[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1971

Sun May 19 20:21:12 UTC 2024

May 19, 2024

Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents &
Others

From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President

Positive Note 1971

843-939-8091   <mailto:president at nfbofsc.org> president at nfbofsc.org 

Dear Federation Family,

We are at the end of the school year for most school districts and there are
many activities and celebrations taking place across the state. As we attend
baccalaureate services, graduations ceremonies, and graduation parties, let
us take time to honor our youth who are dealing with a world that is vastly
different from the one that many of us who are middle-aged and older
remember. The challenges are great, but the rewards are greater still. "We
can live the life we want; blindness is not what holds us back!"

Congratulations to David Houck who had an article titled Greater
Expectations published in the May edition of The Braille Monitor. David
directs our attention to valid points that we should consider in our daily
Federation work. I encourage you to take time to review this article in its
entirety.

Congratulations to six National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina
(NFB of SC) Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship winners who will receive funds to
assist with first time attendance at the NFB National Convention in Orlando,
Florida. The NFB of SC had a total of 11 members who applied for the Kenneth
Jernigan scholarships. This year's NFB of SC Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship
winners are Dan Bradley, Amber Milligan, Kendrick Raley, Shinqualla "Roxy"
Reed, Michelle Scott, and Patricia Smith Jenkins. It is exciting to see so
many first-timers attending the National Convention. I am sure there are
others as well.

The May edition of the Braille Monitor contains a Convention Bulletin which
provides a tremendous amount of information, especially for first-time
conventioneers. Please take time to read the bulletin as you will find it
very helpful in preparing for and attending the National Convention.

Lenora Robertson will once again serve as the Door Prize Chair for the NFB
of SC State Convention. Cash and gift cards are always favorite items. You
can purchase gift cards from the At Large chapter in the amount of $25 or
greater. Please bring your door prize contributions to the convention or you
can mail them to Lenora Robertson, 1258 Roundtree Circle, Rock Hill, SC
29732. Let's have an abundance of door prizes to share at the state
convention.

Response to the request for NFB of SC members to volunteer at the National
Convention is very low at this time. Please reach out to me if you are able
to volunteer and need assistance. Also, please let me know via e-mail or
text if you have signed up and I am not aware of it.

>From the Fundraising Committee, Co-chaired by Debra Canty and Andrew Adams

FINAL REMINDER! To ensure we have enough food and seating for our Family Fun
Day at Weston Lakes on June 1st, from 10 AM to 6 PM, please provide a
headcount and names of attendees If you belong to a chapter, if attending
with family please provide all names. Your name is needed to receive a meal
ticket. Also, consider bringing tailgating chairs to manage overflow
seating. Deadline to submit information is Monday, May 20th. Please send
your details to fundraising at nfbofsc.org .

Registration for the National Convention is now open.  The event will take
place July 3-8, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.  The registration cost is $25 and
banquet tickets are $75. You can go to
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>
https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention to locate additional
information about the National Convention as it becomes available. Please
note that some nights in the convention hotel are now full and reservations
are being routed to the overflow hotel. The National Office is working on
this matter.

The Embassy Suites is now accepting reservations for the National Federation
of the Blind of South Carolina State Convention being held on August 15-18,
2024. Rooms can be booked at $112 plus tax and any applicable fees for
singles, doubles, triples and quads. You may call the Embassy Suites at
803-252-8700. Reference the NFB of SC State Convention to obtain the special
rate. Members are not being charged the first night's room; instead, a hold
is placed on your card until check-in. The cut-off for room reservations is
July 25, 2024.

Registration for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina
State Convention is now live!  The cost is $85 for adults, $55 for students
and $25 for children under eighteen. These prices all adjust upward after
July 25, 2024. Please visit  <https://nfbofsc.org/node/178>
https://nfbofsc.org/node/178 to register online. If you need assistance to
register online, , please contact me and someone will assist you.

>From Lori Anne Coley, President, Sports and Recreation Division

Our Sports and Rec fundraiser is extended to August, coinciding with the
state convention. All purchased tickets remain valid. Purchase $20 tickets
for a chance to win big, including a $750 and a $250 giveaway. Contributions
support our Sports Camp Week for the Blind at Rocky Bottom Retreat and
Conference Center of the Blind in Upstate South Carolina. Led by the NFBSC
Sports and Rec Division, our mission is inclusive sports. Purchase tickets
via PayPal at  <https://www.paypal.me/sportrecnfbsc>
https://www.paypal.me/sportrecnfbsc or Zelle at srnfbsc21 at yahoo.com. Goal:
sell 100+ tickets by August 17, 2024, with the drawing at the state
convention. Spread the word! For more information, contact Lori Anne Coley
at 803-316-9838.

NFB of SC Scholarship Announcement 2024

Let's do more in 24! We are springing into the 2024 NFB of SC Scholarship
Program season. With the state convention being August 15 - 18, 2024, the
deadline for scholarship applications is 11:59 p.m. June 20, 2024. The
committee will meet about one month before the state convention to select
the top three applicants and winners will be notified following the meeting.
The updated scholarship application is now available at
<https://nfbofsc.org/scholarship-program>
https://nfbofsc.org/scholarship-program.  Please also remember that the
scholarship program operates exclusively on donations. If you, your chapter,
your division, your civic organization, church etc., would like to
contribute a scholarship or donate to the Metro Fund, please contact me,
Shannon Cook at  <mailto:scholarships at nfbofsc.org> scholarships at nfbofsc.org
or 803-605-4250. Please help us get the word out about the program. If you
or someone you know is in post-secondary education full time, please
encourage them to apply for a scholarship! Thank you.

Things to Remember

*	National Convention room reservations due by May 31, 2024
*	Family Fun Day on June 1, 2024
*	NFB of SC Scholarship applications are due by June 20, 2024 at 11:59
p.m.
*	National Convention dates are July 3-8, 2024 at the Rosen Center
Hotel in Orlando, Florida
*	NFB of SC State Convention Registration and Room Reservations are
due by July 25, 2024.

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

Website: www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org/>  

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