[NFBofSC] Positive Note 2080

Sun Jun 21 23:52:38 UTC 2026

June 21, 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: 2080

Dear Federation Family,

In the frenzy leading up to retirement, I omitted a very important holiday.
As you know, it is important to me to highlight holidays and their meaning
as they come around. There are two this week, Juneteenth and Father's Day.

Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger rode
into Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free. In
South Carolina, where the first shots of the Civil War rang out at Fort
Sumter, that news landed on soil already remade by struggle and sacrifice.
Today Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a day to honor liberation,
perseverance, and community. It reminds us that progress can be slow yet
certain, and that hope carried through long waiting still arrives. As South
Carolinians, we walk ground shaped by that journey and keep moving it
forward.

Today is Father's Day and it is important in our lives in a special way. My
father went to his heavenly reward on December 11, 1996, almost 30 years
ago. Here are some thoughts about the meaning of Father's Day rather than
the historical context which appeared in past Positive Notes.

Father's Day arrives each June as a quiet invitation to honor the men who
shaped us. Fathers come in many forms: the dad who raised us, the stepfather
who chose us, the grandfather who steadied us, the uncle or mentor who
showed up when it mattered. Their gifts are often the simple ones we only
recognize later, a patient word, a steady hand, an example of showing up day
after day. Today we give thanks for fathers present and remember fathers
gone, knowing their influence outlasts them and travels forward through
every life they touched along the way.

The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina is excited to welcome
Shawn Callaway from the District of Columbia as our National Representative
to the State Convention! Shawn is no stranger to South Carolina as he served
as the National Representative in the past and has participated in other
activities in our state related to the NFB. Additionally, he is cousin to
Dr. Shirley Madison, long-time Orientation and Mobility Specialist, whom we
know and love. I will share more about Shawn in upcoming Positive Notes.

The National Federation of the Blind National Convention 2026 app is now
available. I redownloaded the National Federation of the Blind app from the
App Store. The process will be similar for those using Android phones. You
must log in so that you can create your personal profile. The app makes it
easy to create a customized schedule of events and look at each day
individually.

First Vice President Lenora Robertson will again serve as the door prize
chairperson. Please bring your door prizes to the state convention and give
them directly to her. If shipping, address them to Lenora Robertson, 1258
Roundtree Circle, Rock Hill, SC 29732. Shipments should arrive no later than
Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Door prizes should have a minimum value of $10.
Cash is always welcome!

Scholarship Program Update from Shannon Cook, Scholarship Committee Chair

As Scholarship chair, I would like to thank everyone for their support of
the NFB of SC Scholarship Program. We only had one incomplete application
submitted, meaning that there were no eligible applications for
consideration. If you, your chapter or division has already donated to the
Scholarship Program, you may choose to roll over the amount for next year,
or ask President McKenzie for a return of your payment. Thanks again for
your support.

Fundraiser Extended to Help More Families

Thanks to the generosity of the Penny Duffy Fund, the National Organization
of Parents of Blind Children was able to support five families this July.
Each family received a sponsored five-night stay at the NFB National
Convention in Austin, TX. The Penny Duffy Fund was established in loving
memory of Penny Duffy, who had a deep passion for the National Convention.
The fund helps families who could not otherwise afford to attend share in
the same sense of connection and community that Penny valued so deeply. You
can help even more families have this experience. To support the fund, we
are offering a chance to win one of two great prizes. The first prize is a
pair of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, and the second is an Eone Bradley Watch. A
donation of $20 for each entry per prize is required. This fundraiser runs
from May 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026. Get your tickets through our
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kBeEcUknBFiYpHdPlSPheU_XIm9N84eFkDahlG39NY
s/viewform?edit_requested=true> online ticket form.

Palmetto Convention Grants

The Palmetto Convention Grant application for first-time attendees to the
NFB of SC State Convention is now available on the home page of the
<http://www.nfbofsc.org> NFB of SC website. Please pass the word along to
your chapter members, division members, fellow Federationists, and anyone
else who fits the bill. We will award four grants in the amount of $300
each. The application deadline is June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Technology Backpack Fundraiser - Computer Science and Technology Division

The Computer Science and Technology Division (CSTD) of the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina is holding a Technology Backpack
Fundraiser with a drawing on August 16, 2026, during the state convention.
Tickets are priced at $5 for one, $10 for three, $20 for seven, and $30 for
ten. The prize package includes a technology backpack, a talking meat
thermometer, an infrared thermometer, Bluetooth earbuds, a 256 GB flash
drive, a Bluetooth speaker, a surge protector, and a home license copy of
JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. Ten percent of funds raised will support a
student scholarship. You do not need to be present to win as prizes can be
shipped. To enter, complete the online web form and submit payment via
PayPal or check, or by calling 803-260-1292. If using PayPal, be sure to
note "Technology Backpack Fundraiser" in the notes section. Mail checks to
Steve Cook, 2446 Harrison Road, Columbia, SC 29204.

Cash Extravaganza Fundraiser - Senior Division

The NFB of SC Senior Division is holding a Cash Extravaganza fundraiser with
a chance to win $400 in cash. The drawing will take place Sunday morning,
August 16, at the conclusion of the state convention, and you do not need to
be present to win. Tickets are $10 for one or $20 for three. Half of the
funds raised will go to Rocky Bottom Senior Camp and half to the Senior
Division. To buy or sell tickets, contact Shelley Coppel at 803-796-8662,
303-819-9795, or  <mailto:Frankandshelley51 at gmail.com>
Frankandshelley51 at gmail.com. Checks and money orders should be made payable
to the NFB of SC Senior Division with "Cash Extravaganza Fundraiser" in the
memo line and mailed to Shelley Coppel, 847 Jefferson Street, West Columbia,
SC 29169.

NFB of SC State Convention Registration

You are warmly invited to attend the National Federation of the Blind of
South Carolina State Convention. This annual event brings together blind and
low-vision individuals, families, advocates, and community members from
across the state. It is a weekend of learning, networking, and inspiration.
Whether you are a long-time member or new to the Federation, the convention
offers something for everyone: engaging guest speakers, opportunities to
connect, exhibits featuring helpful products and services, and time for fun
and fellowship. The event will take place August 13-16, 2026, at the
DoubleTree by Hilton located at 2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC. Join us
as we work together to build a brighter future and change what it means to
be blind. For more information or to register, visit the
<http://www.nfbofsc.org> NFB of SC website and select "State Convention &
Exhibit Hall Registration."

NFB of SC State Convention Hotel Registration

The DoubleTree by Hilton is now accepting reservations for the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina State Convention being held August
13-16, 2026. The cost of the rooms is as follows: singles and doubles: $134;
triples: $144; and quads: $154 plus applicable taxes and fees. Breakfast is
included with the cost of your room. You may book online through the
<https://hil.tn/lkz9ef> DoubleTree reservation page. You may also call
800-445-8667 and give the code 917 to link to our room block. The cutoff for
these special rates is Thursday, July 22, 2026. Remember the following when
booking your room:

*	The first night's stay will be charged at time of booking.
*	When checking in, a hold will be placed on the card to cover the
entire stay.
*	There is a $50 per night hold for incidentals.

It is strongly recommended that a credit card be used for this stay. Using a
debit card means these holds will be placed on the funds in your checking
account.

Things to Remember

*	Palmetto Convention Grant applications due by June 30, 2026 at 11:59
PM.
*	Hotel reservations and Early Bird Registration for the NFB of SC
State Convention end on July 22, 2026.
*	NFB of SC State Convention takes place August 13-16, 2026.
*	Technology Backpack Fundraiser drawing is August 16, 2026, during
the state convention.
*	Cash Extravaganza drawing is Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the
conclusion of the state convention.

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/>  

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260621/a1aeccbe/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 21173 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260621/a1aeccbe/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 12746 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260621/a1aeccbe/attachment-0001.png>