[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1638

[David Houck]

January 3, 2018 

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1638

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Happy New Year!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday
season and are now ready to begin 2018 with a great deal of enthusiasm and
energy.  You can now begin to make your reservations for the upcoming 2018
Orlando National Convention.  The date of this year's national convention
will be July 3, to July 8, 2018 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek
Resort.  The 2018 room rates are singles and doubles, $88; and triples and
quads, $93. 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 2018 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 $100 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 $100 check.
If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June, 1, 2018, half of the
deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.  The schedule
of the convention is as follows:  Tuesday, July 3, Seminar Day - Wednesday,
July 4, Registration and exhibits - Thursday, July 5, National Board Meeting
and division and committee meetings - Friday, July 6, Opening General
Session - Saturday, July 7, General session - Sunday, July 8, Banquet 

              We have an announcement from Loretta Green and Isaiah Nelson.
"the NFB of SC is planning a charter bus trip to the Jernigan Institute
(our national headquarters) in Baltimore, Maryland the weekend of April 6-8.
The cost to ride the charter bus will be $100 per person.  The initial $25
is due by January 6, at the statewide seminar and the remainder of the money
is due no later than Friday, February 23 2018.  If you have any questions,
regarding this trip you can contact Loretta Green at (843) 276-9649 or
Isaiah Nelson at (803) 413-2434."  

              2018 promises to be an exciting and busy year in the NFB of
SC. It would be great if we could kick off the New Year with a large crowd
of enthusiastic federationists at this year's state wide seminar.  Shelley
and I look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday, January 6!  

              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.  

              Happy New Year to all of you across the state.  This time of
year always ushers in the time we hold the annual Statewide Seminar.  This
program has grown tremendously over the years.  The origin of the "Seminar"
occurred in the 1970's or some 50 years ago.  Initially the NFB of SC was
understandably small but the program grew steadily.  In the early days there
were just a handful of federation chapters and the program was not statewide
until many years later.  In the beginning we discussed such things as the
state constitution and chapter constitutions.  We were new at that time and
our leaders across the state needed to understand both the state and chapter
constitutions.  We also discussed how to recruit new members.  Today the
Statewide Seminar is of course a very important part of our annual programs.


              In last week's Positive Note I talked about my eye surgery at
John's Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore which occurred over the Christmas and
New Year's holidays.  On Friday, December 29, 2017, Betty became ill,
necessitating our rushing her to the hospital for appropriate treatment.
Upon our arrival at the Baptist Hospital Emergency Room, Betty was treated
immediately.  After many tests she was diagnosed with a "mini-stroke" and
was subsequently hospitalized for two days and nights.  Betty was not
released until New Year's Eve, December 31.  After intensive treatment she
now has no physical signs of the mini-stroke.  However, due to her age,
extra action is being taken.  For example, as I dictate this Positive Note
Tuesday morning, there is a physical therapist in our home working with
Betty to ensure her good progress continues.  While I am grateful for all of
the treatment she is receiving, it will prevent Betty and me from attending
this Saturday's Statewide Seminar.  I don't believe I have missed any of
these Seminars but Betty's situation dictates my being very careful.  I will
be thinking of all of you this weekend but I know that this Statewide
Seminar will be one of the best ever.  Please keep Betty and me in your
prayers and let all of us work hard this year to make this the best year the
NFB of SC has ever had.

 

Final Thought:  We celebrated our accomplishments over the old year.  We
have a clean slate for this new one.  Let's see if our efforts can exceed
our expectations.

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