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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 29, 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 1511<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 have exceeded our room block for 2015 at the Columbia Marriott. The deadline is this Friday, July 31, to make your reservations for the upcoming State Convention. If by any chance you have not made that call to get your reservations taken care of and you plan to do so, good luck. The phone number is 803-771-7000 if you want to give it a try.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Just a few days ago, I received the excellent news from President Riccobono that Chris Danielsen will be our National Representative for this Convention. We are delighted that Chris has been assigned to the NFB of SC Convention because of Chris’s longtime connection with the South Carolina affiliate. Like me, Chris attended his first State Convention in 1989 at the Radisson Hotel, and the rest is history.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have enjoyed a rapid rate of pre-registrations in recent weeks, but we need everyone to pre-register if possible because it helps us to plan appropriately with the hotel in terms of guarantees for the luncheon and banquet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also, those who would like to support the Scholarship Program are encouraged to contact Shannon Cook at cookcafe@sc.rr.com. Shannon needs to begin work with the Scholarship Committee to determine how to distribute funds to the scholarship class, and information about what funds will be available would be most helpful at this time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora Robertson would appreciate any door prize donations from individuals as well. Throughout the Convention, it is always nice to break the monotony with a door prize. Please bring cash gifts of at least $5 as well as other items to the convention hotel and give them to Lenora Robertson, who is serving as our door prize chairperson once again in 2015.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At each State Convention, we also consider resolutions, which are the policy statements for the NFB of SC. If you have ideas regarding matters of policy, please let Valerie Warrington know about it. Valerie is serving as Chairperson of the NFB of SC Resolutions Committee in 2015. I look forward to all of the work we will be doing together in August, but our task at present is to put plans into place which will make this convention one of the best ever.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and their 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 highlight of activity of the NFB of SC convention and the RBRCCB Fun Day is such that we have to depend upon many of our people to ensure success. I’m delighted that Chris Danielsen will be the National representative at our state convention. As President Diggs has pointed out, Chris came along at about the same time Parnell did in 1989. During Chris’ Law School days, he applied for an internship with our NFB of SC attorney, Gene Rogers. He interviewed several candidates but found Chris to be the best of the bunch and hired him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Lenora Robertson is in charge of the food service at Fun Day. She would like to have as much financial help in advance so that she can purchase food on a wholesale basis. To assist Lenora for Fun Day, a letter was sent to all chapter and division presidents requesting a monetary contribution for food. Parnell will be in charge of the auction and I’m sure that he will have his own people for assistance. The auction will be held Saturday afternoon. Bring auction items. Our own Frank Coppel will handle the sale of T-shirts and I know he and Shelley will do a great job. Wear your RBRCCB T-shirts during Fun Day. We also will once again rely upon Alma Lee Doyle and her help at the yard sale. Last year Kim Diggs was in charge of BINGO and I will appreciate her help once again. At this time we need someone to handle the Old Country Store. We rely upon Valerie Warrington to collect the $30 from everyone for six meals, two on Saturday, three on Sunday and Monday breakfast. Lenora Robertson will choose someone to collect the $10 for the special luncheon on Saturday. Last year we concentrated on having both activities on Saturday when attendance is at its peak and we are following this format again this year. On Sunday we have set aside some time for some group singing and maybe Parnell can sing his “Blind Man’s Blues.” If you have not made your reservation for Fun Day, you need to do so now. Don’t put it off. We already have a good number who have made their reservations and no doubt we will have more requests as we get closer to the Fun Day weekend – only five weeks away! We encourage our Charleston Chapter to proceed with their Fun Day participation but they should not delay. Incidentally, our Lancaster Chapter which missed out on Fun Day last year recently will spend the weekend at RBRCCB. I look forward to someone stepping up to head up the Old Country Store as this has been profitable throughout the years. I repeat that many members are required to go the extra mile to make the Fun Day Festival a success. By the way, our Resident Manager Brooke West tells me that the putt-putt golf course will be ready by Fun Day. Brooke has been involved in making many improvements at the miniature golf course. Finally, let me encourage all of you across the state to sell your $5 Fun Day tickets which is essential if we are going to have an outstanding year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: ”Live the life you want!”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>