[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1986

Mon Sep 2 01:38:32 UTC 2024

NFB of SC logo with tagline live the life you wantSeptember 1, 2024

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

From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President

Positive Note 1986

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

Dear Federation Family,

I note that this is Positive Note 1986 which is the year I graduated from
Kingstree Senior High School in Williamsburg County. Our class song was "We
Are the World" which my graduating class fully embraced. Our class also sang
"God of Our Fathers" at both our graduation and our class baccalaureate
service held at a local church. There were no hand-held cell phones,
landlines still were prevalent, my family had only had a home phone for
three years and computers were generally large mainframe things that the
typical person did not use. We have changed so much since that time, most of
it good and some not so good. Through it all, we have adapted and improved
the lives of our blind brothers and sisters in this movement.

The Presidential Release is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3,
2024. You are encouraged to attend the monthly informative gathering of
Federationist from across the country. The phone number is 929-205-6099 and
the Zoom meeting ID is 913 3339 9714.

Due to the Presidential Release occurring on September 3, 2024, we will move
the Palmetto Connects meeting to September 10, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.

I am currently working on committee assignments and I appreciate those who
have reached out to express interest or asked to be removed from committees.
For your benefit, below is a list of committees that exist. There are some
committees that the president appoints without input and these committees
are not included here. Please reach out to me with interest or a request to
be removed by 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 2, 2024.

*	Blind Equality Achievement Month Committee
*	Braille Literacy Committee
*	Convention Arrangements Committee
*	Diabetes Action Network Committee
*	Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
*	Doing Our Fair Share Committee
*	Fundraising Committee
*	Legislative and Advocacy Committee
*	Membership and Mentoring Committee
*	Public Relations and Social Media Committee
*	Resolutions Committee
*	Scholarship Committee
*	We Care Committee

Blind Equality Achievement Month (BEAM) is one month away and we need
exciting BEAM events that showcase our many talents and success stories
within the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. Please share
your events so that they can be shared in the Positive Note as well as on
www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> . 

I am happy to share information from the Federation family in the weekly
Positive Note. After working with the Positive Note for two years now, I
understand that brevity is very important and I work hard to keep it at two
pages. That is not always possible however. When you prepare announcements
for the Positive Note, please confine them to one paragraph of approximately
100 words or less. All announcements should be in my in-box by 8:00 p.m.
each Saturday. I appreciate your assistance with this request.

>From Marty R. McKenzie, President of the Clarendon County Chapter

The Clarendon County Chapter is raffling off a beautiful multi-colored
Christmas afghan made and donated by Glenda Culick. Tickets are $2 each or
three tickets for $5. You can mail a check to Marty McKenzie, 1516 Lucky
Road, Lake City, SC 29560 to purchase your tickets. Checks should be made
payable to Clarendon County Chapter NFB of SC. The lucky winner will be
drawn at the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Board
Retreat which is scheduled for November 22-24, 2024 at the Rocky Bottom
Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind.

Derique Simon has accepted a new position in Baltimore, Maryland where we
all know he will excel. Derique served on the NFB of SC Board of Directors
and brought the perspective of a young Federationist to the board. We are
all proud of Derique and the future that he is building for himself. He is
working diligently to change what it means to be blind by living the life he
wants. We will miss Derique but wish him well in his new endeavor. We thank
Derique for his service on the NFB of SC Board of Directors as well as for
his many other leadership roles within the organization. We will miss his
charm and enthusiasm and hope he will not be a stranger to us in South
Carolina.

There was only one change on the National Federation of the Blind of South
Carolina Board of Directors at the 2024 state convention. Belinda Banks was
voted into the one-year unexpired term. Belinda is the mother of Derique
Simon who vacated his At Large position because of a career change. We
welcome Belinda to the Board of Directors. Please see her biography below.

Belinda Banks was born and raised in Saint Mathew's South Carolina. She
attended school there until the 6th grade and deeply felt the struggle of
being a blind student receiving limited services. At the start of her sixth
grade year, Belinda and her family decided she would attend the SC School
for the Deaf and the Blind in Spartanburg, SC.

Belinda's time at the SC School for the Blind played an important role in
shaping her views on blindness. While the early days were difficult, she was
empowered with independent living skills, learning Braille and socializing
with new, blind friends. She shares that some of her fondest memories
involve traveling across the state for sports and as a part of the Blind
Pride Clubb. This club worked to teach public school students that it was
respectable to be blind.

While at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind, Belinda was also first
exposed to the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, as the
school had its own chapter. She describes herself as having an on again off
again relationship with the NFB of SC and the national organization for a
time, but when her son Derique had difficulties receiving the services he
needed for education, she knew her Federation family were the only ones who
could help. Belinda now proudly serves as the president of the Spartanburg
Chapter of the NFB of SC, the president of the SC Blind Merchants Division
and on the board of the National Association of Blind Merchants.

Belinda is the newest member of the NFB of SC Board of Directors.  When
asked what thoughts she would like to share with the membership she said:

"Never give up. No matter what you're going through, always have hope."

Belinda also says that she loves talking to people and is excited to help
anyone however she can.

Things to remember

*	Presidential Release on September 3, 2024
*	Palmetto Connects on September 10, 2024
*	Clarendon County Chapter fundraiser drawing on November 23, 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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