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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>August 26, 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 1463<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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 releasing the Positive Note early this week to get the final details to you before we head up the mountain at Rocky Bottom for the much anticipated 2014 Fun Day weekend. Many of us will be arriving on Friday, while others will come in on Saturday or Sunday, but we will be enjoying fellowship through Labor Day. As we have mentioned in previous Positive Notes, this year’s schedule will be new.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For example, the auction will occur on Saturday beginning at 11:00 AM. If you arrive late in the morning on Saturday, you can still join in the fun by checking-in at the auction table and obtaining a number. If you sign up for a free number, you still do not have to buy anything; but you will have the option to do so if the spirit moves you. We need lots of people to participate in the auction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also on Saturday, we will be conducting a BINGO game beginning at 3:00 PM, and there will be cash prizes. Here is how it works. You pay $2 per BINGO card per game, or $5 for three cards. I may have said $5 per card in last week’s Positive Note, but you actually get three cards for $5. Thus, it will cost as little as $2 if you want to play.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The winner will receive one/third of that game’s receipts, and Rocky Bottom will receive two/thirds. This is the split for every game regardless of the number of games we can squeeze in before dinnertime. This too is different than what I said last week, but upon further reflection it seems that Rocky Bottom should be the primary beneficiary of Fun Day events.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dinner will be served at 6:00 for those spending Saturday night. For those spending the day with us on Saturday, you can take advantage of the excellent food service Lenora Robertson has planned for us. The pay per meal service will be offered as a lunch option. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rather than having all events taking place on one day, we will be dividing the events to give people a chance to participate in the activities of their choice throughout the weekend. On Sunday, people can enjoy a gospel sing beginning at 2:00 PM; and on Monday morning, the yard sale and old country store will be occurring, where you can take advantage of some great bargains.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Remember that everyone who stays at Rocky Bottom for the weekend will be asked to pay $30 for weekend meals. As Chairman Capps has observed, we have a record number of reservations this year, which means we have a chance to have a great Fun Day in 2014.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been speaking with some of our chapter leaders around the state about revitalization efforts taking place this fall in the National Federation of the Blind across the nation. In the NFB of SC, we are working in Columbia, Summerville, and York County in the next thirty days or so, and there will be other efforts thereafter. October will also see a number of revitalizing activities as we continue the 75 Days of Action initiative. The 75 Days of Action initiative is a nationwide effort to build the Federation by organizing new chapters and revitalizing existing ones. See you at Fun Day! 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> I am grateful that there is unprecedented interest in the number of members across the state in this year’s Fun Day Festival. We have received record requests from some 75 members for reservations and unfortunately we are unable to accommodate this large of an attendance. We do expect to accommodate some 60 members which is about 25% larger than previous Fun Day Festivals. As previously pointed out, it is necessary to have multiple occupancy but I am confident that everyone will understand the situation. We are still unable to accommodate some 15 members this year but you are encouraged to make your reservations early in 2015 as we have a policy of first come, first served. If you must cancel out, please contact the state office immediately at 803-254-3777. A reminder to bring your linen and towels. First thing Saturday morning we will enjoy a good southern breakfast as our food service Director Lenora Robertson and her kitchen crew does an excellent job. Remember that there will be a special luncheon on Saturday which will feature barbecue and all the trimmings. We hope we will have good community participation for the luncheon which is at only $8.50 for members and outside participation. This $8.50 payment will be made to an individual assigned by Lenora during the luncheon. The $30 payment will be made to our Treasurer, Valerie Warrington. Remember to get your Fun Day tickets to David Houck in time for the Saturday afternoon drawing. You could win $50 as the seller, $500 as the buyer or $550 if you buy your own ticket and it is the winning Fun Day ticket drawn. Don’t forget that the chapter selling the most Fun Day tickets will receive $300 for their chapter’s treasury. Who will it be? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The first Fun Day Festival to be held in the Conference Center was in 1991, the year this facility was completed. Prior to that time the Fun Day Festival was pretty much held outside under tents and in an old dilapidated building that stood where the Conference Center now stands. Obviously, we were somewhat limited in the food service but a lot of hot dogs were consumed. Incidentally, the old structure that stood where the Conference Center is now located, was on the historical registry. Many famous politicians visited Rocky Bottom where rallies were held. When President Lyndon Banes Johnson was Vice President he visited Rocky Bottom and participated in rallies. One of the features of yesteryear was the womanless wedding. CA Gatlin, a sighted member from Charleston who was married to Tootsie Gatlin (a federation official) did a super job in conducting the womanless weddings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you can see, things have changed over the years and this has been reflected in larger profits. It is to the credit of our members that progress has occurred as there are three major events during a two month period including the July national convention, the August state convention and the Labor Day Fun Day Festival. Please bring items for the auction, the yard sale and the Old Country Store. I hope several Upstate chapters will load up their vans and participate in Saturday’s activities. Let me conclude this part of the Positive Note by thanking all of you for your assistance, for without this support the Fun Day Festival would not be nearly as successful. See you at Rocky Bottom!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend.” ~Doug Larson<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>