[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1672

[David Houck]

August 28, 2018 

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1672

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              This upcoming weekend many of us will be traveling to Rocky
Bottom to attend the 37th annual Fun Day Festival.  Over 45 Federationists
are planning to be at Rocky Bottom on Saturday, September 1, to participate
in all the festivities.  One of my favorite activities during Fun Day is the
auction which will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.  Many thanks
go to Jennifer Bazer and Valerie Warrington who have been very instrumental
in securing items for the auction.  Items for the auction include a
photograph signed by Clemson head football coach Dabbo Sweeney, a black and
silver football autographed by the Carolina Panthers, tickets to River Bank
Zoo, Wonderworks in Myrtle Beach and Dollywood, gift baskets, and bakery
items just to name a few.  We will be selling yard sale items and we will
also be selling RBRCCB merchandise.  Four meals will be served throughout
the weekend.  Times for meals are as follows; Saturday, September 1,
breakfast 8:30, lunch 12:00, and supper 6:00 p.m.  Sunday, September 2,
breakfast 8:30.  You will need to see Valerie Warrington and pay $30 for
adults and $15 for children under twelve years of age to cover all four
meals including the lunch  on Saturday.  Those individuals who are attending
the Fun Day Festival Saturday and who are only eating lunch will need to pay
Valerie and Larry Warrington $8 for adults and $4 for children.  

              It is extremely important we all do what we can to sell as
many $5 Fun Day tickets as possible as this greatly contributes to the
overall profits of the festival.  Remember, the winning ticket drawn will
yield $50 to the seller and $500 to the buyer or $550 if you bought your own
ticket.  The chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300 for its
treasury!  Please mail your ticket stubs and money to the Federation Center
no later than Thursday, August 30 or bring your stubs and money to Rocky
Bottom on Saturday, September 1, and give them to David Houck.  

              We need to do all we can to support Rocky Bottom.  There needs
to be a large Federation turnout for this very important fundraising event.


              We have an announcement from Tiffiny Mitchell, Chairperson of
the 2019 NFB national convention transportation committee.  "By now, just
about everyone has heard that the 2019 NFB National Convention will be held
in Las Vegas next year from July 7-12.  Our committee is preparing to find
out approximately how many in SC plan to attend and use the transportation
arranged by the state organization.  We will hold a conference call on
Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.  We are asking that you call in to
find out more information about transportation arrangements thus far. We
will be able to answer some questions also, so please be thinking of what
you'd like to ask during the call.  The call in number is (862) 902-0241.
The access code is 358-8716.  To keep the background noise to a minimum,
once you have entered the conference, please press *6 to mute your phone.
If you would like to make a comment press the same keys to unmute.  Also,
please state your name before asking a question or making a comment.  This
will help ensure that everyone can hear all comments and get the most from
the information provided.  If you have any questions, feel free to give me a
call at (803) 603-2098.  I look forward to talking to you soon!"  Finally, I
know many of you would like to join Shelley and I in wishing Dr. Capps a
very happy ninetieth birthday as he will be celebrating this special
occasion on Thursday, August 30.  

              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.  

              Two weeks ago I gave a short history of the Osterneck Cottage.
I realized a couple of days later I did not include the screened in porch
when Osterneck was being expanded.  Throughout the years many of us have
enjoyed the screened in porch which overlooks Chimney Top Creek.  This creek
provides an outstanding acoustical sound as the waters cascade over the
rocks in the creek.  The porch also features several high back type chairs
which provide much enjoyment.  I have spent many hours occupying one of
these chairs enjoying the creek.  The porch opens into the dining hall and
dining room.  The porch also provides an outside exit down a flight of
stairs.  No doubt some of you will enjoy the screened in porch at this
week's Fun Day.  

              About ten years after Osterneck was completed, the Conference
Center was dedicated in July 1991.  Some 500 persons from throughout the
area attended the dedication of the center in July 1991.  It was the largest
gathering to date in the area. The Conference Center has a deck which is
nice but it is not enclosed but it is enjoyed just the same.  The Conference
Center deck is used for open air gatherings and live music, etc.  Because
the Conference Center is much larger than the rest of the facilities, it
afforded an opportunity for many blind people to contribute to the center.
Some 300 dining room chairs were needed to accommodate seating.  The late LP
Armstrong-Garrett who was an associate member, owned and operated General
Sales of Columbia and ordered the 300 chairs.  These dining room chairs are
still in use.  They are of high quality.  We paid $45 per chair but the
retail price was $75.  There is an area on each chair providing for the
installation of a name plate.  Most of these 300 chairs were purchased by
the blind.  When a blind person made a contribution new plates were engraved
with the person's name and were sent from Columbia to Rocky Bottom.  No
doubt many have their name plates on the chairs.  The late Vern Freeman of
the Salem Lions Club installed the name plates as they were delivered to
him.  Mr. Freeman would set a day aside to travel from Salem to Rocky Bottom
to meticulously install each and every name plate.  There were other
contributions.  The late Odell Austin, former President of the Orangeburg
Chapter loved Rocky Bottom.  He also took pride in his business dealings.
One evening when several were present, Odell was talking about his business
success and I approached him about giving a substantial contribution
accompanied by his name in a prominent place in the center.  After the
meeting that day Odell agreed to make a contribution of $10,000.  To the
best of my knowledge this is the largest contribution to the center by a
blind person.  Incidentally, the most expensive item for the new center was
the commercial kitchen which was valued at $75,000.  Mrs. Garrett who had
helped with the chairs also got the commercial kitchen at a substantial
discount.  Some blind persons and others also made substantial contributions
having their name placed on different rooms in the center.  Once again, for
the second straight year we have been unable to participate in the Fun Day
weekend but we wish much success in this most important occasion.  Meanwhile
I'll celebrate a special day in my life as I will have my 90th birthday take
place this Thursday, August 30.  A lifelong friend has invited me out to
dinner and this is appreciated as well as other greetings, cards, etc.

 

Final Thought:   "Sinful pleasures will make you worthless.  Holiness will
make you priceless."

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