[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1649

[David Houck]

March 21, 2018 

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1649                                                  

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
attended the 2018 Leadership Seminar sponsored by the NFB of SC this past
Saturday.  Approximately eighty people were in attendance at the seminar
representing the entire state from Greenville to Charleston.  During the
morning session, the audience heard from David Houck who presented an over
view of the history of the NFB and the NFB of SC.  The morning session
concluded with a very frank and informative discussion led by Ed Bible
regarding the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and the rights and
responsibilities of consumers.  Again, a very special thanks goes to the
Federation Center of the Blind who covered the expense of the lunch.  The
afternoon session consisted of an excellent presentation made by Sabrina
Sanders, Benefits Specialist from the Sc Commission for the Blind, who gave
a detailed description of SSI and SSDI benefits and work incentive features
in the Social Security program.  The remainder of the afternoon dealt with
the upcoming national and state conventions and chapter issues.  How to
conduct an effective chapter meeting was presented and many good suggestions
by the audience were discussed as to how chapters could raise funds and
attract new members.  At the conclusion of the seminar, the 2018 Orlando
National convention bus ticket drawing was conducted.  Congratulations to
the Columbia chapter for selling the most tickets (875) and winning the
first place prize of $300.  Second place goes to the Sumter Chapter with a
total of 309 and third place goes to the Upper Dorchester County chapter who
sold 165 tickets.  Overall, 2,310 tickets were sold state wide.  The buyer
of the winning ticket was Carter Monteith of Rock Hill who received $300 and
the seller was Jim Carter from Rock Hill who received $100.  We will need to
work much harder next year if we are going to charter a bus to the 2019
national convention.  

              The Spring meetings of the Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference
Center of the Blind Board of Directors and the NFB of SC Board of Directors
will be held at the Federation Center of the Blind on Saturday, April 21,
2018.  The RBRCCB Board of Directors meeting will begin promptly at 10:00
a.m. and will adjourn at 12:00 noon.  The NFB of SC Board of Directors
meeting will begin promptly 1:00 p.m. and adjourn at 4:00 p.m.  I look
forward to having all board members in attendance and I strongly encourage
any Federation member to come and to actively participate in the meeting.  

              We have an announcement from Jamie Allison, President of our
Cherokee County chapter.  "It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that
our long-time Cherokee chapter member, Mr. Allen Davis, went to be with the
Lord during the early morning hours of March 17th. Mr. Davis was an alumnus
of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and his wife, Carrie, has also
been an associate member of our chapter for many years.    Visitation will
be at the Pacloet Road Baptist Church at 2:00 pm with the funeral services
immediately following at 3:00 pm. An online obituary and guest book can be
viewed and signed by following this link:
http://www.blakelyfuneralhome.com/obituary/allen-davis.                We
know that most people across the state will not be able to attend the
services, but we covet your prayers for the Davis family and our chapter
during this most difficult time."  

              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.  

              My son Craig and I have just returned from a most impressive
memorial service in memory of Wanda Sheck who passed away on Friday, March
9.  There was a good turnout for the service including several blind
persons.  The NFB of SC was well represented by President Frank Coppel and
state Secretary Dorothy Barksdale.

              Beginning this week we will be busy working to sell as many
barbecue tickets as possible which will be held on Thursday, April 26.  It
hardly seems possible that this year's barbecue celebrates its 65th
anniversary which began in 1954.  The only member who is still living that I
can think of at the moment other than myself who participated in the first
barbecue was Lois Boltin Tucker.  So many successes have taken place in this
long period of time.  Each barbecue plate in 1954 cost us $1.00 and we sold
it for $1.50.  In 1954 the chapter sold about 200 plates, earning $100 and
at that time we thought this was great.  Really it was as the chapter had
never sponsored any fundraiser before and this was a good beginning.  Some
members who originally objected had their minds changed when the results of
the first barbecue was history.  On a personal note, I was young and in my
20's in 1954 whereas with the coming of the 30th of August, it will be my
90th birthday.  During the past 65 years literally thousands of barbecue
plates have been sold and this resulted in funding for the chapter for many
thousands of dollars.  We have also made a lot of friends during that
project and our members have gained confidence in participating.  Our three
canvas nights will bring in several thousands of dollars.  Also, the
neighbors in our neighborhood which surrounds the Federation Center for the
most part know about the annual event and we are received quite well by many
of those who participate.  Our members do an excellent job in serving the
plates and no doubt we will have good participation again.  In the mid
1950's the barbecue was held in the Township Auditorium sponsored by the
late Senator Walter Bristow.  Following that we met at the Jefferson Hotel
located in downtown Columbia before the Federation Center was ready for
occupancy in 1962.  Others who picked this fundraising event came to realize
how valuable this barbecue fundraiser really is.  While the Columbia Chapter
owns the Center, meetings statewide are also held there.  For example, I
understand last Saturday's Leadership Seminar was very successful with
nearly 100 in attendance.  The Center Board of Directors will be meeting
this Friday at the Center to cover its quarterly meeting.

 

Final Thought:   "With longevity comes your legacy."

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