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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>August 13, 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 1461<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> The Fifty-eighth Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina was held at the Columbia Marriott during the weekend of August 8 through 10. President Mark Riccobono was our National Representative, and we were proud of the fact that he was attending his first state convention as National President. “Are you a driver, or a passenger?” This was his question for us at the Banquet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The assignment President Riccobono gave us, as expressed in his remarks throughout the Convention was to build the Federation. This begins with the 75 Days of Action (as we establish new chapters and revitalize existing ones) over a 75-day period from September 2 through November 16, 2014, the seventy-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Luncheon featured an excellent presentation by Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman, President of the South Carolina Parents of Blind Children division of the NFB of SC, and Cherokee County Chapter President, Jamie Allison, who was our teacher at the NFB BELL in South Carolina program, which wrapped-up just before the start of the 2014 Convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>During the 2014 Convention, we celebrated seventy years of progress since the South Carolina Aurora Club was established in 1944. Marshall and Lois Tucker (two former Presidents of the NFB of SC) participated on the program and (along with Dr. Capps) discussed the growth of the fledgling organization into a statewide power wielding tremendous influence in the state blindness field.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Another State President, Bob Bell of Laurens, who passed away in March of 2014, was remembered in a program item which kicked-off the afternoon session. Mark Bell, one of Bob’s sons, David Houck, Dr. Capps, and I shared memories of Bob: with members of Bob’s family (including Bob’s wife Doris and son Robby Bell (and a number of Bob’s grandchildren) attending in the audience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the Convention, David Houck announced that he would not be a candidate for Treasurer in 2014, as he has many other Federation responsibilities, and he hoped to encourage other leaders to step forward and share their talents. Valerie Warrington was unanimously and enthusiastically elected Treasurer. Linda Dizzley was also elected to the State Board.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Others elected included Parnell Diggs of Myrtle Beach, Frank Coppel of Columbia, Lenora Robertson of Rock Hill, Dorothy Barksdale of Columbia, Shannon Cook of Columbia, JW Smith of Greenville, Marty McKenzie of Clarendon County, and Loretta Green of Dorchester County. Congratulations to each of you. We have a strong Board in the NFB of SC.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Speaking of the Board, here is an important word about the December Board Retreat. The Rocky Bottom Board Retreat will occur during the weekend of December 12 through 14. Please mark your calendar and note this change accordingly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have an announcement from Computer Science and Technology Division President, Steve Cook. Here is what he says. “NFB-NEWSLINE and the South Carolina Commission for the Blind present An Accessible World of Information at Your Finger Tips using an iPod, iPad or iPhone. When: Tuesday, August 19, 2014: Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-NEWSLINE MOBILE APP on YOUR IOS device Just dial up, enter the meeting ID, announce yourself and join your South Carolina neighbors who want to become more proficient with or begin to use the FREE NFB-NEWSLINE MOBILE APP!!! Dial in number 712-432-1212 and enter the meeting ID 996766718. Call Steve Cook at 803-898-8788 or Email stcook@sccb.sc.gov with any questions.” 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> The 70th anniversary convention of the NFB of SC was outstanding in every respect. Congratulations to President Diggs for a job well done. Also, I’m grateful for the participants who were interesting and inspiring. The newly elected RBRCCB Board of Directors is as follows: Chairman Donald Capps, Vice Chairman Frank Coppel, Secretary Dorothy Barksdale, Treasurer Valerie Warrington, Dr. Tom Bowen, Parnell Diggs, Lenora Robertson, David Houck, Debra Canty and Tracy Spittle.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We must now turn our attention to the annual Fun Day Festival which is just around the corner, only two weeks from now. Reservations from throughout the state have been much greater than usual. In Positive Notes dated July 23 and July 30 we urged everyone to make their reservations and an extraordinary turnout responded. The result is as of today, August 12, it appears we are at about 90% of capacity. However, it is quite possible that by the time you receive this information; additional reservations will have been received resulting in a full house. Also, to accommodate the large turnout there will have to be maximum sharing of rooms but as stated time and time again at the convention, we are a Federation family and sharing is therefore in order. While we hope that we can avoid having to turn away anyone, it is quite possible this may occur but we will do what we can to accommodate as many as possible. I am glad that I urged the statewide membership to make their reservations in two Positive Notes and this year the response for reservations has been overwhelming. I feel that everyone attending the Fun Day Festival will have a wonderful time with sharing being an important part of our participation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Just about everyone will be arriving on Friday evening, August 29 and departing on Monday afternoon, September 1. Our Resident Manager, Elsie Duncan will have all room assignments. Lenora Robertson who is in charge of the food service tells me breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m., lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:00 p.m. As most of you know, only $30 is charged per person for the three nights and seven meals. You can’t get that bargain anywhere else. Your $30 payments should be given to our newly elected Treasurer, Valerie Warrington. On Saturday we will have the auction handled by President Diggs beginning at about 11:00 a.m., the Fun Day ticket drawing and lunch time food sales. President Diggs will head up BINGO which will get underway at about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. By having the auction on Saturday, participants will be able to leave shortly after lunch on Monday and return home at a reasonable hour. On Sunday we will have a gospel sing. On Monday there will be exhibits including the Old Country Store handled by first lady Kim Diggs, a yard sale handled by Alma Lee Doyle, Rocky Bottom merchandise handled by Frank Coppel and Monday lunch food sales. We need to sell as many $5 Fun Day tickets as possible and we must do that now. Items for the auction sale are needed as well as for the yard sale and the Old Country Store. We have a good amount of Rocky Bottom merchandise and you will want to utilize that important project. We are sending the Rocky Bottom community invitations which we trust will increase their participation. The annual Fun Day Festival is the only statewide fundraiser sponsored by RBRCCB and we will want to give this project our very best effort. We hope that several of our chapters if unable to spend the entire weekend will come to the Saturday auction beginning at about 11:00 a.m. and the Monday morning activities including lunch.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Are you the driver of your life or are you just the passenger?” – Mark Riccabono<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>