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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>May 27, 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 1502<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> Pre-registration for the National Convention is open through Sunday, May 31. I pre-registered earlier this month, and it was easy. It took me about five minutes online, and I will save $10 and avoid the long lines at the Convention hotel. Please visit www.nfb.org and pre-register for the 2015 Diamond Anniversary Convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are up to forty-eight passengers on the chartered bus, which is wonderful given the slow start in filling the bus. As you know, I was worried about reserving an entire fifty-six passenger vehicle just a few weeks ago, but you have come through. This means that we have only eight seats remaining; so if you were thinking of traveling on the bus, you should hurry and get your reservations in.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to extend congratulations to Maria Boone of Sumter, the mother of two blind children, on receiving a Jernigan Convention Scholarship. Congratulations are also in order for Grady Dawkins of our Cherokee County Chapter and to Helen McNuer, president of our Laurens Chapter. Each of these individuals will be attending their first National Convention and will receive financial assistance through the Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following announcement is from President Mark Riccobono. “Guinness World Record” Join us for an exciting 75th anniversary experience! Be a part of history as the National Federation of the Blind breaks a world record for the largest umbrella mosaic. To participate, you’ll need only to open an umbrella on cue and hold it aloft. Our umbrellas, when viewed from above, will form a recognizable mosaic image. Get in on the excitement by going to https://nfb.org/gwr. We will be sending details as they develop to those that have signed up, as well as posting them on our website.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the April meeting of the NFB of SC Board of Directors, it was decided that the NFB of SC should offer sponsorship opportunities for organizations, agencies, and companies in the blindness field. This arrangement could be a great fundraiser for the NFB of SC as well as a valuable resource for blind South Carolinians who want to know about goods and services available to the blind of the state. Watch for more information coming soon.<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> No sooner had the senior blind completed their visit at RBRCCB then the Columbia Chapter began checking in at RBRCCB. I understand that there were several new senior blind members attending this year’s senior week. We all agree that we want to accommodate as many blind seniors as possible but we are limited as to how many we can accommodate. Valuable programs are provided for seniors. For example - Shelly Coppel's discussion group about day to day resources available for the blind of South Carolina. Our Resident Manager, Brooke West enjoyed her participation in senior camp. She was particularly impressed with Lenora Robertson and Ellen Taylor for their extremely hard work. Brooke stated that Lenora and Ellen worked from 6:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. Many of us are aware of the tremendous service rendered by Lenora and Ellen and they have our sincere gratitude. Brooke has been impressed by many of our members. Brooke has just completed renting RBRCCB’s facilities to a church group out of Hendersonville, NC. This church will be utilizing the facilities during two weeks in August which will bring in several thousands of dollars in rental revenues. Brooke is working hard to increase utilization of the facilities by rental groups, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Brooke and her fiancée Jami Rivers have been working on the swimming pool so that it will be properly serviced and in compliance with the Department of Health. Brooke West is a licensed swimming pool operator having passed a course for this training at a cost of several hundred dollars.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The South Carolina 2015 Legislative Manual was recently released. Our good Advisory Board member, Sen. Larry Martin had his office to send me a copy of this very informative Legislative Manual. In perusing the manual I noticed that RBRCCB has been honored by Sen. Martin who has indicated in his biographical information that he is a member of the RBRCCB Advisory Board. It is also noted that Rep. Rita Allison had included in her biographical information the fact that she is a past recipient of the NFB of SC’s Legislator of the Year Award. The inclusions by Sen. Martin and Rep. Allison honors our organizations and is helpful in our public education program. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are beginning to receive reservations for the Labor Day Fun Day Festival which will be held between Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7. If you plan to participate in this popular statewide Rocky Bottom program, you need to go ahead and make your reservation. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a charge of $35 for the entire Labor Day weekend food service covering three meals on Saturday, three meals on Sunday and Monday breakfast. I also hope that many across the state are selling your $5 Fun Day tickets. This activity is very helpful. We continue to receive contributions to the Lawton Hall repair fund and if you have not done so, we hope that you will consider this important matter with a gift to the project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “A great hamburger is like a good book – You don’t want to put it down until you’ve finished it.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>