<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 9, 2014<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Parnell Diggs, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1456<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are fresh off of another excellent National Convention, where the NFB of SC placed seventh in attendance with 87 South Carolinians at the Convention. I appreciate the excellent work of Dorothy Barksdale, our bus captain for 2014. This is a difficult and thankless job (I know because I have done it). The Convention high light was the election of a new National President, Mark Riccobono.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After Dr. Maurer delivered the final Banquet Address of his Presidency, I walked onto the stage and told him that I believed he had saved the best one for last. You should be sure to read or listen to it once it is available at www.nfb.org. Speaking of the Banquet, we were so proud of Dr. and Mrs. Capps, as a major scholarship was awarded in their honor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Capps was acknowledged as being responsible for establishing over one hundred of the Federation’s seven hundred chapters nationwide: talk about doing your fair share and then some. This is an amazing accomplishment considering an organization with fifty thousand members. As you know, young people are very important to Dr. and Mrs. Capps, as was clear when I came into the movement. It was also observed that Dr. Capps was first elected to the National Board in 1959 and served until 2007 and that he served as State President in South Carolina for a total of thirty years between 1956 and 2000. Congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Capps for this most distinguishing honor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Computer Science and Technology President, Steve Cook says the following. “The Computer Science & Technology Division (CSTD) of the NFB of SC is planning to stream this year’s state convention in August. In years past, the CSTD has funded the cost of the streaming of the convention. In order for us to maintain this tradition, we need your assistance. If you, your chapter, division or business would like to make a donation to the CSTD to assist in deferring the cost, make your tax deductible check out to CSTD and send it to Valerie Warrington, ATTN: CSTD Convention Streaming, at 384 Cannon Ridge Lane, Newberry, SC 29108. We appreciate your continued support!!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are delighted that President Riccobono will be our National Representative at the upcoming NFB of SC Convention during the weekend of August 8 through 10. Get your reservations in now by calling 803-771-7000. The hotel is not obligated to take room reservations after July 10 so please call immediately.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have an announcement from Dorothy Barksdale and Isaiah Nelson. Here is what it says. “During the 2014 N.F.B. Convention the organizing of the National Federation of the Blind Cancer Survivors Division was launched. If you are a Blind Cancer Survivor or a Supporter of a Cancer Survivor, WE WANT YOU!!! Please forward your $10.00 membership check or money order and contact information to N.F.B. BLIND CANCER SURVIVORS, P. O. BOX 12063 Columbia, SC. 29211. For more information send your contact information to nfbnabcs@gmail.com or call (803) 735-0821 or (803) 765-1622. "TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE LIVES!" Joining me for comments in this Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC. Here is Dr. Capps.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Betty and I appreciate President Diggs kind words. Some years ago the NFB of SC, RBRCCB and the Federation Center of the Blind established a living memorial program. This has proven to be a very good program. First it enables an individual wishing to make a living memorial contribution to one of the three aforementioned entities to honor the memory of a deceased loved one. Secondly, such contributions help underwrite federation and Rocky Bottom programs. Frequently our own family makes living memorial contributions and also recommends to their friends to make these type contributions. For example, the daughter of Penrose “Pinky” Stogner recommended that everyone wishing to make living memorial contributions do so remembering the NFB of SC. Although Penrose perished only some two weeks ago, we have already received several living memorial contributions including a bank in Hartsville where Penrose lived and a physician who lives in Montana. Just a few weeks ago Doris Bell recommended that those wishing to remember Bob do so by recommending living memorial contributions be made to RBRCCB. Rocky Bottom has received nearly $1,000 because of Doris’ thoughtfulness and influence. David Houck has the necessary living memorial forms available to anyone and we strongly recommend your involvement in this program if you have never done so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NFB of SC it is normal for us to take pride in our history. The NFB of SC is the most influential state organization of the blind in the country today and our successful history proves it. No doubt we will have an excellent state convention this year but let me share with you some of the happenings at the 1997 Charleston state convention which had 377 delegates attending. Please join me as we travel down memory lane together. This was the 50th Anniversary convention of the NFB of SC held at the Northwoods Atrium Inn during August 8-10. The Maurer family attended as President Maurer was the national representative. Friday’s events were consumed with Exhibits, convention registration, divisional and committee meetings and the evening’s reception to top it all off. The huge gathering overflowed the meeting space as Dr. Donald Capps gaveled the Saturday session to order. Following the opening ceremonies, the various state agencies serving the blind made their presentations as well as the Department of Vision Education at USC and the SC State Department of Education which was capped off with the NFB of SC Presidential Report by President Capps. The noontime luncheon honored Ralph Ellenburg and the keynote speaker was Earle E. Morris, Jr. who was instrumental in many successful efforts with NFB of SC issues and things related to the progress at RBRCCB. An employment panel kicked off the afternoon session followed by the NFB national report by Dr. Marc Maurer. The Federation Center and Rocky Bottom reports revealed the variety of services provided by these two important entities. National convention bus funds and ticket sales were discussed which finances the chartered bus to national conventions since the early 1970’s. At the evening Banquet, charters were presented to the newly formed North Greenville, York/Clover and Easley Chapters. Guynell Williams, Director of the State Library for the Blind received the Presidential Citation. Other awards were as follows: John Laurens Sanders received the Associate Member Award, Josephine Simmons received the Ellen Beach Mack Home Award, Pat Wilson received the Educator of the Year Award, APAC received the Employer of the Year Award, Lenora Robertson received the Donald C. Capps Award and 16 deserving blind students received NFB of SC scholarships. Hon. Gary Simrill received the Distinguished Service Award and Dr. Marc Maurer presented the keynote address which was the highlight of the evening. The Sunday morning session featured a devotional and memorial service, chapter and division reports, financial reports, resolutions, national stewardship and elections. Mary Middleton, Bob Bell and Hattie Duncan were elected to the odd numbered districts and Edsel Doyle and Ed Bible were elected as members-at-large. When the packed convention adjourned, members went home enthusiastic and ready to spread the word of the federation among their chapter members and others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: News Anchor David Brinkley stated in 1969, “This is the first convention of the space age – where one can promise the moon and actually deliver it.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>