[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1945

Tue Nov 21 02:24:15 UTC 2023

November 20, 2023
Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others
From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President
Positive Note 1945
843-939-8091  marty2music at outlook.com

Dear Federation Family,

The Rocky Bottom board retreat was held this weekend and it was very well attended by board members as well as others who assisted in many ways to make it successful! The Rocky Bottom board met in the morning and Chairman Spittle noted that, while we had a great summer of rental revenue, there are no cash reserves to take us through the winter months. Rocky Bottom is also in desperate need of capital improvements if we are to remain viable in the future. The last major building project was the Ellenburg Lodge in 2,001 and the last major renovation was Osterneck Cottage shortly after that. We have a great deal to do to keep our beloved camp moving into the future!

The State Board meeting began at 1:00 p.m. and concluded at 5:00 p.m. There was much work for the board to do including adopting constitutions for the Hampton County Chapter after suggested edits by the National Office, and for the SC Association of Blind Students. The Charleston County Chapter constitution was presented and requires additional work before it can be approved. We anticipate that it will be ready at the board meeting in January.

There are several new policies pushed down from the National Office that affiliates should adopt. We moved forward with some of them but we still have a couple to go. Moving forward we will develop a policy section on the NFBofSC.org web site where these policies are posted and can be viewed by the membership.

There was an excellent update from Successful Transitions provided in writing by Andrenia Corder and the program is moving forward. The work we do in this needed program impacts the lives of many transition-aged South Carolina students who are blind. The board appreciates the hard work that Andrenia and her team puts forward to move this program to the next level.

The board also discussed Washington Seminar and the Legislative Breakfast. Both already have dates on the books and we will make reservations in Washington soon for those who are attending. We look forward to a great Washington Seminar this year. Again, I will be unable to attend due to a work conference taking place the week before which also overlaps with the President's Meeting prior to Washington Seminar.

As we consider things that we are thankful for, Rocky Bottom is thankful for Rock Hill Chapter member John Culick. John takes a week's vacation each year and travels to Rocky Bottom where he works tirelessly to improve the outdoor view of the camp. This includes trimming bushes and trees, cutting back shrubbery, completing minor repairs on camp equipment and many other items that help us so much! John is a quiet man and does not desire to be in the limelight. We want to thank him for all he does for Rocky Bottom!

Putting on a Board Retreat takes a lot of planning and hard work. we want to thank the kitchen crew led by First Vice President Lenora Robertson for keeping everyone overly fed and food happy. This year, Isaiah Nelson, Glenda Culick, Carolyn Phillips, Carolyn Jackson, Trent Tedder and Gerald McMurray were a fantastic team that kept the kitchen running very smoothly. Thanks to Anita Beasley for assisting with serving the meals and a special thanks to Gerald McMurray for hauling all of the trash off when he left on Sunday.

What an amazing board of directors the NFB of SC is blessed to have! The board doubled down to do the work of the Federation and engaged in healthy questions and conversation regarding the programs that we run. Everyone had meaningful input into the work we did on Saturday. You are to be commended for a job well done!

The Clarendon County Chapter held its drawing for the braille afghan made by Glenda Culick at the evening banquet. The winner is Liz McCutcheon. Congratulations to Liz for purchasing the winning ticket!

As you are planning your Christmas parties, please reach out to me if you wish a board member to be present. I will attend as I am able but cannot easily make all of them. However, other board members are available to attend and bring greetings and representation from the state board.

>From President Demetrius Williford and the Anderson Chapter -- The Anderson Chapter of the NFB OF SC invites you all to our Christmas event!
When: December 2, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: the Anderson Civic Center located at 3027 Martin Luther King Junior Blvd., Anderson, SC 29625.
Meal options: baked chicken with rice, green beans, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, a roll and your choice of apple cobbler or cheesecake at $20 or cube steak with rice and gravy, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, green beans, a roll and apple cobbler or cheesecake at $23.
There will be door prizes and a chance to win a TV.  Tickets for the TV raffle can be purchased at two for $5.00 or 3 for $10.00.  Raffle tickets can be purchased until December 1, 2023. Please contact President Demetrius Williford at 864-685-9005 to purchase event or raffle tickets. Event tickets must be purchased by November 16, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Our cash app is $NFBAndersonChapter or you can send a money order or check made out to the NFB Anderson Chapter to 1306 W. And Ave., Anderson, SC 29625. If anyone would like to stay overnight, we also have a block of rooms at the holiday inn, which is located at 3509 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, SC 29621. The cost per night is $105 plus 11% sales tax per night if you are eating breakfast. Call 864-226-1000. Let them know that you are staying underneath the Anderson Chapter of the blind block. Rooms are available December 1-3, 2023.

The Friends of Rocky Bottom fundraising campaign is now underway and will conclude on December 31, 2023. There are a variety of prizes available for those who contribute in certain amounts. This will assist Rocky Bottom with the winter months when income is low and rentals are non-existent. Individually and as chapters or divisions, please consider what you can give. For more information about this fundraiser, contact Thom Spittle at 803-331-3344 or via e-mail at nfbsc.lab.4 at gmail.com<mailto:nfbsc.lab.4 at gmail.com> for additional information.

Things to Remember

  *   We Care Birthday Fundraiser
  *   Friends of Rocky Bottom Fundraiser
  *   State Dues
  *   Chapter Elections
  *   Statewide Seminar on January 6, 2024

Here is David Houck's Federation Facing Fact.

The Blind Who Lead the Blind will provide background information on each board member over the next fifteen Positive Notes. We continue with Thom Spittle, At Large Board Member 2 of the NFB of SC Board of Directors this week.

Thom Spittle was born in Salem Massachusetts, and lived on the North Shore until moving to Florida in his early 20s. Thom was a professional photographer who also did some work as a furniture salesman. It was in this profession that Thom moved about, first to California and then South Carolina.

Mr. Spittle started having his retinitis pigmentosa develop in his mid-30s and progressed to where he could no longer work in the furniture industry and started receiving training through the Commission for the Blind. Thom was the first consumer to go through the Advanced JAWS curriculum and also went through the Business Enterprise Program. In 2007, Thom won the consumer of the year award from the Commission while running a BEP stand in Sumter.

It was also in 2007 that Tom and his family moved to Rocky Bottom and worked at the camp as resident manager for almost the next 4 years.

Mr. Spittle currently is the chairman of the board of directors for Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center of the Blind, At Large State Bord member, Treasurer of his local chapter in Columbia, and Chairman of the Membership & Mentoring Committee.

Previously, Thom served as Chapter President of the Darlington and Easley Chapters, and first vice president of the Dacusville Lion's Club.

Thom currently lives in Columbia with his wife of 11 years, Tracy, and 2 step sons, Jonathan and Nicholas Bundy. Thom also has a son, Tommy, who is married and lives in Florence, South Carolina.

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>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20231121/7dc9f601/attachment.html>