<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Thank you for your heartfelt share. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">It is always assuring to hear how children think of others before thinking of themselves.</div><div dir="ltr">And not only talk about helping but do something, out of the basic goodness in their heart.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">This is what gives us hope in moments of sadness or despair.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Best wishes for a peaceful and safe holiday season and the year to come.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Vincent Elorza</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<p class="MsoNormal"> On Monday December 21 2020 at 6:53 AM
Jennifer Bazer via NFBofSC <<a href="mailto:nfbofsc@nfbnet.org">nfbofsc@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">December 21, 2020Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members,
Chapter & Division Presidents & OthersFrom: Jennifer Bazer,
President803-960-9977Jhipp25@sc.rr.comPositive Note 1793Greetings Fellow
Federationists: As I write this next to the last Positive Note for 2020,
it is Sunday afternoon. The dryer is humming; the washer is whirling; the dogs
are sleeping; and I am reflecting on the upcoming week that will bring us to
Christmas Eve and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I ponder creating new
Christmas traditions with my kiddos as 2020 went in a different direction than
anyone could have imagined. My aunt went to be with her Heavenly father after a
battle with cancer; my grandparents are battling health concerns and are not
able to get around as they did in previous years.; and, as a single parent of
two young children, from Thanksgiving until the first of the year, I struggle
with what use to be and what no longer is present for the three of us. I am
blessed beyond measure; the struggle to create a new me as a single parent with
my children is real. Even after three years of being divorced, sadness,
emptiness, and loneliness overwhelms me at times during this time of year.
Everywhere you turn, the focus is on happiness, love, and family. Just before
I sat down to write this portion of the Positive Note, I received a group text
that said, “Please pray for the Wahl family as they lost everything this
morning in a house fire; everyone got out safely.” This family goes to our
church, plays baseball with my son, attends school with my children, and is in
cub scouts with Cade. Heart wrenching. Tears streamed down my cheeks for this
family’s loss. My feelings of loneliness for what I use to have as a family now
seemed insignificant as the Wahl family works to rebuild everything. I am
building new Christmas traditions; they are thankful to be alive and just
concerned about immediate necessities. The pain for this family overshadows my
small and insignificant sadness during the holiday season. My son, Cade,
decided to make a video to collect gift cards and monetary donations for
this family who means so much to us. In the video, he mentioned giving up his
Christmas wants to insure his teammate, his friend, his scout buddy, and his
schoolmate, had food and clothes and essentials. It is not me creating new
traditions for our family, it is my 10-year-old son, Cade who always is
thinking of others and doing without so others can have a Merry Christmas. It
is the innocence of young children who help me remember that, no matter how
hard I think I have it, there is always someone in a more difficult
place. As I finish this portion of the Positive Note, the dryer is still
humming, the washer is still whirling, the dogs are still sleeping, and there
is joy in my heart knowing, my children are always there to teach me, remind
me, that life is precious, God is good, and I am blessed! I hope each of you
have a very Merry Christmas! As 2020 draws to a close, just a few things
we all need to do as active members in our Palmetto affiliate. Dates to
remember; please mark your calendars. See more specific details on these action
items further in this Positive Note. Fulfill our state convention pledges
by December 31.Submit our 22021 state dues of $10 by December 31.Notify David
Houck at the Center by calling 803-254-3777 if you plan to attend the statewide
seminar on January 9, 2021.Chapter and division presidents, submit your
financial reports for 2020 by January 31 2021 to the state office.Notify David
Houck at the Center by calling 803-254-3777 if you plan to attend the
leadership seminar on April 10, 2021.Increase or hop on the PAC plan by May 31,
2021 to have your name entered into a $100 gift card drawing.Submit new chapter
and division officers to Steve Cook, Thom Spittle and me by December 31, 2020
so that it can be updated on the website and membership roster. Movie
NightCome join your Federation Family, Wednesday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m. via
The NFB of SC zoom as we watch audio described, Christmas with the Cranks. Bring
your favorite candy and popcorn and relax with us as Christmas week
continues. From Thom Spittle, Chairman, Rocky Bottom Retreat and
Conference Center of the BlindThe Board of Directors and staff of Rocky Bottom
would like to take this time to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a
happy and healthy New Year. PAC Plan Challenge:We will be running a
contest from December 5, 2020 through May 31, 2021 for our NFB of SC
affiliate. We are currently 13 and would like to be in the top 10 or higher. One
of our members would like to see us as an affiliate contribute $1,500 to PAC
each month between chapters, divisions, individuals and our NFB of SC
affiliate. If you join PAC, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100
visa gift card. If you increase your PAC donation, your name will be entered
into a different $100 visa gift card drawing. I have a list of chapters,
divisions, and individuals who are on PAC at this time. On June 1, I will ask
the national office for another list which I will use to have the two drawings
on June 1. There are many ways to give. Below, is a little about
PAC. Thank you for your interest in the National Federation of the Blind's
Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program. This program allows you to
contribute to the NFB through recurring monthly donations. These can be direct
withdrawals from a checking account or charges to a credit card. Please
contact <a href="mailto:pac@nfb.org">pac@nfb.org</a> with any questions. Thank you for your
generosity. You can go tohttps://<a href="http://www.nfb.org/pacto">www.nfb.org/pacto</a> complete the online
form. You may also call the national office at 410-659-9314 extension 2622
or email <a href="mailto:PAC@nfb.org">PAC@nfb.org</a> with questions. There are several chapters and
divisions within our state who are on PAC and we are grateful for those
contributions. There are individuals who are on PAC and we are appreciative of
those members who give each month. As an affiliate, we are averaging $17.41 per
person and less than 10% of our members are on PAC. Let’s see if we can
increase those percentages to over $20 per month and have at least 20% of our
members on PAC. I appreciate you considering to get on the PAC plan or
increasing your donation each
month!
We will have our next SC connects meeting Thursday, January 7 2021 at
5:00 p.m. Please encourage your chapters, divisions, committees to attend to
learn about the latest happenings in the NFB of
SC!
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. Please call, text or
email me with suggested agenda items. Please also call David at the Center at
803-254-3777 to let us know if you will be attending in person. First come,
first serve as we have limited seats to effectively promote social distancing
at the Center. Chapter and division presidents along with FCB, NFB of SC, and
Rocky Bottom board members are required to attend via zoom or in-person. If
you notify David Houck by January 5, 2021 whether you plan to attend on zoom or
in-person, your name will be entered into a $50 gift card drawing. You must be
present to win. There will be additional door prizes throughout the seminar;
only individuals who notify David by calling 803-254-3777 or emailing
<a href="mailto:nfbsc@sc.rr.com">nfbsc@sc.rr.com</a> about your zoom or in-person attendance will be entered into
the $50 gift card drawing. Leadership Seminar:Our next leadership seminar
will be April 10, 2021 at the Federation Center. All presidents of divisions
and chapters along with Federation Center board members, Rocky Bottom board
members and NFB of SC board members are required to attend in-person or through
zoom. Others who are interested are welcome to attend via zoom or in-person as
well. If you notify David Houck by April 5, 2021 whether you plan to
attend on zoom or in-person, your name will be entered into a $50 gift card
drawing. You must be present to win. There will be additional door prizes
throughout the seminar; only individuals who notify David by calling
803-254-3777 or emailing <a href="mailto:nfbsc@sc.rr.com">nfbsc@sc.rr.com</a> about your zoom or in-person
attendance will be entered into the $50 gift card drawing. We plan to have
door prizes at each of these seminars on January 9 and April 10. Calling David
Houck at the Center at 803-254-3777 will guarantee your name entered into a
separate drawing for registered in-person and zoom attendees of a $50 gift card
for each seminar that will be drawn at an undisclosed time during each seminar
and you must be present to win. . Anyone who attends via zoom or in-person will
be eligible for door prizes and must be present to win, even if, you do not
register prior to the seminars. Only registered individuals who call David
Houck to let us know how you will be participating either in-person or zoom
will be entered into the $50 gift card drawing for each
seminar.
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. 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 so that information stays current on our website and membership
list.
Here is what is coming up on Zoom for the week of December 21 2020. All
meetings are on the main Federation ID of 803-254-3777, unless noted.Monday,
December 21, Membership, 7pmWednesday, December 23, Sports and Rec,
6pmWednesday, December 23, audio described Christmas movie,
7:30pm
NFB of SC Federation Center is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic:
NFB of SC Chapter and Committee meetingsTimes are in Eastern Time (US and
Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://<a href="http://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09Meeting">us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09Meeting</a>
ID: 803 254 3777Passcode: 124578One tap mobile+19292056099,,8032543777# US (New
York)
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.
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 for every $10 to your donation to offset this charge. So, $10.30,
$20.60 and so
on.
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.
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. This has
normally been due at the end of January to pay your state dues; however, that does
not give me time to submit all necessary data to the national office by January
31. We want to be prompt in our membership dues and information to President
Riccobono. <a href="https://forms">https://forms</a>. gle/MGYktJPG3SatVBFWA If you do not have a
credit or debit card to pay your state dues online, please mail your $10 dues
to David at the Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.
Once it has been received, someone from our Computer Science and Technology
Division will call you to assist you in completing the online form with all
your contact information that national headquarters is obtaining. If you are
sending in your $10 via mail, please include your full name, address, phone
number, and email address so that we may reach out to you to gather additional
required information. Final Thought: “What is Christmas? It is the
tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future."
— Agnes M. Pahro 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. 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.” 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>. _______________________________________________<span></span></p>
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following within the NFB of SC, please click the below link. NFB of SC, Federation
Center of the Blind, Chapter, or Division. Your support is appreciated!<span></span></p>
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</blockquote></div></div></div>