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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 24, 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 1467<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> I begin this Positive Note with a reminder about the January 31 Statewide Seminar. As you know, members are accustomed to having the Statewide Seminar in early January; however, because we moved the Christmas Board Retreat to mid-December, it seemed prudent to move the Statewide Seminar to the end of January to allow sometime between NFB of SC events.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accordingly, the Statewide Seminar will occur on January 31, 2015. It makes perfect sense to hold the Seminar in late January in light of State Dues being constitutionally required by the end of January and there will be additional time to sell our $1 bus tickets to raise funds for the chartered bus. This gathering will occur after the Washington Seminar, and we will be able to discuss the 2015 NFB Legislative Agenda.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have an announcement from Anil Lewis, Executive Director of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, which says: “October is National Federation of the Blind Meet the Blind Month.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>During this month, the members of the NFB will concentrate our efforts on conducting outreach activities that will create opportunities for people to meet the blind of their communities, and to recognize that we are vital contributing members of society.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some members will conduct creative MTBM projects and programs. Others will staff NFB blindness information tables at local venues and events. Still others will simply walk around in populated areas with brochures, a smile, and a handshake. Whatever activity you choose, be sure to tell your story of how the National Federation of the Blind helps you live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We want to share what our members are doing across the country to promote Meet the Blind Month, so we encourage you to highlight your Meet the Blind Month activity by using social media. On Twitter, use hash tag #nfbmtbm14 to give us updates on your activity. On Facebook, post information about your activity on the National Federation of the Blind's timeline.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our independence market stands ready to ship brochures or other items you can use during Meet the Blind month and beyond. Our “What is the NFB” brochure, some NFB Braille alphabet cards, and our “Straight Forward Answers About Blindness” document are a few examples of information available for you to use as handouts for any MTBM activity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>No event is too big and no activity is too small. We would easily create hundreds of meet the blind opportunities if each chapter could conduct at least one event. Let’s get to work and make this October a true Meet the Blind Month.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here is an announcement from the President of our Computer Science and Technology Division, Steve Cook. “In 2013, the Computer Science & Technology Division (CSTD) provided a free class for users of iDevices with a panel discussion! Due to a great turn out and positive feedback, we are having it again in 2014. The CSTD will have a panel discussion for iDevices on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Federation Center of the Blind on 119 S Kilbourne, Columbia, SC 29205, from 10:00 to 4:00. With the recent release of IOS version 8, there are some changes in the operating system that will be demonstrated as well. We are requesting a $5 donation in order to purchase lunch. We are going to order pizza for everyone, and drinks will be provided. To suggest an app you would like to know more about or sign up for the class, call Steve Cook at (803) 254-0222 or Email at <a href="mailto:cookcafe@sc.rr.com">cookcafe@sc.rr.com</a>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic which defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want: blindness is not what holds you back.” 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> Hurricane Hugo has been in the news as this is the 25th anniversary of that terrible event which caused so much destruction. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing at the height of that terrible hurricane? I was attending a function at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and it was necessary to stay overnight to complete this event. During the late night I heard what sounded like a radio and discovered that Betty was listening to the radio at 2:00 a.m., listening to reports of the hurricane. Soon after the storm, Betty and I along with Dr. Jernigan took a trip on the QE II, celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary sailing to Great Brittan. During that trip Dr. Jernigan and I talked about Hurricane Hugo with my discussing several blind persons who were injured or had other severe loss. Upon my arrival back in the country, Dr. Jernigan sent a check from the NFB in the amount of $10,000 to assist these blind victims. At a meeting of the NFB of SC Board of Directors at RBRCCB held in the living room of Osterneck Cottage, the Board of Directors distributed these funds as fairly as possible. The distribution was based on the board’s discussion of each individual’s level of loss. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Last week public television featured a documentary on the life of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The documentary covered in detail the fact that President Roosevelt supported the creation of Social Security SSI, the vending facility program and vocational rehabilitation programs. This was in the mid 1930’s which was the time of the Great Depression. President Roosevelt was also confronted with the terrible decision of having to fight a war in the Atlantic and the Pacific simultaneously. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the Germans declared war on the USA following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Some years ago I was the national representative at the NFB of Hawaii and had the unforgettable experience of visiting Pearl Harbor which also included the USS Arizona Memorial ship. It was a very solemn occasion realizing that some 2,000 military personnel lost their lives and have not been disturbed since that time. Not many of you had been born by December 7, 1941, 73 years ago when Pearl Harbor was bombed, but I was a student at SCSDB. I was 13 years old and was playing football with the late Jimmie Smith when someone dashed out of the intermediate dormitory building and told us that President Roosevelt was on the radio reporting on the Pearl Harbor attack which the President said “would live on in infamy.” Incidentally, the late Jimmie Smith went on to become President of the Anderson Chapter and Vice President of the NFB of SC. His wife Jenny continues to be active in the Anderson Chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As you know, President Roosevelt was disabled from polio which he contracted as a young man but he never allowed polio to hold him back just as we will not let blindness hold us back. Perhaps this condition contributed to President Roosevelt’s strong support for many of the programs which still help the blind and others today. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, I’ve just begun to read the August/September Braille Monitor and three presidents stand out including Dr. Marc Maurer who just stepped down as NFB President, Mark Riccabono who was elected as NFB President and our own outstanding NFB of SC President Parnell Diggs who proudly told the convention that he was running for the office of Attorney General of South Carolina. I am pleased with the work done to date by our new Resident Manager Gwen Ellenburg at RBRCCB.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Watching weekend football is one way we can release all of our week long frustrations – to cheer emotionally and fervently - without ever leaving our seat.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>