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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>June 3, 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 1503<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 weeks, we will be heading to Orlando for the Seventy-fifth Annual National Federation of the Blind Convention. Rooms at the Rosen Centre, the convention hotel (as well as the spill-over hotel) are gone; however, President Riccobono has worked hard to secure other accommodations for those who are still looking for rooms. Visit NFB.org for more details.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At last count, some fifty-two Federationists have reserved seats on the chartered bus. Some have indicated that they want a seat and have promised to send in their deposits, but we must give seats to members on a first-come first-served basis. We have only four seats remaining, which is a tremendous accomplishment given that we had relatively few seats reserved in early May. You’d better act now!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Remember that on Wednesday morning of the National Convention, we will be attempting to set a world record for the largest umbrella mosaic. Come and be one of the some three thousand participants and help set a world record. More information about this effort is forthcoming in next week’s Positive Note.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you know, the State Convention is coming-up fast. The Columbia Marriott is now accepting reservations for the 2015 State Convention during the weekend of August 21 through 23! Reservations for the Event should be made directly with Marriott reservations at (800) 593-6465 or (803) 771-7000.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I should also add that pre-reservation is now open for the NFB of SC State Convention. The very affordable price of $70 per person will give you admission to all events and cover your meals from Friday evening dinner through Sunday morning breakfast. Please make checks out to the NFB of SC and send them to the State Office noting which members are covered.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have an announcement from Scholarship Chairperson, Shannon Cook, about the upcoming June 15 deadline to apply for a National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina scholarship. Here is what she says. “It is that time of year again: Scholarship Time! If you or someone you know will be attending college or graduate school in the fall of 2015 and is blind, please encourage them to apply for a 2015 NFB of SC Scholarship. The web address is nfbofsc.org.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They can click on the Scholarship link and complete the application. Scholarships will be awarded at the state convention the weekend of August 21-23. We also want to remind our chapters and divisions that we are taking donations, in any amount, for the Metro Fund, which allows the Scholarship Committee to supplement worthy recipients with a little extra funding.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On that note, I want to echo Shannon’s comments regarding the need to support the scholarship program. Funds can be awarded only if we have them. The NFB of SC is successful because of its members and their dedication and generosity. The more scholarships we have, the more we can give away. Please keep those donations coming because our students need the help.<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> Every wedding is important but last Saturday’s wedding was unusually meaningful. This is especially true when the wedding is held at RBRCCB which is located in a beautiful, pristine area. The great-granddaughter of our Lifetime Honorary Advisory Board Chairman Mr. Ralph M. Ellenburg, Sr. was married at RBRCCB on Saturday, May 30 and Rocky Bottom was honored to host this lifetime experience. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Correction – Lenora Robertson, our excellent food service chairperson has advised me of some changes in the meals to be provided at the Labor Day Fun Day Festival. The following is the correction: There will be a charge of $30 per person for six meals which include Saturday breakfast and dinner, Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Monday breakfast. There will be a charge of $10 for a special meal to take place at the luncheon on Saturday. The meal will be extra good as it will include such things as barbecue, your drink and dessert. This Saturday lunch is $10. Lenora points out that in order to generate some funding for Fun Day it is necessary to slightly increase the charge for the food during the Labor Day weekend. Also, Lenora reminds us that the food costs increased significantly over the past year which is a factor in the food costs over Labor Day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have already heard from a number of people who have signed up for the Fun Day Festival and be sure to get your reservation in right away. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a busy time for the NFB of SC, NFB and RBRCCB but all activities are enjoyable. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> With summer almost here RBRCCB will be hosting a variety of groups which will result in badly needed revenues. Getting the swimming pool ready this year has resulted in greater expense than in the past. Our Resident Manager Brooke West with valuable help from her fiancée Jami has already put in a lot of time getting the pool ready. It appears that at least $1,000 will be involved including the two day course Brooke participated in to become a Licensed Pool Operator. We want to accommodate as many as possible consistent with the rules and laws according to DHEC. The Rocky Bottom pool is a private pool. We want our swimming pool to be safe for everyone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Pansy Psomas at one time was an Associate member of the Greenwood Chapter. She recently passed away. While I remember Pansy, I was especially fond of her sister Despo Zouras who was a voting member of the chapter. Despo attended state and national conventions. Despo passed away some years ago. Despo and the chapter President Tommy McNeill made a very good combination and provided leadership for the chapter. We extend sincere sympathy to the Psomas family in the passing of both Despo and Pansy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “We think of things as being finite because we are finite beings – We live with infinite things because we are also infinite.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>