[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1606

[David Houck]

May 24, 2017 

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1606

Greetings Fellow Federationists: 

 

              Hello from Rocky Bottom where 23 seniors from across the state
are attending the 2017 Spring edition of Senior Camp.  Although it's been
rainy throughout the week the seniors have participated in several
activities such as taking walks, playing BINGO, participating in a dance,
participating in group discussions dealing in the various aspects of
blindness, and taking a field trip to the Asheville Farmers Market.  Of
course all of us have gained a few pounds as we enjoyed the delicious food
cooked by our "food crew" headed up by Lenora Robertson.  I've been told
that JJ, our resident duck has enjoyed senior camp and has especially
enjoyed playing in all of the mud puddles.

              I have been informed by Isaiah Nelson that the bus trip to
Baltimore to visit our National Center has been changed to the weekend of
September 29 to October 1.  Enclosed you will find an application which is
self-explanatory.

              This past Thursday, May 18, Shelley and I along with our
Resident Manager Linda Bible hosted a drop-in for the Rocky Bottom
community.  Approximately eleven individuals attended the drop-in including
longtime friend Janice Taylor, the Bowens and Jimmy McMaster.

              There is only one week remaining to preregister online for the
2017 NFB National Convention in Orlando, Florida.  If you preregister prior
to May 31, registration for convention will cost $25 and a banquet ticket
will cost $60.  After May 31, the cost for convention registration will
increase to $30 and the cost of a banquet ticket will increase to $65.  Save
$10 and also skip the need to stand in line for a long period of time at the
convention by purchasing your convention registration and banquet ticket by
the May 31 deadline.  

              If you have not done so already, please make your hotel
reservations for the 2017 NFB National Convention in Orlando, Florida.  The
date of this year's national convention will be July 10, to July 15, 2017
and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.  The 2017 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. Please note that the hotel is a no-smoking
facility.  For 2016 convention room reservations you can call 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.
If a reservation is cancelled before Thursday June, 1, 2017, half of the
deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.  

              The current edition of the Palmetto Blind features a front
cover picture of Parnell Diggs, Esquire being sworn in as a Social Security
Administrative Law Judge.  Congratulations to Judge Diggs who made all of us
happy here in South Carolina where he got his start.  At the same time,
David Houck showed wisdom in using Judge Diggs' swearing in as the front
cover for the Palmetto Blind.  We could not possibly find any recent picture
of this type which does more good for the ability of the blind as Judge
Diggs' swearing in.  I don't know how many Administrative Law Judges there
are in the country who are blind, but not very many I suspect.  However,
Judge Diggs proves that with proper training and experience, blind people
certainly can serve as Administrative Law Judges.  Prior to leaving the NFB
position as Director of Governmental Affairs where he supported the NFB
leadership, the May edition of the Braille Monitor covers his successful
assistance to a blind post office user as well as assisting a blind person
who was having a difficult experience with an airline carrier.  I'm glad I
was on hand at the Federation Center some 30 years ago greeting blind
prospective members including Judge Diggs who still refers to this memorable
membership banquet.

              This week the Senior Blind are at Rocky Bottom for the first
of two sessions each year.  In last week's Positive Note President Coppel,
one of the country's most outstanding state presidents commented that his
first NFB convention 40 years ago provided the inspirational experience that
convinced him that he needed to dedicate his life in service to blind
people.  This week Frank is in Rocky Bottom directing the Senior Blind
program.  For many years Frank has handled this annual service to the
state's blind as a volunteer, and as in Judge Diggs situation, I admire
Frank's lifetime of service.  As all of us know, Frank is Chairman of the
Board of Directors of RBRCCB and also serves as President of the NFB of SC -
so he certainly has his hands full.  As many of you know, my first
experience with the NFB was in San Francisco in 1956 where I attended the
NFB convention and that was the initial experience causing me to dedicate my
life to the blind.

              While I was in Rocky Bottom some three weeks ago it was
brought to my attention that JJ, our RBRCCB resident duck has no one to swim
with him in the Eddie Mae Lucas Webb Memorial Pond as previous ducks seem to
have vanished.  I was pleased to receive a report from our Resident Manager
Linda Bible, jubilantly telling me that JJ now has a duck friend at RBRCCB
and he is very happy to share the pond with JJ - no fooling.

 

Final Thought:  As we approach Memorial Day when we remember and revere our
fallen veterans, "Taps" consists of 24 notes, but do you know the words?
"Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hill, From the sky.  All
is well, Safely rest, God is nigh."

 

 

*******

 

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2017

Baltimore, Maryland Bus Trip

Registration Form

 

Name of Passenger: ___________________________________

 

Address: ____________________________________________

 

Phone Number: _______________________________________

 

Emergency Contact: ___________________________________

 

Phone Number: _______________________________________

 

Date of Trip, September 29 - October 1

 

Cost of Trip:  $100.000

 

Final payment is due by July 5

Make checks payable to Isaiah Nelson and mail to:

Isaiah Nelson

PO Box 12063

Columbia, SC 29211

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