[NFBofSC] Positive Note 2058

Sun Jan 18 20:51:42 UTC 2026

January 18, 2026

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

From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President

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

Positive Note: 2058

Dear Federation Family,

Monday, January 19, 2026 is recognized as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the
United States. This day honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King,
Jr., a key leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. Observed on the
third Monday of January, the federal holiday recognizes Dr. King's work to
end racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent protest,
inspired by principles of justice and equality. Congress established the
holiday in 1983, and it was first observed nationwide in 1986. Since 1994,
MLK Day has also been recognized as a National Day of Service, encouraging
Americans to volunteer and work together to strengthen their communities
while advancing Dr. King's dream of freedom and dignity for all.

Please join the NFB of SC Computer Science and Technology Division for a
presentation on InnoSearch.AI. This meeting will take place on Monday,
January 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. on the NFB of SC Zoom platform. The meeting ID
is 803 254 3777 and the passcode is 124578. If you are dialing in, call
929-205-6099 and enter the meeting ID shown above. We hope to see you there
for this time of learning about an accessible online shopping platform that
also has AI capabilities built into it.

We continue with fun ways to use AI. This is something I did to get
information. This actual activity is something not everyone cares about, but
it serves to demonstrate how useful AI can be in unusual situations. I have
a queen size bed with a headboard and footboard. As a blind man, I now
realize that I do not care for beds with footboards as I inadvertently bump
into them time and again now matter how careful I am. Over time, the
footboard becomes warped and no longer stands straight.

I created this prompt. "I have a white cedar queen size headboard and
footboard. I want to discontinue the footboard and use the headboard only on
the queen size configuration. The rails attach into slots. What options do I
have?" ChatGPT provided a solution which requires no modification to the
existing furniture and allows me to discontinue and store the footboard.

Palmetto Connects

The next Palmetto Connects will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at
8:00 p.m. on the NFB of SC Zoom platform. See the instructions to access
this meeting provided earlier in this Positive Note for the InnoSearch.AI
presentation. Share this information widely.

>From Andrew Adams:

Join us for the Sweetheart Ball on February 6th for an unforgettable evening
of fun, fellowship, and celebration. Tickets are $30 per person, making it a
perfect night out for members and guests. Gather your friends and reserve a
full table for $240 to enjoy the evening together. The purpose of the
Sweetheart Ball is to bring our members together while supporting a
meaningful cause. Proceeds raised will help sponsor members to attend the
national convention in Austin, Texas. Come out, dress up, and participate in
a night that strengthens our community and invests in our future.

The National Federation of the Blind National Convention will take place
July 3-8, 2026, in Austin, Texas, with rooms available at the JW Marriott
and the Austin Marriott Downtown overflow hotel. Room rates are $139 per
night for single or double occupancy and $155 per night for triple or quad
occupancy, plus 19% in taxes and fees. The first night's stay is charged at
the time of booking. To reserve a room at either hotel, call 800-627-7468
and use room block BL1. Cancellations made by May 31, 2026, will receive a
refund of one-half of the deposit. There are no refunds after May31, 2026.

The Kenneth Jernigan Scholarships help active blind and sighted first-time
convention attendees take part in the National Convention, with applications
due by March 31, 2026. There is a required meeting with President Marty
McKenzie for a letter of support. In recent years, individual scholarships
have been $700 and family scholarships $1,100, which do not cover all
expenses. Recipients receive a prepaid VISA card after arriving at the hotel
at a designated time and location. Applicants must meet the following
requirements:

*	State whether applying as an individual or a family
*	Provide full contact information, including name, primary phone
number, mobile phone if available, mailing address, and email or a contact
who can assist with email
*	List state affiliate and chapter information, including state and
chapter presidents if applicable
*	Identify a personal convention mentor and provide their phone number
*	Explain the amount of funding requested and how it will help make
attendance possible
*	Answer essay questions describing current participation in the
Federation, reasons for attending convention, what the applicant hopes to
gain, what they can contribute in return, and any special circumstances for
consideration

The application is online and must be completed in one session. It is
suggested that applicants prepare their responses to the above prompts in
Microsoft Word and then copy and paste. If you are not proficient with a
computer, please reach out to a friend to get assistance.

The next National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina State Board
meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Federation Center
of the Blind at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are open to all members. If an executive
session is required, everyone except board members will be excused. These
happen rarely and generally do not last very long.

Things to Remember

*	Palmetto Connects on February 3, 2026
*	Sweethearts Ball on February 6, 2026

*	State Board meeting on February 7, 2026 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
*	National Scholarship applications due by March 31, 2026
*	Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship applications due by March 31, 2026
*	National Convention hotel reservations due by May 31, 2026

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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