[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1674

[David Houck]

September 12, 2018 

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1674

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Before we turn our attention to other activities in the NFB of
SC, I would like to share with you numbers regarding the Fun Day Festival
which occurred at Rocky Bottom on September 1.  Considering the limited time
we had to plan for this event, we were able to raise approximately $4,000 in
net proceeds.  We were able to sell 694 tickets state wide and after paying
out $850 in prize money we were able to clear $2,620 in Fun Day tickets
sales.  Frank Loza, of the Belvedere chapter won the $550 as he bought the
winning ticket two hours prior to the drawing.  The Columbia chapter won
$300 for finishing first place selling 131 tickets, Linda Bible, the
resident manager of Rocky Bottom, finished second place selling 80 tickets,
Sumter chapter finished third selling 70 tickets, and Rock hill chapter
finished fourth selling 66 tickets.  The auction was very successful as we
were able to raise $1,346.  

              I am sure most of you have heard by now, that the 2019 NFB
National Convention will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mandalay Resort
hotel next year from July 7-12, 2019.  At the NFB of SC Board of Directors
meeting held during the state convention, I appointed a committee chaired by
Tiffiny Mitchell to investigate ways how the state organization could best
financially assist our members to attend the 2019 National convention.
Thursday evening, September 6, a teleconference meeting was held and Tiffiny
presented the following information to the more than twenty people who were
on the conference call.  The date we will be flying to Las Vegas will be
Saturday, July 6, 2019 and we will be returning from Las Vegas on Saturday,
July 13, 2019.  Currently, the group rate for a round trip, nonstop ticket
on American Airlines from Charlotte to Las Vegas is $439 which includes
taxes and fees.  A minimum of ten people are needed to qualify for a group
rate.  Because seats on flights were going quickly, Tiffiny felt we needed
to sign a contract with American Airlines as soon as possible.  For this
reason, she is planning to sign a contract with American Airlines on
September 21, 2018.  Once Tiffiny signs a contract, individuals will have
fourteen days to make a $50 deposit to reserve and hold their seat.  The
deadline to pay your $50 deposit is October 5, 2018.  Airline tickets must
be paid in full ($439) to American Airlines no later than June 6, 2019.  To
assist members financially, the NFB of SC will provide transportation to
qualified individuals from Columbia to the Charlotte airport and from the
Las Vegas airport to the hotel.  If you want further information regarding
these arrangements, feel free to contact Tiffiny Mitchell at (803) 603-2098.
Let's do all we can to have a maximum turnout of South Carolinians in Las
Vegas next year for our national convention!  

              We have an announcement from Isaiah Nelson, president of the
SC School for the blind Alumni Association.  "Greetings!  Those of you who
would be interested in going to Spartanburg on Saturday, October 20, 2018 to
assist  in developing future plans for activities and programs for the SC
School for the Blind, I would like to take this time to invite you to a
planning meeting. The cost of the trip will be fifty ($50) dollars which
includes your dues, lunch and gas.  The van will be leaving from the
federation center at 8:00 a.m. on the above-given date.  All monies should
be paid no later than Thursday, October 11, 2018.  If you have any questions
or interested in this meeting, feel free to contact me at (803) 413-2434."  

              Finally, I would like to say to all of our chapters and
members who are located on the coast and who are in the path of Hurricane
Florence, you are in our thoughts and prayers.  If you need any assistance,
please do not hesitate to call on us.  

              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.  

              President Coppel's figures on the Fun Day Festival are most
impressive.  We appreciate the extensive work which was done on the Fun Day
Festival.  There's another funding program which greatly benefits all three
entities, the NFB of SC, the Federation Center and Rocky Bottom.  This is
known as the "Living Memorial Program."  At about the same time the Fun Day
Festival came into being in the early 1980's, the living memorial program
was also established.  Bill Richardson who served on the Advisory Board of
the Federation Center, approached me about creating a federation living
memorial program.  He provided us with a copy of a living memorial form he
had used elsewhere and all we needed to do for the Federation Center was
changing the wording on the form.  Not long thereafter we received a
contribution from a contributor who wanted to assist the federation by
remembering a loved one who had passed away.  Throughout the years this
program grew.  Today it's not unusual to receive more than one living
memorial each week.  My granddaughter, Laura Setters who lives in
Louisville, recently sent a living memorial for her dear mother and my
daughter, Beth Holdcraft, whose portrait is displayed prominently in the
board room at Rocky Bottom.  Laura explained that the $90 contribution was
to go for the 90 years of my life.  Incidentally, a record breaking number
of greetings about my birthday were received.  Living memorials for the
federation come from persons in all walks of life.  Federationists also
participate in the living memorial program.  Recently we received numerous
living memorials given in memory of Mary Maness, a member of the Union
Chapter.  These memorials were generous and raised funds in excess of $300.
A number of years ago, Ben Rushton, a member of the Edgefield County
Chapter, who lost his sight in an automobile accident.  His wife divorced
him because of his loss of sight and she also wanted custody of their
children.  Frank Coppel went to the court hearing and Frank was very
persuasive.  The judge granted custody of the children to Ben Rushton.
Recently Ben passed away.  Memorials in his memory were received from
contributors from throughout the state, as far as from Charleston.  I hope
that members from throughout the state will participate in this program when
the situation presents itself.  We must support our statewide programs and
this is an excellent way of doing so.

              As I dictate this Positive Note Tuesday we are concerned about
the reports we are receiving from the weather bureau regarding Hurricane
Florence.  I hope all of you remain safe.  I vividly recall Hurricane Hugo
which occurred in September 1989 as I was attending a board meeting of the
SC School for the Deaf and Blind.  We agreed to spend the night at the
School and I recall Betty and I stayed in the Walker Hall apartment.  I
liked everything except the twin beds.  Late that night I woke up and
thought I heard a person talking but it turned out to be my dear wife who
had her small radio and she was playing it under the cover.  When I asked
about it she said she was trying to get Hurricane Hugo news from Columbia.
We did receive damage to our property but our next door neighbor had serious
damage to his roof as a large tree fell across his roof.  Let's all keep
everyone in our thoughts and prayers.

 

Final Thought:  "Thought without action is meaningless.  Action without
thought is reckless."

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