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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="NFB of SC logo with tagline live the life you want" style='position:absolute;margin-left:4.65pt;margin-top:6.9pt;width:60.85pt;height:68.7pt;z-index:-251657216;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=81 height=92 style='width:.8437in;height:.9583in' src="cid:image002.png@01DBF9BF.EC9B44B0" align=left hspace=12 alt="NFB of SC logo with tagline live the life you want" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 20, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>From: Marty R. McKenzie, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>843-939-8091 <a href="mailto:president@nfbofsc.org">president@nfbofsc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Positive Note 2032<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>As we continue sharing information from the National Convention, it is important to note that the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, was in attendance at the convention. While I do not remember a commissioner from SSA attending convention, I am told that this has happened in the distant past. Mr. Bisignano is the fifth SSA Commissioner in approximately seven months. He has a connection with the blind and appeared genuinely interested in our issues and needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Congratulations to Lauren Reeves of the Charleston Chapter!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Teammate of the Year <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Nomination Name: Laurin Reeves <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Category: Nurse of the Year - Exemplary Professional Practice <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This nurse has been a registered nurse at Roper Hospital since 1991 and during her time here she has been the epitome of a role model and leader. She serves as a chair of one of Roper's hospital councils and serves as a member on the Leadership Advisory Council and the Roper Falls Committee. In addition, she is currently exploring joining the Roper Magnet Champions Council. Her leadership as chair has been awe-inspiring, implementing multiple initiatives to increase nurse engagement, retention, recruitment, and satisfaction. In 2024, she led Roper PEAC in a ring pop initiative to help spread the knowledge of the nurse engagement survey to all nurses. She organized volunteers and even volunteered herself to round and help spread the word to nurses. In addition, this nurse has coordinated with both the CNO and the admin assistant in 2024 and 2025 to plan a Nurses' Week worthy of our nurses. In 2024, this nominee not only helped plan Nurses' Week, but she volunteered and attended almost all the Nurses' Week events to ensure that everything went smoothly and as planned for the nurses at Roper Hospital. In addition, this nurse also evaluated Nurses' Week survey results from Roper nurses to help her better plan for the 2025 Nurses' Week to ensure that the nurses at Roper felt heard and were satisfied with their week of recognition. This nurse is extremely focused on creating a healthy work environment for nurses. Her work with PEAC has been directly focused on nurse retention, recognition, and recruitment. She is integral in the success of Roper's Daisy Award Program. Under her leadership, she was able to increase both nominations and winners greatly! Roper Hospital now recognizes 6 Daisy winners, a 50% increase from the 4 recognized in previous years. This is all due to her dedication and the influx of nominations that Roper Hospital now receives. Every month, sometimes more frequently, this nurse takes time out of her schedule to collect all Daisy nominations, both electronic and handwritten, to better organize them for her council to vote on. She organizes the voting, restocks the Daisy displays and personally attends every ceremony held to give a Daisy Award to a nurse. She does this because this nurse knows that nurse recognition is a major retention strategy, one that is near and dear to her heart. She is also very active in trying to recruit members to become involved in professional governance. In 2023 & 2024, she attended multiple recruitment sessions during Nurses' Week and the Champions Halloween event to talk to nurses and tell them the importance of professional governance. In addition, this nominee organized candy gram sales in February of 2024 & 2025 to help raise money for the Nursing Scholarship Fund. She also organized the Roper raffle basket sales in 2024 to help raise money for the Nursing Scholarship Fund. These two initiatives alone have raised roughly $3,000 to help contribute to nurse professional development. Outside of work, she coordinates with the National Federation of the Blind to help create and distribute patient information/education brochures to those patients in need. A cause that is very near and dear to her heart. This nurse is extraordinary and deserves to be recognized for her amazing leadership and dedication to the nursing profession. She is selfless, humble, and always willing to jump in and offer a helping hand. This nurse is my Nurse of the Year. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This is a friendly reminder to make your reservations for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina’s State Convention being held August 14-17, 2025 at the Doubletree by Hilton. There is no room rate guarantee after July 23, 2025, so be sure to contact the hotel for your reservation needs. Book online at <a href="https://hil.tn/00qbnn">https://hil.tn/00qbnn</a> or call Central Reservations at 866-247-3572 and ask for the National Federation of the Blind of SC Attendee Block. Note: Your card will be charged for the first night at the time of booking. These rates apply to reservations between August 12 and 19, 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Registrations are coming in quickly as the deadline for early bird registration approaches. To register for the NFB of SC 2025 State Convention, visit <a href="http://www.nfbofsc.org">www.nfbofsc.org</a> and find the heading “2025 National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina State Convention Registration.” Read all the instructions carefully before accessing the form. If you have questions, contact Steve Cook at 803-260-1292. You should complete the form even if you are not using PayPal to pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina invites you to kick off the 2025 Annual State Convention with “An Evening to Remember: Prom Night & Talent Show” on Friday, August 15, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This special evening will feature a best dressed contest where two individuals will be crowned Prom King and Queen and awarded $200 each based on their individual style and presentation. The event will also include a talent show showcasing up to 15 contestants, each given three minutes to perform. Talent show entry is $25 per act. Open to Federation members of all ages, this event is a celebration of confidence, creativity, and community spirit. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of style, entertainment, and Federation pride. for more information, please contact a member of the Columbia Chapter Board.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Door Prizes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>First Vice President Lenora Robertson will again serve as the door prize chairperson. Please bring your door prizes to the state convention and give them directly to her. If shipping, address them to Lenora Robertson, 1258 Roundtree Circle, Rock Hill, SC 29732. Shipments should arrive no later than Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Door prizes should have a minimum value of $10. Cash is always welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Things to Remember<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NFB of SC hotel reservations and registration due by July 23, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Palmetto Connects on August 5, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina State Convention August 14-17, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Marty<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Marty R. McKenzie, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>119 S. Kilbourne Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Columbia, SC 29205<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Phone: 803-254-3777<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Mobile: 843-939-8091<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Website: <a href="http://www.nfbofsc.org/">www.nfbofsc.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>