[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1911

[Marty McKenzie]

March 27, 2023
Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others
From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President
Positive Note 1911
843-939-8091  marty2music at outlook.com

Dear Federation Family,

The Federation Center was a busy place on Saturday, March 25 2023 as the Statewide Leadership Seminar commenced at 10:00 a.m. Federation leaders representing the board of directors, chapter and division presidents and others gathered for this day of training. Topics discussed included the constitutions for the NFB of SC, the Federation Center and Rocky Bottom. Other topics included how to run a chapter meeting and the responsibilities of the executive officers. Some intense discussions took place, as well as some light-hearted laughter. I sincerely thank past Presidents Frank Coppel and Parnell Diggs along with David Houck for all of their contributions to this training.

The Rocky Bottom ticket drawing took place at the end of the Statewide Seminar. The buyer and seller of the winning ticket was Ivy Dawkins of the Cherokee County Chapter. Congratulations to the Columbia chapter on a job well done selling the most tickets! Rock Hill came in second, and the Clarendon county chapter rounded out the top three ticket sellers. A total of 661 tickets were sold generating $3,305 in revenue. Thanks to all who participated in this fundraiser!

Second vice President Debra Canty was honored along with ten other influential Black women in Sumter at Morris college at the Inaugural Women's Pioneers Luncheon on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Debra is one of eleven Black women in Sumter who tell their story in the community. Congratulations to Debra on this prestigious recognition!

Palmetto Connects will take place on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. on the NFB of SC Zoom platform. The dial-in number is 929-305-60-99 and the meeting ID is 803 254 3777#. The password is 124578. Plan to join us for the latest happenings in the NFB of SC!

The Embassy Suites is now accepting reservations for the NFB of SC state convention, which will take place August 18-20, 2023. Rooms can be booked at $112 plus tax and any applicable fees for singles, doubles, triples and quads for August 17- 20, 2023. You may book online at our special hotel link<https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=CAEGSES&arrivalDate=2023-08-17&departureDate=2023-08-20&groupCode=NFB&room1NumAdults=1&cid=OM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink&bm-verify=AAQAAAAH______0eNFwqBhHbzKGQt0fp1OXSmMqHAiuxAVa6skGg609PlCXzv57POrWaEG9ttlhDAZSCr29-mnVCCpb7bFUD3VaWxySfiQfBmTJQaHejQ67_xtmDds6zqmNTOMCS5ygA-UdRKDTqqpDB-0gvYLBK1ZSrtoAUl_FZZTS4IGIH532ibXs2URfqu0Zvd7PreEEQSabx5c7QJSkZIvO93UKoF52nJE5NoZXxiggnS1LlbwulAtv2mHRT_HO4v3HhFI2XgMYKQaKou_i_XhcheHlZ4jyndj5TXoiO-c6D_6auwWCKA15k95UO3c4DsipDgxbFT9sBNp3hzKI1T6mZe1nBmZkoETKjVanaf5y31PK_gQQBW-47fgEn9CwjHJAoGb3NXEk2rbtHNceIwCDMjDpzkt5OTjYv9jZbOZawdcreDnGfX1ArrJdHAy0AKyw81DJhXwwdlAkQWijNw8znOpBQGZq0YqOobWcwtGwYIQDBsfF-sOT8gLXWN4OhNmt_2A> or, you may call the Embassy Suites at 803-744-8132 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If no one is available, leave a message and your call will be returned.

Important Things to Remember:

  *   SCPOBC on April 13, 2023
  *   Lions Vision Services Fishing trip on April 21-22, 2023
  *   Houston ticket sales drawing on May 30, 2023

If you need additional information about any of the items above, please contact David Houck at the Federation Center at 803-254-3777. You can also contact me as shown above.

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.

Odds and ends improving the rights of the blind to access their constitutional rights.
2.      1959 - Bill #62-226 provides an extra exemption to the blind on their state income tax.
In the early days when the state gave assistance to the "needy blind" it was not enough to be of much help, so legislation was passed to make the assistance more tolerable.

3.      1960 - General Appropriations Bill - $25,000 increase in cash assistance to the needy blind in South Carolina.

4.      1961 - General Appropriations Bill - $50,000 increase in cash assistance to the needy blind.

5.      1964 - General Appropriations Bill - $25,000 increase in cash assistance to the needy blind.

11.    1970 - General Appropriations Bill - reflects a provision which prevents any funds appropriated for cash assistance to the needy blind from being diverted for any other use.

14.    1972 - General Appropriations Bill - $70,000 in increased cash assistance to the needy blind.

The Homestead Exemption for blind homeowners has increased over the years.
16.    1974 - Bill #S846 grants blind South Carolinians an exemption of $10,000 on county taxes for their homestead.

After all blind jurors go to "hearings", not "seeings"! This is a constitutional right.

21.    1984 - A bill providing for equal treatment of prospective blind jurors in jury service.

Voting rights for the blind have improved over the years. This first step gave the blind person the right to choose whomever he/she trusted to assist in voting privately. This is also a Constitutional right!

22.    1984 - A bill providing for voting assistance of choice by blind persons.

Yes the blind purchase vehicles they do not drive but must insure. This applies to insurance in other areas as well.

23.    1986 - Fair Insurance Coverage for the Blind bill.

State issued ID cards the blind and other non-drivers can use and today at no cost!

37.    2002 -  H.3423, A bill mandating that Department of Public Safety Issued identification cards, which are similar to a driver's license but to be used only for identification purposes by the blind and other non-drivers, must be accepted wherever a driver's license is accepted as identification.

The blind have a right to parent and have custody of their children.
44.  June 2, 2014 - S.687 - Blind Persons Right to Parent Act - Blind parents retain right to child custody whereby blindness alone cannot be a reason for discrimination against the blind parent.

And last but not least, in 2022 the General Assembly passed s.533:  A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF SECTION 14(c) OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938 TO PAY SUBMINIMUM WAGES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. This bill guarantees that in South Carolina at least a minimum wage must be paid to the blind and others with disabilities. This accomplishes what even the federal government would not do over many years!

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