[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1556

[David Houck]

June 8, 2016 

Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents &
Others

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1556

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

              With the onset of summer weather, the NFB of SC is beginning
one of its busiest times of the year.  On June 29 and 30, many of us will be
traveling to Orlando Florida to attend the seventy-sixth annual National
convention of the National Federation of the Blind.  If you have not done so
already, you can still make a room reservation by calling the hotel at (866)
996-6338.  You may also write directly to the Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939
Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. The hotel will want a
deposit of $95 for each room and will want a credit card number or a
personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged
against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $95 check.
The 2016 room rates are singles and doubles, $83; and triples and quads,
$89. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is
12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under seventeen in the
room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested.  

              From July 17-23, our annual camp for blind children ages 6-15,
will be held at Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind.
Jennifer Bazer, camp Director, is putting a great staff and program together
and there is no doubt the children will have a wonderful and busy time that
week.  

              The NFB of SC will host the third annual NFB Braille
Enrichment Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy which will be held on the
campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, July 18-29,
Monday to Friday, 8:15-3:00 daily.  The Academy provides children ages 4-12
with intense Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities.
Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman, State Coordinator of the NFB of SC BELL Academy
and Jamie Allison, lead instructor, do a great job implementing this very
important program.  

              On Saturday, August 20, RBRCCB Board of Directors and the NFB
of SC Board of Directors will hold their third quarter meetings at the
Federation Center of the Blind beginning at 10:00 A.M.  Board meetings are
always open to the membership and we strongly encourage participation of our
members in these meetings.  

              Of course, the Fun Day Festival will be held Labor Day weekend
September 2-5.  This year's Festival promises to be excellent with a musical
performance Saturday afternoon as well as having wonderful food, the
auction, crafts, the selling of camp merchandise and great fellowship.
Please make plans to be there!  

              We have two announcements from Tiffiny Mitchell, President of
our Columbia Chapter.  "The Columbia Chapter is sponsoring a Cruise April 3,
to April 8, 2017 (six days five nights) to Jamaica and Haiti.  Room rates
are interior $1007 for two Ocean view $1208 for two balcony $1848 for two.
The cruise will be on the "Independence of the Sea" (Royal Caribbean Cruise
lines) leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  The Columbia chapter would
like you to be a part of our book club.  Deadline to sign up is August 22."
For further information regarding both announcements call Tiffiny at (803)
603-2098.   

              As you can see, there is a great deal of activity happening in
the NFB of SC during the next few months.  I feel certain all these programs
will go a long way to improve the quality of life for blind people in this
state.  

              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.  Joining me for comments in this
Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC.  Here is Dr.
Capps.  

              We are proud to announce the booking of legendary Blues and
Jazz artist Rickey Godfrey of Nashville, Tennessee during the annual Fun Day
Festival on Saturday September 3rd, 2016. The concert will begin at 3pm in
the newly renovated Lawton Hall with seating limited to 132.  

              Godfrey is a South Carolina native who has been blind since
birth and started studying music at the age of seven, while attending the
South Carolina School for the Blind. He studied classical piano and voice,
and, at age 13, began playing guitar as well. In his late teens he signed
with Capitol Records and became one of the most popular bands in the S.C.
Upstate. 

              Since moving to Nashville in 1993, Godfrey has worked with
artists such as Donna Fargo, Rufus Thomas, Junior Walker, Sam Moore, Billy
Preston, Clifford Curry, E. G. Kight, Sonny Turner and Bill Pinkney,
performing throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. In 2003, Godfrey formed
the Rickey Godfrey Band, which catered to beach and blues audiences in the
Carolinas. He released two CDs while he had the band which earned four 2004
CBMA awards including Song of the Year in addition to awards for Blues Album
of the Year, Group of the Year and Group Album of the Year.

              Since disbanding the group, Godfrey has been a sought-after
composer, session player and touring musician -including a performance with
the Chocolate Thunder Band at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival.  He has also
released his fourth solo CD, Nasty Man, a powerhouse of a unique to the
talented musician.

              Rickey Godfrey has been nominated by the Music City Blues
Society as both Guitarist and Keyboard Player of the Year. He earned a 2008
Marion James Musician's Aid Society award and, in 2009, Nashville's Best
Blues Keyboardist. In late 2010, the N.C. Cape Fear Blues Society chose
Nasty Man as its nomination for Best Self Produced CD at the Blues
Foundation awards.

              This will be the concert event not to be missed and one of
many highlights during this year's Fun Day Festival.  Concert tickets are
$10 each and may be secured from our state office or the RBRCCB office.
Checks should be made payable to RBRCCB - Rickey Godfrey Benefit Concert in
order to fill Lawton Hall to capacity which we can do.

              I'm also proud to announce that the senior blind donated $400
toward the purchase of mattresses for Ellenburg Lodge.  Thanks to Frank
Coppel who was helpful in this respect.  Some time ago we received a letter
from Constance Miller, President of our Belvedere Chapter advising us that
their chapter will donate $500 toward the mattress fund.  We appreciate our
Belvedere Chapter for their generous contribution.  We have been able to
secure a very low bid for these mattresses.  The bid reads as follows:  20
mattress sets with box springs totaling $6,483.98.  Mattress Firm, the
nation's largest mattress business is providing these mattresses.   Thus,
you will note the quote amounts to about $600 per room.  Thus, we have
received sufficient funds to cover one room and half the amount for a second
room.  This move is needed to replace the current mattresses which have
served us well but are the original mattresses.  New mattresses will provide
much more comfort.  We believe our chapters will want to rally around this
much needed fundraising project.  Checks should be made payable to RBRCCB -
Mattress Fund.  The total amount of $6,438.98 is not an overwhelming amount
for the NFB of SC chapters and divisions to raise.

 

Final Thought:  History of NFB of SC Legislative Victories:  #7 & #*:
1965 - Legislation providing for 9 member legislative study committee to
study the feasibility of establishing the Commission for the Blind.
1966 - Act #2127 establishing the SC Commission for the Blind.

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