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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 15, 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 1509<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> We are back from the historic Diamond Anniversary Convention of the National Federation of the Blind, and what a Convention it was! President Riccobono was magnificent in presiding over the entire Convention program and brought down the house with his Banquet Address and the Presidential Report. The movement is in excellent hands for the next generation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale did an excellent job as bus captain and was complementary of the passengers’ willingness to follow instructions and for their help in making the trip as smooth as possible. The NFB of SC placed 8th in attendance with nearly one hundred members registered out of over 2800 registered from across the nation and around the world.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As we look to the State Convention, I must emphasize the important message that the Columbia Marriott only has a few rooms remaining in our room block even though our cut-off date is July 31. Remember, the block may not last that long. You must act now! Please call to make reservations for the 2015 State Convention during the weekend of August 21 through 23!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Reservations for the Convention should be made directly with Marriott reservations at (800) 593-6465 or (803) 771-7000. Every year, I receive calls from members who ask me to step in and secure a room for them, but in fairness I am telling you now that I will not be able to intervene this time because there are other events taking place as well during the weekend we are in town, and the hotel really will be out of rooms, and there will be nothing we can do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pre-registration is also open. 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 with each payment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the meantime, I will be handling plans for the Convention along with our host chapter, Columbia, and President Tiffany Mitchell and her team. Frank Coppel will also be in Columbia between now and the Convention and will be heavily involved in Convention preparations and is eminently qualified to be our State President following the Convention and for the next number of years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At this writing, Kim, Jordan, and I are preparing to depart for Baltimore. They will be helping me to get settled, as I prepare to assume responsibilities as Director of Government Affairs on Monday, July 20. Our family will be maintaining two households for a time, and I will be commuting from Baltimore to Myrtle Beach. Kim and Jordan will remain in South Carolina and will visit me in Baltimore from time-to-time. While not typical, this arrangement is becoming more common in the twenty-first century.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Incidentally, I plan to be at Rocky Bottom for the Annual Fun Day Festival, as I agreed to serve as Auctioneer several months ago. In fact, Kim and Jordan also plan to attend, and we will be joined by Kim’s parents for the weekend as well. And remember, even though I will be spending most of my time in Baltimore working at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, we will still be relatives in the Federation family.<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> The year was 1989 and the NFB of SC and the Columbia Chapter were hosting a membership dinner at the Federation Center. I situated myself at the entrance of the Federation Center in order to extend a warm welcome to everyone who attended. I was especially eager to be sure that every new attendee was important and made to feel exceptionally welcome. A young blind man who was a student at USC entered the Center and we exchanged greetings. His name was Parnell Diggs. He brought along his faithful guitar and during the memorable evening he entertained the turnout. It was learned that he performed at different restaurants to earn spending money to help with his expenses at USC where he was a student and later would be attending law school. Parnell obviously was impressed with the presentations made at the dinner and readily signed on with the organization that would later change his life. Soon he would be attending his first NFB of SC state convention where he was tremendously impressed as members of Congress were present as well as NFB national leaders and a host of enthusiastic blind leaders from across the state. He soon attended his first national convention and by that time he had become wholly committed to a lifetime of service to his fellow blind, both statewide and nationally. Parnell showed his commitment by serving in many offices. Only 19 when he had joined the federation, Parnell served in the Student Division and later he served on the Federation Center’s board, on the RBRCCB board and on the NFB of SC board where he ultimately served as Treasurer. At the 2000 NFB of SC convention, Parnell was elected state President by acclamation and served in that capacity continuously. While there were numerous achievements under his leadership, the Blind Person’s Right to Parent Act passed unanimously in both the House and Senate in July of 2014 without even one descanting vote which was remarkable. Parnell was elected to the national board in 2007 and served until his recent resignation to accept this important position as Director of Governmental Affairs. There’s no question in my mind but that he will serve with distinction in his new office. He has our very best wishes. Of course, we will miss him. I’m glad that he will be at the state convention and at RBRCCB during the Fun Day Festival where he will serve as auctioneer. It’s not too early to get auction items. I’m glad that the entire Diggs family and Kim’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gossett will be participating in the Labor Day Fun Day Festival. Frank Coppel is eminently qualified to serve as President of the NFB of SC and he has my total support. We have other state officers who will step up to the plate and provide good leadership. Parnell will join another prominent South Carolinian when he reports to work on July 20, this being Chris Danielsen. They have been longtime friends and practiced law together for a while. The NFB of SC is proud of these native sons. Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with Kim and Jordan as they make this transition.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity”. - Aristotle<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>