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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>October 22, 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 1471<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> It is time once again to appoint NFB of SC committees for the new Federation year. I will be appointing statewide committees very soon, and I need you to tell me if you want to serve in any particular capacity on any committee. I can’t promise that you will get one hundred percent of what you want, but I will do my best. We have a great deal of talent in the Federation and plenty of opportunities to be of service.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Last week, I found that I was doing a fair amount of talking with the media about the Attorney General’s race. It was helpful to have the one-minute message at my disposal. Part of that message made it into The State Newspaper. “Blindness is not the characteristic that defines me…” was quoted. You can find the article on NFB Newsline in the most recent major issue dated October 19. <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. Debra Canty has memorized the message, and I hope others are doing their homework as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As to the upcoming elections, November 4 is only about two weeks away. Please make it a priority to vote on Election Day. The National Federation of the Blind has worked to make the voting process accessible. But not only that, voting is the very thing which separates us from many other nations around the world in that we have the right to select our leaders.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I would appreciate your vote on November 4. That being said, here is my brief campaign speech. If a blind child is denied an appropriate public education in South Carolina and his family files a lawsuit, who do you want involved in the Attorney General’s Office working on behalf of the state?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whether we are talking about access to accessible voting machines, Braille instruction in the classroom, or legal interpretations of the Randolph-Sheppard Program, we need a Federationist in office. Please forgive the campaign speech, but if I said nothing, people would think I just assumed that fellow Federationists would vote for me. I do not take your vote for granted. 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>Autumn was at its best last weekend in Rocky Bottom. The weather was wonderful and the mountain air was invigorating. The primary purpose of our being in RBRCCB was to participate in a meeting of the Advisory Board on Monday. However, I did have an important conference with our Resident Manager Gwen Ellenburg concerning the affairs of RBRCCB. Prior to the Advisory Board meeting Gwen prepared and served an excellent luncheon attended by some dozen persons. The highlight of the Advisory Board meeting was electing a new Advisory Board member, Margaret Douglass who resides in Clemson. Mrs. Douglass has a background in education including teaching. She is a leader in the Clemson Lions Club and in the district. Advisory Board Chairman John Sarpy extended a warm welcome to Mrs. Douglass. It was my pleasure to also cordially welcome Mrs. Douglass. She represents important people in the Clemson area and will provide balance to the board. After sharing her personal information Mrs. Douglass called upon me to explain my role in this big program of service to the blind. I talked about my many years, 61 to be exact, in which I have held offices with the state organization as well as with the national organization and of course with the Columbia Chapter. I also talked about the history of RBRCCB and the remarkable development of this unique service to the blind. It was a pleasure in having Senator Larry Martin present for the luncheon and board meeting. This provided me with an opportunity to thank in person Senator Martin for his sponsorship of the Blind Persons Right to Parent Act which sailed through committees in both the Senate and the House because of the high esteem in which Senator Martin is held by members in both houses. Other board members present were Mr. Billy Singleton and Ralph Crittenden and we were appreciative of having five board members in attendance as these are highly important and busy citizens. Incidentally, Mr. Singleton is highly supportive of RBRCCB with generous contributions from time to time. I had an opportunity to thank Mr. Singleton for his recent contribution to the swimming pool and the Fun Day Festival. The swimming pool which is of course closed for the winter is very important to us. I know that groups enjoying the swimming pool next summer will be aware of the high cost involved. It was an excellent Advisory Board meeting. As we were preparing to return to Columbia, a very dear lady, Mrs. Dorcas Campbell, President of Chesterfield County Chapter of the NFB of SC had arrived earlier and we exchanged warm greetings. She will be enjoying Oglesby Cottage for the entire week. Her chapter is especially supportive of RBRCCB and Mrs. Campbell makes this possible by her excellent leadership. Congratulations to President Diggs for extensive coverage of his race for the Attorney General’s office appearing in the Monday, October 20 edition of The State newspaper. It made the front page with a picture!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>