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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 9, 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 1508<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Greetings from Orlando, Florida, the site of the Diamond Anniversary Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. As I write this edition of the Positive Note, I have returned to my hotel room on the 24th floor of the Rosen Center after the close of the opening session. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is a big day in the federation family! This morning at 6:15 a.m. federationists began lining up to walk outside to get into formation and create the largest umbrella mosaic in history according to the Guinness Book of World Records.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The previous record was 2,170 participants, and that record is no more. This morning in Orlando 2,487 participants according to the Guinness Book of World Records, created a mosaic which featured the federation message, “live the life you want” which could be recognized from above.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Just a few feet over our heads as we stood under the Orlando morning skies, an unmanned drone flew around the Rosen Center property taking photographs to provide an image of what could be seen from overhead. As you could imagine an incredible amount of planning went into this historic event with workers making preparations for this attempt for the past several mornings beginning at 5:00 a.m. When I arrived at the spot where I was to stand to help create the image, I found an umbrella at my feet; and at the appointed time I (along with 2,486 others) raised my umbrella above my head for five minutes creating the mosaic that could be read from the sky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Other convention notes are also very positive. Dorothy Barksdale did a wonderful job handling the responsibilities as chartered bus captain, helping many of our members get to Orlando Sunday. South Carolina is 8th in attendance thus far with a total of 88 registered by the end of the day on Monday. In fact, some of our members have to sit elsewhere because there are too few seats in the South Carolina delegation. As I remarked to Dorothy, this is a most delightful problem to have.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During yesterday’s board meeting I announced that I will not be a candidate for the National Board in 2015, as President Riccabono has asked me to close my law practice and relocate to Baltimore in order to manage Governmental Affairs at the NFB Jernigan Institute. I am honored that our national president thinks highly of South Carolina to once again look to our membership as a source of talent to work at our national headquarters. As you know Chris Danielsen also works at the national headquarters as did our own Dan Frye for a number of years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> President Riccabono has asked me to preside at our convention this August in Columbia. Thus, I will look forward to participating in the convention; however, I will resign the Presidency effective at the close of the convention. There are many details to be worked out regarding the agenda, the reception and other matters, and I look forward to your help in making this the best convention ever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Our room block is nearly gone. If you want a room, you are urged to act immediately by calling 803-771-7000. The deadline is July 31 but I don’t believe the rooms will last that long. We will be returning to South Carolina on Saturday after the close of the convention, and I will fill you in on our convention happenings in next week’s Positive Note. For now, goodbye from Orlando.<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> We are having a flashback feature in this Positive Note of the 2002 NFB of SC convention which should be of interest to all of you. Here is what happened in August of 2002: The August 9-11, 2002 Columbia convention of the NFB of SC was held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel and featured NFB President Dr. Marc Maurer as our National Representative. Some 325 delegates registered at the convention and attended exhibits in the Exhibit Hall, NFB of SC Parent’s, Merchants and Student division meetings and Resolutions and Ellen Beach Mack Home Award committee meetings. The evening Reception was a highlight of the day’s events. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Saturday morning RBRCCB board breakfast conducted regular business such as Fun Day preparations with Dr. Maurer attending. The Saturday morning session consisted of an invocation and greetings by federation officials as well as convention arrangements. Dr. Marc Maurer gave the National Report recounting the progress of the NFB over the past year. Commissioner Dr. Nell Carney gave the report from the Commission for the Blind which was embroiled in an LAC audit report. The NFB of SC fought to support the Commission’s services for the blind in the LAC matter. President Dr. Sheila Breitweiser reported on the progress of the School for the Deaf and Blind over the past year including renovations made to Walker Hall. Miss Guynell Williams, Director of Talking Book Services updated the delegates concerning talking books and being the first state agency to carry NFB Newsline services, giving the blind access by phone to daily newspapers in SC and nationwide. Parnell Diggs gave the Presidential Report which was inspiring and is carried in the November 2002 edition of the Palmetto Blind. At the noontime luncheon Sen. Verne Smith received the Legislator of the Year Award and Congressman Joe Wilson was the keynote speaker. Both were instrumental on legislative issues for the blind statewide and nationally. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The afternoon session featured an all blind employment panel explaining how each had achieved excellent career opportunities. Chairman Donald Capps reported on the RBRCCB program including Fun Day coming up, children’s camps and senior blind camps, etc. David Houck reported on the Federation Center of the Blind and recent upgrades in adaptive computer training in our Computer Lab. Marty McKenzie spoke concerning the education of blind children in South Carolina. A panel of several federation members spoke about why they are federationists which was inspired. The delegates also heard from the President of the Ivy Creek Guide Dog School. Chapter and Division Presidents reported on the progress of their activity over the past year. Edsel Doyle gave the 2003 Louisville Convention Bus Fund report and bus tickets were distributed. Dr. Marc Maurer gave the banquet keynote address recounting what he learned from previous conventions (his first being the NFB of SC 1969 state convention). Betsy Hunnicutt received the Educator of the Year Award, Sears of Spartanburg received the Employer of the Year Award, James Nelson received the Ellen Beach Mack Home Award, Rocky Bottom Advisory Board member Dr. Clarence “Spike” Hans received the Associate Member of the Year Award, Diane Collins received the Donald C. Capps Award and 15 scholarships were distributed to deserving blind college students. Federation attorney Eugene Rogers received a convention resolution in his honor and Center Advisory Board member Rex Wilson received the Distinguished Service Award. Barry Chavis was the recipient of the Presidential Citation. Prior to the Sunday morning session the NFB of SC Board of Directors held a board breakfast. Henry Kluizenaar performed the Devotional and Memorial Service, Chris Danielsen gave the Resolutions Committee Report, the annual financial reports were read for the NFB of SC and RBRCCB, various national stewardship reports were given and elections were held. All five executive board positions were re-elected and other positions elected included Diane Collins, Nancy Hines, Marty McKenzie, Fred Vercher and Billy Eubanks. Other delegates attending included the states of Mississippi, Maryland and Indiana. It was a busy and exciting convention! Our thoughts are with the SC delegation attending this week’s 75th anniversary convention of the NFB and we will look forward to hearing about it. We have mixed emotions about President Diggs as we will certainly miss him when he leaves South Carolina for Baltimore but this certainly is a tremendous honor for him to have been appointed by President Riccabono as Director of Governmental Affairs which is a very high and important position.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Celebrating 75 years of service to blind Americans through the National Federation of the Blind. A Diamond Anniversary!<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>