[NFBofSC] Positive Note 2067

Sun Mar 22 20:04:06 UTC 2026

March 22, 2026

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

From:  Marty R. McKenzie, President

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

Positive Note: 2067

Dear Federation Family,

We are in the lull before the summer activities of the National Federation
of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina.
There is an upcoming NFB of SC board meeting in the second quarter, Family
Fun Day in June, the National Convention in July in Austin and the NFB of SC
State Convention in August. There are many things that can hold our
attention during this time of the year. Let us stay connected with the
National Federation of the Blind through the e-mail alerts that are sent
from the National Office, the publications such as The Braille Monitor and
Future Reflections and the numerous podcasts including Access On, The
Nation's Blind Podcast, The Braille Monitor and Walking Alone and Marching
Together. There are many advocacy efforts needed at this time to protect our
hard-earned rights and we must be informed as Federationists so that we can
do our share.

Statewide Leadership Seminar

The Statewide Leadership Seminar takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at
the Federation Center of the Blind beginning at 10:00 a.m. This day is set
aside for National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Board Members,
chapter and division presidents, and boards. We are especially pleased to
welcome Past Presidents Parnell Diggs and Frank Coppel, if they are
available. Please let David Houck know by close of business on Monday, March
23, 2026, how many will attend from your chapter, including drivers who will
remain for the day. This allows for adequate food purchase and preparation.

Due to time commitments, there are no updates on the Honeywell thermostat
situation. However, this AI tip relates to information available in the
public domain such as hymns and other writings. Recently, I needed the
lyrics to a hymn for my church bulletin. An initial search using Google was
taking too long. I asked ChatGPT to provide me with the lyrics to Jesus Paid
It All. It provided these lyrics in less time than it took to do a Google
search. Try it with information you are looking for and see if it works for
you.

The National Scholarship Application process is now open for students who
are attending post-secondary institutions in Fall, 2026. I have only seen
one scholarship application come through thus far. Please go to
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-progr
am>
https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-progra
m to complete your application. I will interview those who complete the
entire process. Reach out to me if you are applying for a national
scholarship as a student.

SUN Shares pledges from the Statewide Seminar are due by March 31, 2026. If
you have not taken care of this, please do so. We will mail the final check
to the National Office shortly after March 31, 2026. Thank you for your
generosity!

National Convention Registration Now Open

Early bird registration for the National Convention is now open. Go to
<https://www.nfb.org/convention> https://www.nfb.org/convention to register.
The cost is $25 and banquet tickets are $85 for those who plan to attend the
banquet.

The Kenneth Jernigan Scholarships support active blind and sighted
first-time attendees at the National Convention. Applications are due by
March 31, 2026, and applicants must meet with President Marty McKenzie for a
letter of support. In recent years, individual awards have been $700 and
family awards $1,100; these do not cover all expenses. Recipients receive a
prepaid Visa card after arriving at the hotel at a specified time and
location. The online application must be completed in one session, so
applicants are encouraged to prepare responses in Microsoft Word and copy
and paste them. Those who are not comfortable using a computer are
encouraged to seek assistance from a friend. The online application can be
found at
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-conventio
n-scholarship>
https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention
-scholarship.

Things to Remember

*	NFB of SC Statewide Leadership Seminar on March 28, 2026
*	National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Applications due by
March 31, 2026
*	Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Applications due by March
31, 2026
*	SUN Shares pledges 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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