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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>November 9, 2020<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: Jennifer Bazer, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1787<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>Recently, I have started using my treadmill again. I wore out my last one about a year ago and decided, at that time, to replace it with an elliptical so it would be easier on my feet as I have bilateral plantar fasciitis. After about a month, the elliptical and I did not get along. It was nothing like my treadmill. I did not like the up and down movement of my feet and the back and forth motion of my arms. The elliptical and I just did not jive together. My frustration with the elliptical lead me to stop using it, which meant, stop exercising. If I exercise, my feet hurt; if I sat in a chair, my feet hurt; If I stayed in bed, my feet hurt. My feet hurt all the time. That was just an excuse to stop exercising. I didn’t like the elliptical; therefore, I would not exercise; I would not find another solution, I would not try another piece of exercise equipment. My internal battle only hurt me. It didn’t hurt anyone else. In the meantime, my poor elliptical sat in the corner collecting dust. My children randomly got on it, but for the most part, it was a great dust collector. Months went by my feet still hurt. I already had two surgeries on each foot two and three years ago, but nothing helped. Finally, after a year of non-exercise, feeling sorry for myself and the pain in my feet, I purchased a gently used treadmill to replace my dust collecting elliptical. My friend was back, the thing that caused even more pain when I used it would not be a dust collector. It would be a way to keep mentally, physically and emotionally fit. Unlike my elliptical, I would look forward to putting on my headphones, turning up my music, and stepping on the bed of my new friend, my treadmill. My feet still hurt when I use the treadmill, just like they do when I don’t use my treadmill, but the difference is, if I am going to experience pain, it will be with the treadmill and not an elliptical; something that I enjoy, not something I dread.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How often do we get in a rut; a “funk” feeling sorry for ourselves; not budging to prove a point to someone? How many times have we said, “I’m not going to do this or that until they do X or Y? How many times have we said, “I’m not going back to a chapter meeting because I didn’t like what the president did or said? How many times have we said, “I’ll do it when…” And, that time comes and goes and we never did it. How many times have we left our NFB affiliate because of the leadership or, lack of leadership? How often have we followed the crowd when that clearly wasn’t the best option just to prove a point? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Just like my elliptical, I didn’t like it so I stopped using it, but instead of getting another treadmill or another piece of work-out equipment, I simply “pitched a fit” and didn’t do anything for a year. Who did I hurt? Myself. My stubborn behavior earned me a few extra pounds and a little more stress, neither of which is good for my mental, physical or emotional well-being. When you are feeling in a rut, maybe even in an NFB rut, don’t stay there long; dust yourself off, phone a fellow Federationist, call your chapter president, your affiliate president and find out how you can “be” the change; how you can make a difference; leave it better than you found it and for those coming behind you. If not you, then who? If not now, then when?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Over the past several weeks, I have participated in numerous committee and chapter meetings of the NFB of SC and am thrilled to see action plans coming together; people working together, and goals being accomplished. I appreciate the committees consistently emailing me notes from each meeting. This enables me to share with the rest of the affiliate and to support your efforts. Together we can do so much!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would love for you to join me and your fellow Federationists on Thursday, November 19 at the Center in Columbia for a Thanksgiving feast. We will serve the meal at 3:00 followed by our SC connects call at 5:00. The cost is $15 per person. Please call, text or email me to reserve your plate at 803-960-9977 or jhipp25@sc.rr.com. Masks will be worn at all times, except when we are actively eating or drinking. If you are not able to come to the Center, but would enjoy a meal, please let me know and we will do our best to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please mark your calendars for a Christmas celebration at the Center on Saturday, December 12 from noon until four. We will enjoy fellowship, sounds of the season, and a gift exchange. The gift exchange is optional. Please call, text or email me if you plan to attend. If you need transportation let’s work together with chapter presidents and neighboring chapters to insure all that want to come can attend. Call me with any questions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our statewide seminar will be held January 9 at the Center in Columbia from 10:00 until 4:00. This will be a hybrid seminar meaning you can attend in-person and over Zoom so as many individuals can participate as possible. Please make plans to attend in-person or through Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Palmetto Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you wish to contribute an article to the winter issue of the Palmetto blind, please send me your contributions to <a href="mailto:jhipp25@sc.rr.com">jhipp25@sc.rr.com</a> and we will include them in the winter issues or future issues.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are looking for comfort food recipes, controlled carb recipes, overview of a product that may be helpful to our members, resources, book reviews, trivia, member spotlight.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I welcome your contributions for this and future issues.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> South Carolina Connects<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Our next South Carolina Connects meeting will be Thursday, November 19, at 5 pm on the Zoom platform. We will be there as early as 4:30 for informal chat and to get to know one another. Please invite your chapter members, friends and anyone interested in learning more about the NFB of SC. I look forward to chatting with all of you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>From Thom Spittle, Chairman of Rocky Bottom:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>What a week! October 31<sup>st</sup> started the week with a live drawing, which raised $4,700 for the camp after taking out prize money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>After the drawing we kicked off the week-long online auction, which saw 75 items up for bid. Thanks so much to chapters, businesses, and individuals who worked together to collect items, spread awareness, and bid on a wide variety of unique things. >From the auction we raised approximately $3,300. We truly appreciate the team work of all involved, and count this as a big success! We plan to make this an annual event!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>The $8,000 will help Rocky Bottom pay expenses during a difficult time with very few rentals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>This was a great example of Federation teamwork.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following meetings are scheduled on the Zoom platform this week. You are welcome to attend any of these meetings, even if you are not a member of the chapter or committee. Please contact the chapter president and ask if it is alright to attend their meeting. All Committee meetings are open to the public for listening. Contact President Bazer if you would like to be added to any NFB of SC committee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Here’s what is coming up on Zoom for the week of November 9 2020.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Monday, November 9, 2020 Braille Literacy 6pm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tuesday, November 10, 2020 At Large Chapter 7pm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thursday, November 12, 2020 "Cherokee Chapter 1pm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Columbia Chapter 6:15pm"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Saturday, November 14, 2020 CSTD Training 10am<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Monday, November 16, 2020 Membership Committee 7pm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBofSC Federation Center is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Topic: NFBofSC Chapter and Committee meetings<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Times are in Eastern Time (US and Canada)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join Zoom Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meeting ID: 803 254 3777<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Passcode: 124578<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One tap mobile<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+19292056099,,8032543777# US (New York)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> From Derique Simon<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Do you find yourself wondering what to cook for dinner most nights? Are you tired of making the same dishes over and over? Well stress no longer because the South Carolina Association of Blind Students is here to help if you need spicing up what you do in the kitchen. We are working on our own one of a kind cook book and we need all of your help to make it a hit. If you have any recipes that you would like to share with us please send them to Trista Hubbs SCABS Secretary at <a href="mailto:hubbs.trista@gmail.com">hubbs.trista@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you made a pledge at our state convention banquet in August, those tax deductible contributions are due at the Center no later than December 31, 2020. If you did not make a pledge, but wish to donate to the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, please send donations to 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. You may also pay on our website at <a href="http://www.nfbofsc.org">www.nfbofsc.org</a> and look for the donations link to pay through pay Pal. Thank you to all of those individuals, chapters, and divisions who have fulfilled their pledges. I will list all donors in the first Positive Note of 2021.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Big News! The National Federation of the Blind of SC now has an online enrollment membership form to pay your 2021 state dues. You will be able to fill out the form online to provide the state office with updated personal and contact information. You will also be able to pay your $10 state dues via secure Pay Pal. You will still need to pay your chapter/division dues on the local level. After submitting the membership form, you will be provided with a link to pay your $10 state dues through Pay Pal. Your membership will not be confirmed until payment has been received. After paying your $10 state dues via Pay Pal, we will receive a message stating you have paid your state dues to confirm your membership. Then you will be sent a message with a copy of your receipt for confirmation later in the day. Please retain this confirmation for your records and proof of payment. Also, Pay Pal charges the NFB of SC a percentage for each transaction. We would greatly appreciate you adding an extra $0.30 to your donation to offset this charge. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you need assistance completing the online form, you are welcome to call Steve and Shannon Cook to help at (803) 254-0222. Leave a message with your name and contact number if we are unavailable to answer the phone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Thank you to those who have already paid your state dues! We hope to see close to 100% of dues paid by December 31. Our membership committee along with the help of our district reps will follow-up as we get closer to the end of the year to assist those in completing their membership form so that we can have all completed documentation to the national office in a timely manner. <a href="https://forms.%20gle/MGYktJPG3SatVBFWA">https://forms. gle/MGYktJPG3SatVBFWA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3 style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Final thought: </span><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." —Socrates<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> NFB Pledge - I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> NFB One Minute Message - “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 our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If this message was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it directly in your inbox, as well as, receive messages regarding the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, please email Steve Cook at <a href="mailto:cookcafe@sc.rr.com">cookcafe@sc.rr.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>