen Lucas
Marty McKenzie
Melinda Jones
Patricia Anthony
Loretta Green
Carrie Burris
>From Phil Marret
IT is with much sadness that the Upstate Blind Fishing committee has deemed
it necessary to call our tournament off again this year.
Nationally:
I wanted to share information that can be found on the national Federation
of the blind site
www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org>
These are items you can request free of charge.
Free White Cane Program
The National Federation of the Blind has distributed more than 64,000 free
white canes since 2008. The white cane gives blind people the ability to
achieve a full and independent life, allowing us to travel freely and
safely. We started our free white cane program because we believe that no
blind person should be without a white cane, regardless of his or her
ability to pay for it.
To request a white cane, you can fill out our online application or mail a
completed application to our office.
* <http://freecane.nfb.org/> Free White Cane Online Application
*
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/free_white_cane_application.pdf>
Free White Cane Application (PDF); please mail the completed PDF application
to Free White Cane Program, National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico can request a cane for their personal use. Requests can be made
as often as every six months.
How to Choose Your Cane Size
The canes distributed through our free white cane program are straight
fiberglass canes (i.e., not folding or telescoping). All canes are white
with a loop on top of the handle and come with a cane tip.
For adult first-time cane users, we recommend measuring from your shoulders
to the floor. The cane needs to reach about two steps in front of where you
are stepping. The speed of your pace and length of your stride will make a
difference. More experienced cane travelers may wish to have a longer cane,
measuring at least chin height.
For children, teens, and young adults who are first-time cane users, we
recommend measuring from your chin to the floor. More experienced cane
travelers may wish to have a longer cane, measuring at least nose height.
Cane Travel Training
Because we are committed to ensuring that every blind person can acquire the
training he or she needs to use the white cane, we are proudly affiliated
with top-notch model <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/training-centers>
training centers. The innovative training programs we have pioneered at
these centers are increasingly being replicated by other rehabilitation
agencies and providers.
For more information on cane travel and techniques, we invite you to read, "
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/cfcane/canetc.htm> Care and
Feeding of the Long White Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind
People."
Free Slate and Stylus Program
The National Federation of the Blind will distribute a plastic, four-line,
twenty-eight cell slate along with a saddle stylus to those that need them.
That includes those that are blind and low vision who know Braille or want
to learn Braille.
The slate and stylus have long been and continue to be valuable tools for
writing Braille, which is vital to literacy for the blind. It is the only
Braille-writing device that has the same portability, flexibility, and
affordability as a pen and pencil. From labeling your canned goods to
jotting down a phone number, the uses and advantages of the slate and stylus
for the blind are as varied as those of a pen and pencil for the sighted.
Application Information
Please visit our <http://freeslates.nfb.org/> free slate and stylus program
online application to request your slate and stylus.
Or complete the
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/free-slate-application.pdf> free
slate and stylus program application (accessible PDF) and mail it to:
Free Slate and Stylus Program
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
Eligibility
Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico can request a slate and stylus for their personal use. Requests
can be made as often as once per year.
More Information
If you are not sure how to use the slate and stylus, please read the
FR5/FRFA0112 "Parents Guide to the Slate and Stylus" or "Writing with the
Slate and Stylus Is Easy" both of which were featured in our Future
Reflections magazine. You can also purchase The Slate Book from our National
Federation of the Blind Independence Market.
For more information about our Free Slate and Stylus Program, email us at
<mailto:nfb at nfb.org> nfb at nfb.org.
Final Thought:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and
leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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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