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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">May 14, 2014<?xml:namespace prefix =
o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt">Memo
To: Executive Officers, Board of Directors, Chapter and Division Presidents and
Others<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">From: Parnell Diggs,
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Positive Note
1448<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dear Fellow
Federationists:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>There have been two major steps in the legislative process regarding S.
687 (the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">South Carolina</st1:place></st1:State> Blind Persons Right to Parent
Act) in the past week.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First, as I
reported on the NFB of SC listserv, the House Family and Probate Law
Subcommittee sent the bill to the full Judiciary Committee.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This occurred on Wednesday of last week
fueled by the excellent testimony of Jennifer Bazer, the blind mother of two
young children.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Just six days later, or on Tuesday, May 13, the House Judiciary Committee
unanimously sent S. 687 to the Floor of the House of Representatives for a vote
by the entire House.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am grateful
for Debra Canty and our Sumter Chapter for being in attendance at yesterday’s
Hearing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jennifer Bazer was also
there, even though no testimony was allowed, to show her
support.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>In addition to the legislative activity, Valerie and I attended the Rally
at the Statehouse last Thursday, Advocacy Day for Access and <st1:City
w:st="on">Independence</st1:City>, where I participated on the program with the
Governor, members of the General Assembly, officials with the City of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City>, and a number of
leaders in the disability community.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I also had the pleasure of visiting with our Columbia Chapter and
addressing the group during the meeting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I particularly enjoyed the program that evening, which featured Marty
McKenzie, A Principal at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Deaf and the
Blind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Valerie Bouler Johnson drove me over one thousand miles over the past
week, and I could not have done it without her much needed help and commitment
to the cause.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On Monday, for
example, I traveled to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Spartanburg</st1:City></st1:place> for a campaign stop, then traveled
back to Galivants Ferry for the 138th edition of the Galivants Ferry Stump,
which was first held in 1876.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
then showed-up at the Committee Hearing in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The NFB of SC Cruise has been canceled due to lack of interest.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We had some seven cabins committed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But this was not enough to hold a
fundraiser, as the number of cabins booked is a major part of the proceeds
received by the NFB of SC; however, this does not mean we will not take other
trips or think of other types of activities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stay tuned for other opportunities for
fellowship and good times with a fundraising twist in the near
future.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>There are only two weeks remaining for preregistration for the National
Federation of the Blind Convention in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This is going to be a great Convention with lots of fun things to do in
addition to an outstanding program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Get your preregistration taken care of as well as your hotel
reservations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You can call the
Rosen Centre directly at 800-204-7234 to reserve a room. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For more information, visit
www.nfb.org.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Joining me for
comments in this Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here <A name=_GoBack></A>is Dr.
Capps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>For some half century I have traveled throughout the nation from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the <st1:place w:st="on">Gulf of
Mexico</st1:place> to the Canadian border to participate in meetings of the
blind in various states.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also, we
had tremendous amounts of travel in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">South Carolina</st1:place></st1:State> from 1953 until recent
years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As you can imagine, we had a
variety of experiences in this extensive travel of over 50 years.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were many experiences but the help
we received in our hundreds of thousands of miles driven deals primarily with
local help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let me share with you a
particular experience that stands out in my memory.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A number of years ago we were returning
from attending a New England state convention and during that long trip, our
overnight stay was spent at the Holiday Inn in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">VA.</st1:State></st1:place><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>After checking out early, we made our way to our automobile and removed
our coats.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Betty had taken her long
coat as it was the fall and, therefore, cold in <st1:place w:st="on">New
England</st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Just as she
placed her coat in the trunk of the automobile and slammed the lid she
immediately remembered she had left the auto keys in the coat.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were in trouble as we didn't have any
knowledge of automobile dealerships in that general area.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Just as we had begun to "get into a
sweat" two young men in their early 20's who would have been considered
"hippies" at that time made their way to us and said they had observed what
happened and they could help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Betty
had seen them from out of the corner of her eye, standing in the parking area
near the motel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At that point in
time, any offer of help is welcomed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They said they had to go to their automobile and get a clothing hanger
which had been straightened and they proceeded to get the clothes hanger inside
the window and managed to open the door.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They then got inside our automobile and removed the upper part of the
back seat and reached into the trunk, removing the coat with the keys
inside.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Everything else was put
back in order.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were very
grateful but the two young men who appeared to be hippies refused to accept any
money whatsoever.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By the way, they
stated they had been standing outside the motel waiting for room
availability.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I'm not sure what
they were really up to but I will never forget their generous assistance which
met our needs tremendously, especially at that time of the morning as we
prepared to travel to <st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City> from <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I still wonder about those two adults
but one thing is sure, they were Good Samaritans.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>At the May 8 meeting of the Columbia Chapter we were delighted to have
our state President Parnell Diggs and Marty McKenzie, President of the Clarendon
County Chapter and on the NFB of SC Board of Directors.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>President Diggs gave some information
concerning that day's activities at the State House for different disability
groups.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also reported on his
campaign for SC Attorney General which was looking good.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Marty was the guest speaker as I had
requested him to discuss his extremely important position with the SC School for
the Deaf and the Blind in Outreach Services to children throughout the
state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Marty is an expert in
education of the blind including Braille and technology.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also is a statewide administrator for
those who work with him.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Next week
is Senior Blind Camp at Rocky Bottom and we will be making a brief
appearance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is an excellent
article in the May 13 edition of The State newspaper on President Diggs run for
Attorney General.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Final Thought:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>"All the laws and legislation in the
world will never heal this world like the loving hearts and arms of mothers and
fathers. If every child could drift to sleep feeling wrapped in the love of
their family - and God's love - this world would be a far more gentle and better
place." - <SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A title="view author"
href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mitt_romney.html"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">Mitt
Romney</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>