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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@01DC72BB.4D3741B0" 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'>December 21, 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: 2054<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'>We are just four days away from the most celebrated day in the world, Christmas! There is a feeling of excitement in the air and families and friends plan gatherings, parties and a myriad of celebrations during this time of year. For Christians, it represents the birth of the Savior of the world! It is one of the two most important days in the calendar. To all who celebrate, from my home to yours, Merry Christmas!<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 most of you know, I am both terrified of and enamored of artificial intelligence (AI); yet, it is all around us and most of us use it daily without even being aware of it. I will share additional thoughts at another time but I want to add an item each week to the Positive Note for your edification. What did I use AI for this week that helped me as a blind person? I am aware that I use it daily. The first tip or trick involves ChatGPT which is my favorite AI bot. I had a Marie Calendar Chicken Pot Pie that I knew was 10 oz. for lunch on Friday. Most of you probably know exactly what to do with that, but I do not eat many pre-packaged foods, so I needed instructions. I used Seeing AI to try to get the information I needed, but it just wasn’t working. Inspiration struck as I listened to the most recent episode of Access On with Jonathan Mozen. I activated the side button on my iPhone and gave the following prompt: “Ask ChatGPT to provide microwave cooking instructions for a 10 oz. Marie Calendar Chicken Pot Pie.” I was astonished when it gave me the precise instructions including the fact that the pot pie needed to rest for five minutes after the microwave finished before eating so that it could finish cooking. We shall see how this little experiment goes, but that is my offering for this week!<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'>Friends of Rocky Bottom Fundraiser<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Friends of Rocky Bottom Fundraiser kicked off on October 1, 2025 and ends on December 31, 2025. This fundraiser assists Rocky Bottom with getting through the winter months when rentals are very low. If you or your chapter have not given to the fundraiser this year, it is not too late! You can mail a check to the Federation Center of the Blind, Attn Rocky Bottom, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. If you know others who routinely participate, please share this announcement with them.<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><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>At-Large Chapter Fundraiser<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina is holding an iPad Drawing Fundraiser to support its programs and outreach. The prize is a new 11-inch Apple iPad with an A16 chip and 128 GB of storage. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. Payments can be mailed to Ed and Julie Bible, 136 Penny Lane, Lexington, SC 29073, or sent by PayPal to <a href="mailto:nfbofsc.atlargechapter@gmail.com">nfbofsc.atlargechapter@gmail.com</a>. The drawing will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, during the Statewide Seminar, and participants do not need to be present to win.<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><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NFB of SC Statewide Seminar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Statewide Seminar will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Federation Center of the Blind beginning at 10:00 a.m. This will be an exciting kick-off to 2026 and I look forward to seeing you there. Chapter presidents should let David Houck know how many are attending by close of business on Monday, January 5, 2026 so that food preparations can be made. Call David at 803-254-3777 or e-mail him at <a href="mailto:federationcenter@nfbofsc.org">federationcenter@nfbofsc.org</a>. <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'>Banquet pledges due by December 31, 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'>State dues due on December 31, 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'>Friends of Rocky Bottom Fundraiser due on December 31, 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'>Statewide Seminar on January 10, 2026<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'>At-Large drawing on January 10, 2026<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;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>