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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 8, 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 1495<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 message from Columbia Chapter President Tiffany Mitchell, who wanted me to let you know that, in cooperation with the Spartanburg Chapter and the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, an Easter egg hunt was conducted last Thursday with beeping eggs being used so that the blind children could hunt for eggs without assistance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I remember those days when I participated in Easter egg hunts, and as you can imagine I was never very good at it. Tiffany tells me that the event received excellent coverage in the newspaper, and the Columbia Chapter was able to solicit donations for the beeping eggs through the newspaper coverage of the event. Congratulations on a job well done! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As we announced last week, our new mobile app, NFB Connect, is now available for IOS devices. You can find it in the Apple App Store, or just use the following link on your iOS device to download it directly: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nfb-connect/id968434124.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is an issue that prevents the “Chapters and Regional Info” feature from functioning properly on some devices; however, we believe that the problem will be resolved some time this week. It will be a pleasure to demonstrate the new NFB Connect app at the Board meeting this Saturday. In the meantime, it is already working great, so check the app store and stay tuned for more details.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you attended the 2014 Board Retreat at Rocky Bottom, you are aware that Gary Wunder, who edits the NFB’s flagship publication, the Braille Monitor, was at the retreat to participate in the Board meetings and write an article for the Braille Monitor about the NFB of SC and its programs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>That article, entitle “South Carolina: An Affiliate with Treasures, Traditions, and Targets for Future Accomplishments”, appears in the April issue of the Braille Monitor, and I encourage you to read it at your upcoming chapter meetings. It is not every day that a state affiliate receives this kind of coverage, and we should all feel very proud to receive this attention at the national level.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is time to make hotel reservations (as I have done) for the National Convention, which will occur this year from July 5 through July 10. To do this, you should write directly to the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819. You can also call the hotel at (800) 204-7234.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 2015 room rates are singles, doubles, and twins, $82; and triples and quads, $89. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 13.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The hotel will ask for a deposit of $95 for each room and will want a credit card number or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $95 check. If a reservation is cancelled before May 28, 2015, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I also want to remind you of the upcoming meeting of the NFB of SC Board of Directors at 1:00 PM this Saturday, April 11 at the Federation Center of the Blind following the Rocky Bottom meeting. We will be doing a great deal of planning about the State Convention, and I need you there. Please help us plan for the 2015 State Convention by providing your input!<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> Easter Sunday was beautiful in every respect. As we stepped out of the door of our residence I was told it looked like an open florist with all of the flowers and dogwoods at their peak. It may be hometown pride but throughout the years I’ve lived in Columbia (69 years) Columbia has been a very beautiful city. There are azaleas, tulips, wisterias and other flowers which made the day very special. Just up the street from where we live there was a cross made with different flowers. It seemed that this year there was a greater celebration of Easter than in recent years. Our son Craig dropped by our residence Easter morning and drove Betty and me to his condominium for a visit lasting most of the day. We were able to hear a good Easter sermon on television as Dr. Wendell Estepp, Pastor of Columbia’s First Baptist Church is a superb minister and we thoroughly enjoyed his Easter message. I really know that the primary and principle purpose of the Positive Note is to feature our programs of service to the blind but I felt compelled the need to share with you, my fellow blind, the tremendous appreciation we have for Easter. The music at First Baptist Church was also wonderful. It features a large orchestra and choir. Craig, who is a good cook, prepared a wonderful Easter dinner. It included a Cornish hen (slightly better than a regular hen), and vegetables consisting of carrots, green beans, tomatoes, cabbage and rice and gravy. It was topped off with chocolate cake. After the wonderful meal, Craig played for us on his wonderful stereo system many of my favorite songs. I love to hear Kate Smith sing, “God Bless America” and, “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain.” We also enjoyed Judy Garland’s rendition of, “Easter Parade” which no one does better than Judy. Incidentally, the song was sung by Judy Garland in concert in 1960. Also she sang, “You Never Walk Alone” from Carousel which incidentioally is my favorite song as I want it sung at my funeral. We also enjoyed songs sung by Pat Boone. Frank Sonatra and Rosemary Clooney sang, “Some Enchanted Evening” from the Broadway production of South Pacific. Craig has several thousand CD’s as well as an impressive library. We also saw the CNN production of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and it was done quite well, as well as can be expected by television documentaries. Easter Sunday was topped off with a telephone call during the evening hours from our beloved granddaughter Laura Holdcraft who wanted to tell us that she and her husband and two children will be visiting with us beginning June 4. They live in Louisville. It was a grand Easter. I realize all of you across the state also had a meaningful Easter. I want to congratulate Frank Clark, President of our Oconee County Chapter for sending a chapter contribution of $100 to the Lawton Hall Fund. Frank recognized the importance of supporting this most worthy project and he has my deep appreciation. I look forward to seeing several of you this Saturday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Remember April 15 – tax day – Many happy returns!”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>