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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>June 10, 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 1504<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 have an update from Chris Danielsen regarding the world record attempt. Here is what he says. “As you know, on July 8, just prior to the first general session of our seventy-fifth anniversary convention, the National Federation of the Blind will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest umbrella mosaic. If you plan to be part of this historic effort, please register to participate at https://www.nfb.org/gwr. Your registration will help us maintain an accurate count of participants and will also ensure that you receive important information before and after the record attempt, including information on how you can receive your very own Guinness World Record certificate of participation in setting a new world record!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Registration only takes a minute or two, so just click the link above or copy and paste it into your browser, provide the requested information, and you’re all set! See you in Orlando for our record-breaking seventy-fifth anniversary convention!”<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> Betty and I were the recipients of much joy last week. Our three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (ages 1 ½, 3 ½ and 5 ½) visited with us traveling from Louisville, Kentucky. It had been nearly a year since we had seen them and we were jubilant to be with them. Elizabeth is 1 ½, Mason 3 ½, and Brooke 5 ½. Mason can spell his first name and count to 14. Brooke is entering kindergarten. Elizabeth is a very busy but beautiful 1 ½ year-old. On Saturday all of them left for Myrtle Beach. Their visit was uplifting and enjoyable. We hope that we will see them before another year rolls around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Although we are prevented from attending the 75th anniversary convention of the NFB, we do get excited when we read about developments including Chris Danielsen’s communication with President Diggs. I would really like to be in Orlando for this wonderful occasion but Betty and I have health conditions which prevent us from attending this convention. We are blessed to have attended 56 consecutive NFB conventions, the first being in 1956 and the last one being in 2011. It’s unlikely that very many members can top this attendance record. I’m also blessed to have served continuously on the NFB board from 1959 to 2011. For much of that time I was recognized for being a senior board member of the NFB. I was Vice President for most of that time. I wouldn’t take anything for the wonderful experiences I’ve had as a result of being a member of the NFB. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The swimming pool at RBRCCB will be ready on Friday. We want to thank our Resident Manager, Brooke West for putting in a lot of time and energy in getting the swimming pool ready as a lot had to be done to make this possible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Let me reminisce about one of the largest yard sales I’ve ever seen or participated in. In January 1979 we began fundraising to renovate and expand the Osterneck Cottage. A wonderful lady, Mrs. L. P. Armstrong-Garrett, who passed away a couple of years ago, suggested that we have a yard sale and she would serve as Chairperson of the project. Len Hathaway who had spent time at radio station WMAL in Washington, DC, had recently moved to Columbia accepting a position with WIS radio. He became active in the project and plugged the event on numerous occasions on WIS. Many individuals throughout Columbia generously gave items for the yard sale. It was held at the Fairgrounds and when it was time to have the yard sale we made a profit of just over $5,000. That amount was very helpful in our early days. We made many friends as a result of this unique yard sale. Mrs. Garrett made a generous contribution of $5,000 to the Conference Center where her portrait hangs in the Dining Hall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Do you have your “KFC”? – kindness, faithfulness and compassion.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>