[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1933

[Marty McKenzie]

August 27, 2023
Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others
From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President
Positive Note 1933
843-939-8091  marty2music at outlook.com

Dear Federation Family,

As we continue to look back at the convention, there are so many people who did incredible things to make it an exciting weekend and I want to thank them all! Lenora Robertson and Andrew Adams, along with their runners Jean Pardue, Larry, Valerie and Ali Warrington, Trent Tedder and others did an outstanding job managing door prizes. A huge thank you to everyone who provided items, money and gift cards which we had in abundance!

Managing a state convention is a huge undertaking, and it takes many people to make it run smoothly. We also extend special appreciation to David and Darlene Houck for their work leading up to the convention including printing and binding agendas, preparing nametags and running the registration table. Counting votes is also very important and we thank Judy Simon, Joyce Engles, Larry Warrington and John Williams for assisting with this item during elections. The banquet fundraiser is an exciting time and it takes a lot of work. We thank Larry and Valerie Warrington as well as John Williams for their excellent work in gathering the information and funds. Runners also assisted with this incredibly successful effort.

It was mentioned last week, but it bears repeating that the Blind Merchants were over the top this year! They provided so many items at the Friday evening reception and helped to create an atmosphere of family and good times! You all out did yourselves and we appreciate it! Janice Smith likes to remain in the background but I want to extend a very special thank you to her and her committee for handling Convention Arrangements this year! If there were any serious problems, they never made it to my attention. Janice is a master at handling things quietly so that the convention runs smoothly.

Finally, our sponsors are so important, and we thank each one who gave to help offset the cost of the convention. They are:

  *   Sumter Lions Club -- Silver Level sponsor
  *   Brunson Law Firm - Bronze level sponsor
  *   Neil's Lawn Service - White cane level sponsor
  *   Rock Hill Lions Club - White cane level sponsor
  *   Carolina Funeral Home - White cane level sponsor
  *   Carolyn Phillips - White cane level sponsor

We will hold the post-convention Palmetto Connects on Tuesday, August 28, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. on the NFB of SC Zoom platform. The call-in number is 929-305-6099 and the meeting ID is 803 254 3777. The password is 124578 if needed. We will give our newly elected board members 2 to 3 minutes to tell us a little about themselves during this meeting. Join us as we learn together at Palmetto Connects.

Here is David Houck's Federation Fun Fact for this week! Let's continue to read and learn together about our rich history in South Carolina.

Reprinted from a 2009 Positive Note: "A very special lady, Ruth Weeks of Spartanburg, truly deserves to be in the "spotlight." Ruth will celebrate her 90th birthday in July, 2009. Born in Kershaw, most of her life was spent in Spartanburg. At age seven in 1926, Ruth enrolled in the School for the Blind. Herbert Hoover was President and she remembers the 1929 Great Depression. At school Ruth was recognized for her singing talents. To the best of my knowledge Ruth is the only living charter member of the Federation, then known as the Aurora Club. She was present in 1944 when our founder, Dr. Sam Lawton arranged for the first gathering of the blind in Spartanburg. In the 1920's and 1930's when Ruth was in school, there were no televisions, computers, cell phones, microwave ovens, or stereo technology but there was one very valuable program featuring Braille literacy. When Ruth entered the school in 1926, there were not many automobiles on the road except for the Model T Ford which many of us remember. Having been a member of the federation for 65 years (1944 - 2009), Ruth only missed a few meetings of the Spartanburg Chapter. She has attended most of the state conventions and was honored for her years of service in August of 2000 receiving the NFB of SC Presidential Citation and was further honored with a standing ovation from the banquet audience. As previously stated, there were very few jobs available to Ruth during her long career but she did assist in jury selections in the courthouse as all prospective jurors were drawn by Ruth. Ruth is an avid reader and fully utilized Braille when she started school in 1926. One of Ruth's favorite activities is attending Senior Blind Week at RBRCCB. She let me know that she wants to attend Senior Camp this year as well. Congratulations to Ruth Weeks who has been blessed in living a very long life, making many hundreds of friends both in the federation and in other places." Note:  Ruth Weeks is now deceased but was an essential member in the beginning of the federation in SC.


Marty

Marty R. McKenzie, President
National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina
119 S. Kilbourne Road
Columbia, SC 29205
Phone: 803-254-3777
Mobile: 843-939-8091
Web Site: www.nfbofsc.org<http://www.nfbofsc.org>

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