[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1824
jennifer at successforlives.org
jennifer at successforlives.org
Mon Jul 26 11:21:12 UTC 2021
July 26, 2021
Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others
From: Jennifer Bazer, President
Positive Note 1824
803-960-9977
Jennifer.H.Bazer at gmail.com
Greetings Fellow Federationists:
I am currently in the mountains at Rocky Bottom as we complete six weeks of summer teen with twenty-five blind teens. We are swimming, bowling, kayaking, visiting ice cream shops, churning homemade ice cream, grilling burgers and hot dogs, having a bake off between the boys and the girls, karaoke, dance party, as well as, teaching them independent skills as a blind person including, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, cooking, making beds, setting a table, and more. On Thursday, July 29, we will have a graduation. Families and the SC Commission for the Blind are invited to lunch and to celebrate in the graduation ceremony which will be held in the chapel. Teens will be given a certificate of completion from summer teen and will have the opportunity to share their experience over the last six weeks. Students are excited about the state convention; however, since it is during the first week school begins, many will not be able to attend. My hope is the Palmetto affiliate will consider changing its state convention in future years to early spring so more young people along with others can attend without school or other financial constraints.
Update 65th Annual State convention
We currently have 112 individuals registered for the state convention in-person and 43 registered virtually! I want to thank all of you who have registered for our convention. We are going to have an amazing event, and we want everyone to be a part of it. Please remember, your name is not confirmed unless you have paid for the registration and also completed the form. We have several individuals who have sent money but have not completed the form, or, have completed the form for registration but have not paid. Please insure both are complete to insure your final registration. If you have not registered for our NFB of SC state convention which will be held hybrid at the North Charleston Marriott august 20-22 (many of us are arriving August 19), please consider attending with us virtually or in-person. Specific details about the convention, hotel rates, registration rates and more can be found later in this Positive Note. Also, thank you to our chapter and division presidents for insuring your members know the latest happenings in our affiliate and about our state convention. Let’s give everyone who wishes to attend our convention an opportunity, through transportation, Palmetto Grant for first-timers (see details later in the PN), and other creative ways, we want everyone who wants to attend to be with us August 20-22. We have increased our room block for Thursday, August 19, but please do not delay, once this block is full for this night, we may not be able to increase again. Our room block will be released to the public on July 29 which means you may not be guaranteed availability or convention rates so please do not delay in reserving your night at the North Charleston Marriott. If you have ideas about convention agenda items, please let me know.
State convention rates are as follows:
Adults, $100 per person
College and graduate students, $60 per person
Students 18 and younger, $30 per person
Virtual Attendance, $30 per person
Palmetto Connects
Our next Palmetto Connects will be on Thursday, August 5 at 6:00 PM on the Federation zoom platform. During this time, we will also draw for the individual who registered between June 1 and June 30 for the state convention, as well as, the individual who secured their room at the Marriott in North Charleston during this time.
State Convention Welcome Bags
NFB of SC welcome bags have been ordered for state convention. Every registered in-person attendee will receive a welcome bag.
We need your help filling these bags. Thank you to those who have sent items.
Please send new items that you would want in our welcome bags. Hand sanitizers, snacks, bottles of water, water bottles, gift cards, cards for free this or that, etc. We would like to have all items at the center by August 13 so we can have a packing party. Currently, we have over 100 individuals registered for in-person.
The great thing, all bags are not the same! You can trade with a neighbor!
Please send items to the Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.
You may also make a donation by using pay pal on our site
www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org>
Please note welcome bag in the comment section.
Or, mail checks to the Federation Center made to the NFB of SC and note welcome bag in the memo line.
Let’s build the NFB of SC! Stronger together! U and I in Unity!
State Convention Banquet Fund-Raiser
Please remember we raise money for the NFB of SC during our banquet at the state convention. It is exciting to see we can raise $10,000 within an hour.
I am hopeful we can reach and even exceed that goal on August 21.
You may go ahead and send in banquet contributions to 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. Please insure checks are made to NFB of SC and note banquet fund-raiser.
You may also contribute using pay pal on our webpage at
www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org>
Please also note banquet fund-raiser in the comments section.
Contributions can come from chapters, divisions, individuals and businesses.
Thank you for considering your donation for our banquet on August 21.
As president of this affiliate, I would not ask you to do something I am not willing to do. I will be contributing $250 for the banquet, $100 for the scholarship fund, and at least $100 as a state convention sponsor.
My hope is that we will have 100% participation from all chapters and divisions, as well as, 100% participation from NFB of SC board members. Remember, as leaders, we lead by example and being on the board, being a chapter or division president means active participation with our attendance and our donations.
All contributors will be listed in a future Positive Note for our banquet.
Thank you for all you do to help the Palmetto affiliate lead with hope, love and determination. Stronger together!
State Convention Door Prizes
Thank you to those who have sent in door prizes for the state convention. You may send in a gift card or prize valued at $10 or more to the Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. You may send a check made to the NFB of SC and note door prize and we will get a door prize for you or your chapter or division, or we will turn it into a cash prize. We are looking for at least four $100 cash prizes to give out at special times during the convention. If you, your chapter, or your division wishes to contribute, please send info to the state office. Door prizes will be done electronically.
NFB of SC Fund-Raisers at State Convention
>From Debra Canty, Chair, NFB of SC Fund-raising Committee
We are raising funds for the South Carolina affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind…
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!
The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Fundraising committee are raffling off 2 new Amazon Echo Dots 4th generation and a new 8-inch HD Amazon Fire tablet at the NFB of SC State Convention.
Tickets are $2 for 1 and $5 for 3. AND…for every $5 purchase, your name will go into a drawing for a $50 cash prize💰. So go ahead and double, triple, or quadruple your chances of winning one or more of these three items. To purchase, please message me or email the # of tickets you want, the item you’d like to win, and your contact information. Payments can be made to:
$NFBSCFundraiser
Send email requests to: nfbofscfundraiser at gmail.com <mailto:nfbofscfundraiser at gmail.com> .
Donations are welcome! Thanks in advance for your support!!!
**Make sure to put the $ before NFBSCFundraiser**
Please share and forward this email far and wide as appropriate.
Please reach-out to Andrew Adams (Who’s regulating the emails and CASHAPP information) or a committee member with your support of purchasing tickets in groups of doubles, triples or quads in this statewide fundraising effort to help improve the quality of life for the blind and sight impaired.
Thank you,
Debra Canty,
Chairperson of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Fundraising Committee
>From David Rebocho, President, Sports and Rec Division State Convention Fund-Raiser
The sports and rec division will have a table at exhibit hall and for our fundraiser we will be selling whistles with lanyards, individual packs of trail mix, bottles of water and also the main item awesome lime green Cousy that has the NFB symbol on them and it says “national federation of the blind of South Carolina sports and rec division.
David Rebocho
President
Sports/Rec Division
>From Thom Spittle, President, CSTD
Fund-Raiser for CSTD during state Convention
There are 3 items:
$25 Gift card to Darden Restaurants
$25 Amazon Gift Card
New 4th generation Amazon Echo dot
Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.
The purchaser will decide which drawing their tickets will be entered into. So they can stuff the box for 1 particular item, or spread it out for a chance to win each of the items.
You do not need to be present to win. If you would like to purchase tickets virtually and pay via paypal or CashApp, call or text Thom Spittle at 803-331-3344.
>From Shelley Coppel, President, Senior Division
Fund-Raiser Beginning at state convention
The Senior Division is hosting a 50/50 drawing to begin at this convention to be drawn at our Statewide Seminar. Tickets will cost $5 per ticket. The winner and Senior Division will split the profits!!
Asking state agency questions at the state convention
If you would like to ask the SC Commission for the Blind or the State Library Talking book services a question at the state convention, please email
AdvocacyNFBSC at yahoo.com <mailto:AdvocacyNFBSC at yahoo.com>
Please include the agency you are addressing and the question. This will give us an opportunity to put similar questions together so that as many questions can be asked during the time slot. If your question is not asked, please understand there are time constraints and the agenda is tight. We will work hard to get as many questions as possible. I am sad to report that I received a message from the President of the School for the Deaf and the Blind that she would not be able to address our members that weekend.
NFB of SC Fund-raiser, Marriott Raffle
Ten tickets were sent to all chapter and division presidents for our NFB of SC fund-raiser for the Marriott. Two nights and breakfast for two valued at $500 to be used by September 1, 2022. The drawing will be held during Palmetto Connects on November 18. One ticket for $10 or three tickets for $25. Please call David Houck at the Center at 803-254-3777 if you need tickets. You may send a check to the Center at 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205 or pay using Pay Pal on our site.
www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org>
Put it on Face book, ask your friends and family to purchase, sell to places you go.
Let’s work together to make this a successful fund-raiser for the Palmetto affiliate. We have currently only sold 13 tickets. Great odds for those individuals; however, not a successful fund-raiser with only 13 tickets sold at this time. This was a generous offer the Marriott gave to the NFB of SC for a fund-raiser valued at $500. This is a drawing a lot of individuals in our community will enjoy!
State Convention Transportation
We are looking to partner with Lion Vision Services (LVS) to work out transportation for everyone interested in attending convention in person. LVS is asking me to identify how many folks in each region will need transportation. The only way I can accurately tell them is for you to let me know. If the only reason you have not registered for the state convention is due to lack of transportation or uncertainty about transportation, please register for the convention in person and we will insure you have a ride. Once you register and you need transportation, please text, call or email me so I can let LVS know accurate numbers for each region. Those chapters with vans, I am hopeful that you will offer folks a ride and partner with other chapters to assist as well. Transportation will not be a deterrent. If you are looking for a roommate for the state convention, please let me know so that we can spread the word. Let’s try to work together so that everyone who wishes to attend the convention, can attend. There will be a van leaving from Columbia on Thursday, August 19 around mid-day. Please contact me if you wish to ride that van(s). Another van will be leaving Friday from the Federation Center. Please contact Steve Cook to be added to that list.
2021 Awards, Please get your Nominations in!
We are accepting nominations for employer of the year, educator of the year and the Donald C Capps award. Nominations for Educator of the year will be sent to Marty McKenzie, Employer of the Year to Steve Cook and the Donald C Capps to David Houck.
The Donald C Capps will recognize a sighted or blind member in our affiliate since we no longer distinguish between the two. A member is a member and the most important role in our organization.
Please get your nominations in by August 2!
Please include why you feel this individual or business deserves these awards.
>From Shannon Cook
New Palmetto Convention Grant Program! Deadline Extended to July 30!
Great news! The deadline for the Palmetto convention Grant, the grant for first-time convention attendees. has been extended from July 15th to July 30th at 11:59 p.m. One of the questions was slightly changed to make sure it is clear that any of the NFB of SC members can attend; it does not only apply to the blind members.
The question now reads …
If you are blind, do you feel that any of your hobbies are no longer attainable due to your blindness?
If so, which ones?
Please let me know if you have any questions about the application process. (803) 605-4250 or coffeequeensc1 at sc.rr.com <mailto:coffeequeensc1 at sc.rr.com> .
Sponsorship Letter for State Convention and updates on Sponsorships
If you need sponsorship letters sent out, please contact David Houck and he will be happy to assist. Please do not forget about our contest. The chapter or divisions who obtains the most sponsorship donation in dollar amount will receive a percentage of the total donations raised. Our goal is $15,000. Sponsorships will help defray costs of the convention for the affiliate. Currently, the Columbia chapter has raised $4,300, The Sumter chapter $800, the At Large chapter has raised $250 and the Senior Division has raised $200 for a total of $5,850. What an awesome start all of you! Let’s send out those sponsorship letters, make phone calls, add to Face Book and other social media, and other creative ways.
Masks
If you plan to attend the state convention and plan to wear a mask, Linda Dizzley has offered to make masks for those wearing one at no charge. Please call or text her at 803-459-4585.
Cooper River Bridge Run
Our Sports and Recreation Division will be coordinating the Cooper River Bridge Run held the last Saturday in September. We plan to rent an Air BNB the night before in the Charleston/MT. Pleasant area to prevent early Saturday driving. After you have registered with Shree from the information provided below, please contact me or David Rebocho to let us know if you wish to stay in the Air BnB the night before. All individuals staying at the Air BnB will need to pay their part in the rental of the house by August 15, 2021. Please remember you can get friends and family to sponsor you to run or walk during this event to cover registration and housing costs.
Here is a message from our contact:
You can direct participants to Shree. I'll include all the contact info at the bottom of this email. Shree can help them sign our waiver and then she can collect the information necessary to help them register.
After looking at the CRBR website, it appears that the registration fee goes up as the date draws closer. Until June 15 the registration fee is $50. After that the fee jumps to $55, then it jumps again to $60 after August 15.
Shree Gobin
Volunteer Coordinator, Adaptive Expeditions
(317) 682-8222
Shree at AEOutdoors.org <mailto:Shree at AEOutdoors.org>
>From Shannon Cook
Scholarship Announcement 2021
Thanks to the Belvedere, Sumter, Greenville, Columbia, Cherokee, Chesterfield, At Large and Grand Strand Chapters for their donations to the NFB of SC Scholarship Program. I also thank the Federation Center and Rocky Bottom. I would like to issue a challenge to each member and chapter or division who has not already contributed to this worthy program. I would like to ask each member to donate $10 and chapters or divisions to donate at least $50. Remember, these students are the likely future leaders of the Federation. What better reason to donate than to invest in the future of our organization! You can go to www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org> and make your donation via PayPal. Alternatively, you can mail a check made out to the NFB of SC and mailed to the Federation Center. In either case, please specify that you are donating to the scholarship program; otherwise, the donation will not be used as you intend. Thank you for your consideration.
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 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, July 26, Doing Our Fair Share, 7PM
Tuesday, July 27, Get Fit, 5:30PM Rocky Bottom
Tuesday, July 27, CSTD, 7PM
Tuesday, July 27, Diversity and Inclusion, 8PM
Saturday, July 31, Get Fit, 9AM Rocky Bottom
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)
NFB of SC 65th Annual State Convention!
I encourage you to register for our 65th annual state convention and attend the way that best fits your comfort level at this time. We currently have 43 virtual registrants and 112 in-person registrants .Our goal is fifty in-person participants and we have exceeded that goal. We have now exceeded our goal of 100 in-person participants! How many will be joining us for our 65th annual state convention? We will be running a contest for the chapter or division who obtains the most money in sponsorships. Let’s work to exceed our $15,000 sponsorship goal to defray the cost of the convention. If you will need transportation or a roommate during the convention in North Charleston, please call/text me at 803-960-9977 or email me at
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
This information will go on the listserv. The transportation requests will help us in determining pick-up points around the state. I am hopeful that chapters with vans will assist in the transportation process as well as, others in the community.
Let’s talk about our state convention in detail.
We will be having our sixty-fifth NFB of SC state convention August 19-22, 2021 at the North Charleston Marriott, 4770 Goer Drive, North Charleston, SC, 29406. It is time for all of us to begin making our reservations and registering for our hybrid convention. You may contact the hotel directly at 843-747-1900 and let them know you are registering for the NFB of SC state convention to receive the discounted rates.
Room rates are as follows:
Singles and doubles, $115.00 per night. Until July 29
Triples, $125.00 per night. Until July 29
Quads, $135.00 per night. Until July 29
You will also need to add sales tax which currently is 14%.
The NFB of SC block of rooms at the above rates will be good until July 29, 2021 until 5:00 PM Eastern time. After that date, the hotel will release the rooms to the general public and we will not be guaranteed our group rate.
You may register using a paper registration form, complete and enclose payment and send to the Federation Center, 2021 NFB of SC State Convention, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.
You may also register online and submit payment through Pay Pal or you may send in your payment to the Center at the above address. Registration will not be confirmed until payment has been received through the mail or Pay Pal. If using Pay Pal, please remember to add 3% to your total to cover Pay Pal’s administration fees and so that NFB of SC receives the entire amount.
Let’s have a large in-person and virtual turn-out for the NFB of SC Sixty-Fifth state convention!
Register online at
2021 National Federation of the Blind of SC Sixty-Fifth State Convention Registration Form
https://forms.gle/JUxemkCKcjiWdC827
You may obtain a printed form from David Houck at the Federation Center. Those letters and registration forms will be in the mail this week.
Questions about the convention, please call me at 803-960-9977 or email me at
Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com <mailto:Jhipp25 at sc.rr.com>
Fascinating Facts
A bolt of lightning contains enough energy to toast 100,000 slices of bread.
Joke of the Week
Did you hear about the first restaurant to open on the moon?
It had great food, but no atmosphere.
Final Thought
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.
Zig Ziglar
If you have read to the end of this Positive Note, what role could you see yourself, or, what role would you like to try, in 2022 in the NFB of SC? Board member? Committee chair? President of a chapter or division? Email me your responses to <mailto:Jennifer at successforlives.org> Jennifer at successforlives.org
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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