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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>January 14, 2015<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 1483<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 really need to be working on our $1 bus tickets in these last few weeks before the January 31 Statewide Seminar. As I explained last week, we use the bus ticket proceeds to pay for our chartered bus to the National Convention. We collect proceeds through the sale of $1 tickets and conduct a drawing at the Statewide Seminar, which will occur, again, on January 31.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The seller of the winning ticket will receive $300, the buyer of the winning ticket will also receive $300, and the chapter which sells the most tickets will receive $300. The remainder will be held in a bank account to help cover the cost of a chartered bus to Orlando. We are also offering seats on the chartered bus for those interested in traveling to Orlando on the chartered bus at a cost of $70 per seat.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For those who decide to “opt out” of the chartered bus campaign, I would point out that I would not ask others to do what I am not willing to do. Thus, even though I have not ridden the bus for years, we have bought and sold bus tickets every year to support this important initiative, as have many NFB of SC leaders. We need to each do our fair share to make the campaign successful.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have begun receiving dues from some chapters, but we need to hear from others. Annual state dues are a very affordable $10 per member, or just over 80 cents per month. This is also an excellent time to update contact information for your members. Remember that state dues are late if they are not in by January 1, and your membership is not in good standing if not paid by January 31.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>During the Statewide Seminar, we will be running an auction to raise funds for the Federation Center. It would be wonderful if we could gather enough items to auction something off between each presentation. Please give this some thought and try to come up with something great! We need your auction items in abundance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations to Tiffany Mitchell, who is the new President of our Columbia Chapter. Tiffany is taking over for Steve Sheck, who needed to step back for health reasons. I appreciate Steve’s service and the excellent support of his devoted wife Wanda. I was at the Columbia Chapter meeting in December and noted the tremendous amount of love and kindness shown by the Shecks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They worked long into the night, following the chapter meeting, to help David Houck address a maintenance issue. No one knew about this after people had returned to their homes, but the Shecks and the Houcks were there doing the work that no one else would have wanted to do. I am also excited about Tiffany Mitchell’s prospects as our Columbia Chapter President, and I am looking for great things from Columbia in 2015!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have a very important announcement about the new NFB of SC website from the President of our Computer Science and Technology Division, Steve Cook. Here is what he says.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“If you are a Chapter or Division President in the NFB of SC and would like to make sure information about your chapter or division is on our new NFB of SC website, please send the below information to <a href="mailto:cookcafe@sc.rr.com">cookcafe@sc.rr.com</a>. If you do not have Email access, give me a call at (803) 254-0222, be sure to leave me a message if we do not answer the phone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For example: name of NFB of SC Chapter or Division, names and positions of chapter or division officers, contact information for your chapter. This can be a phone number, Email or any other method you choose for someone to contact you. (Be sure to have the individual’s permission to post their name on the website). You may want to list the meeting time and location for your chapter or division, IE: the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Pizza Hut 123 Example Road, Columbia, SC 29201 from 7:00 to 8:30.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>List any cost associated with meetings (such as meals, chapter transportation if any, etc.). Or any other information you feel people may want to know about your chapter or division.”<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. 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> Our Columbia Chapter held its first meeting of the New Year on Thursday, January 8. Steve Sheck who was re-elected as President in October advised the gathering that health conditions have resulted in his decision to resign as President. His wife Wanda is also experiencing health conditions. Both of them will continue their participation in the chapter. Steve has been a member of the federation for several decades. He has served as chapter President on several occasions. Everyone wishes the Shecks the very best and trust that both will secure good health. Tiffany Mitchell who was elected First Vice President of the chapter in October assumed the presidency upon Steve’s resignation. Isaiah Nelson assumed the office of First Vice President as he was elected Second Vice President in October. Both Tiffany and Isaiah have been members of the federation for some time. I believe that both will do well in their new offices. I was glad to tell both of them that I will be supportive. At the February meeting there will be an election to fill the office of Second Vice President. David Houck serves as Chairman of the Nominating Committee which will nominate a candidate for the Second Vice President’s office. The guest speaker was Derric Becker who is the public information officer for the SC Emergency Management Division. Mr. Becker stated he has the responsibility of coordinating help upon the occurrence of a natural disaster such as hurricanes, tornadoes and even earthquakes. There was a lively question and answer period as there was much interest in Mr. Becker’s presentation. Tiffany Mitchell called upon David Houck for the Center’s report concerning the Statewide Seminar and improvements to the Center’s facilities. No doubt there have been other chapter meetings across the state as the New Year has gotten off to a good beginning. Each month the Columbia Chapter has a dinner meeting which is prepared by Isaiah Nelson. We are indebted to “Ike” as he is affectionately called, for his outstanding service in the preparation of the food.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> For more than 40 years there has been held a Statewide Seminar at the Federation Center of the Blind. Annually, some 200 members attend this statewide gathering. It is a most important conference and members appreciate the mid-winter meeting. As you have been notified, this year’s Statewide Seminar will be held on Saturday, January 31. I look forward to seeing all of you at that time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As covered in our recent Positive Notes, Lawton Memorial Hall at RBRCCB is in need of repairs. We have approached foundations in making a grant to cover the $6,800 cost of the repairs. Meanwhile, we have received the first contribution for this project in the amount of $100 from Carolyn Lawton who we believe is a relative of our founder, Dr. Samuel Miller Lawton. Any help you can provide will be appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There is a transition involving the Resident Manager’s position at RBRCCB. The vacancy was brought about by financial impropriety. The RBRCCB Board of Directors is well aware of this transition. January and February are understandably the slowest months of the year. However, the state office is available for service during this transition. A new Resident Manager will be secured as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Sometimes the quickest way to learn how to do something is to be placed in charge of the project.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>