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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>December 8, 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 1478<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> In just a few days, we will converge upon Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind for the 2014 Christmas Board Retreat. For the first time, we will conduct three Board meetings (including the Rocky Bottom Board, the Federation Center Board, and the State Board) followed by a celebration of the Christmas Season on Saturday evening featuring a holiday dinner and Christmas party.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you would like to participate in the gift exchange on Saturday evening, please bring a gift which reflects your gender. Also, if you would like to enjoy some delicious sweets after dinner on Saturday evening, please bring your favorite pies, cakes, cookies, etc. This would be a great time to break out those special recipes. That’s right; I am counting on you to bring some great sweets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let us know when you will be arriving, as Dr. Capps and I will be making room assignments and planning for meals in a few days. And remember, you need to bring your linens including sheets and towels. When you arrive, be sure to check with the resident manager to ascertain your room assignment. And lastly, please come to the Board meetings whether you are on a particular board or not because we need your input. The 2014 Retreat is shaping-up to be the best in NFB of SC history! I hope you can make it!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let me talk about the mailings going out of the State Office. In recent weeks, we have been requesting that people opt-in to continue receiving the Positive Note in print if they would like to do so. If you don’t mind receiving your Positive Note by email, on the other hand, you can sign up for the listserv by visiting www.nfbsc.net, or simply send us an email at nfbsc@sc.rr.com. You can also elect to receive the Positive Note in print in 2015 simply by letting us know you want it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In short, there are three ways you can indicate your interest in receiving the Positive Note. Call us, email us, or sign-up for the listserv. You should do at least one of these things by the end of the year. This will help us update our mailing lists and streamline the delivery of the Positive Note.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to thank our Cherokee County Chapter, and it’s President Jamie Allison, for sending in their State dues. Dues of $10 per member should be paid by January 1. They are considered delinquent if not paid by January 31, the date of the 2015 Statewide Seminar. Yes: the Statewide Seminar is on the Horizon.<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 the 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. See you this weekend! 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> President Diggs has very nicely covered the activities and the three board meetings for this weekend. This is shaping up to be the largest turnout we’ve ever had for the annual Christmas Board Retreat. This year there will be meetings of three different organizations, the NFB of SC, Rocky Bottom and the Federation Center of the Blind. These three boards feature many of the outstanding state leaders as these are leadership roles. As of today, Monday, December 8, rooms in all four overnight accommodations will be utilized. To accommodate everyone, some sharing of room accommodations is necessary but federationists are accustomed to sharing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Speaking of leadership, I’m reminded of our 2000 state convention at which time I stepped down as state President and gave the torch to a young blind lawyer, Parnell Diggs who has developed into one of the finest state Presidents in the country and is a leader on our national board. I’m pleased to be able to participate in roles I am confident with but the state presidency is very demanding and deserves our very best leader. Speaking of the 2000 state convention, it seems appropriate to take a look back and review some of the things we were doing nearly 15 years ago. Please join me as we travel down memory lane. Over 350 delegates attended the new Millennium Convention including Dr. Marc Maurer as our national representative. Friday’s convention activities included several exhibits, registration, divisional meetings, and the resolutions committee meeting, all topped off with an excellent evening reception. The Saturday morning session included door prizes throughout, welcoming speakers, convention announcements, an informative National Report by Dr. Marc Maurer, Dr. Nell Carney gave the report from the Commission for the Blind, Dr. Sheila Breitweiser gave the School for the Deaf and Blind report and Attorney Bob Wood discussed our victory in the Greenville County School District case regarding Carol Randolph. Dr. Capps report on the NFB of SC was especially informative as he noted he would be stepping down as President but he would not be stepping away. The luncheon featured greetings from US Senator Strom Thurmond and the keynote speaker was Honorable Rita Allison who received the Legislator of the Year Award and a framed resolution drafted by the Resolutions Committee and adopted by the convention. At that time Earle E. Morris, Jr. presented Dr. Capps with the Order of the Palmetto and Betty Capps with the Order of the Silver Crescent for their longtime service to the state’s blind. The afternoon session agenda featured several chapter presidents giving their federation life stories, Guynell Williams reported on the progress of Talking Book Services, an employment panel gave the employment successes of several blind federation members, both NFB Jobline and NFB Newsline services were discussed, David Houck gave the Federation Center report and Bob Bell headed up the Rocky Bottom report. Speaking of the 2001 bus fund, it was heartening that the NFB of SC brought back the 2000 Detroit NFB convention banner back to South Carolina. The sale of bus fund tickets makes a real difference in national convention attendance. Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and US Senator Ernest Hollings joined in on the convention Banquet activities Saturday evening. Special NFB of SC coffee mugs and coasters were presented to Banquet attendees. NFB of SC charter member Ruth Weeks was presented with the Presidential Citation, Irene Casey received the Educator of the Year Award, ANC Rental Corporation received the Employer of the Year Award, Julius Broughton received $1,100 from the Ellen Beach Mack Home Award, Darlene Houck received the Associate Member of the Year Award, Carey Burris received the Donald C. Capps Award, Guynell Williams received the Distinguished Service Award and $9,000 in scholarships were granted to ten deserving blind college students. NFB President Dr. Marc Maurer presented the keynote Banquet address telling about his life experiences with blindness. The convention delegates also contributed $10,000 to the Jernigan Institute for the Blind capital campaign. Sunday’s session included the Devotional and Memorial Service, chapter and division reports, resolutions adopted by the convention, NFB of SC and Rocky Bottom financial reports, NFB stewardship reports, and election of officers which included President Parnell Diggs, First Vice President Frank Coppel, Second Vice President Lenora Robertson, Secretary Dorothy Barksdale, Treasurer David Houck and board members David Bundy, Marty McKenzie, Phil Patterson, Nancy Hines and Sheila Compton. Thus the torch of leadership had been passed on to President Parnell Diggs. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Christmas Board retreat this weekend.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “A retreat is not a falling back but it is a regrouping in order to go forward.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>