[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1703

[David Houck]

April 3, 2019

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1703

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Kudos to the mission's team from Mt. Hebron Methodist Church
in West Columbia which included Ed Bible, his wife Julie and David Bundy for
all of their hard work at Rocky Bottom this past weekend.  As many of you
know, the chapel, the fence leading to the pond and boardwalk were severely
damaged by fallen trees this winter.  It is my understanding much needed
repairs were made to the fence and boardwalk around the back of the chapel.
Also, gutters on Osterneck Cottage were cleaned out as well as the water
system's holding tank was repainted to comply with DEHEC regulations.  Mt.
Hebron's mission's team has been volunteering their time at Rocky Bottom
since 2016 and their efforts are deeply appreciated by all of us.  

              We have an announcement from Shannon Cook, Chairperson of the
NFB of SC scholarship committee.  "The NFB of SC 2019 Scholarship
application has now been posted at www.nfbofsc.org under the Scholarship
link.  Please share with your network."  

              If you have not done so already, please make your reservations
for the upcoming 2019 Las Vegas National Convention.  The date of this
year's national convention will be July 7, to July 12, 2019 and will be held
at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Unlike in years past, the
same enviable rate of $99 per night applies to singles and doubles as well
as triples and quads. Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25
percent, respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived
for NFB convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and
toll-free calls, and fitness center access may apply.  To make reservations
for the 2019 convention, you can call the hotel at 877-632-9001. The hotel
will take a deposit of the first night's room rate for each room and will
require a credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the
deposit will be charged against your card immediately. It is important to
note, the hotel will charge against your card a $400 deposit to cover
incidentals during the time you are staying at the hotel.  This deposit will
be credited back partially or in full to your card soon after you check-out
from the hotel.  If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, half
of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.  It is
my understanding room reservations for the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
are going quickly, so I suggest you make your room reservations soon.  

              This is a reminder national convention Preregistration Opened
March 1, Online.  Preregistration will be available from March 1 to May 31,
2019. Additionally, registration will be available on site in Las Vegas.
When purchased online by May 31, the preregistration fee for convention is
$25 ($30 on site) and the cost of a banquet ticket is $70 ($75 on site). For
more information regarding preregistration and other details, please visit
https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention.  Please note all
preregistration and banquet sales are final.  

              I am very sad to report Teena Adams, a member of the Columbia
chapter, passed away this past Saturday evening.  Teena served on the
Columbia chapter board in 2009 and prior to serious health complications as
a result of diabetes, she participated in all aspects of chapter activities.
She was a very caring individual who was extremely committed to do all she
could to improve the quality of life of blind people.  All of us in the
Federation family need to keep Teena and her family in our thoughts and
prayers.  

              Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you Saturday April
6, for the RBRCCB board of directors meeting which will begin at 10:00 a.m.
and the NFB of SC board of directors meeting which will begin at 1:00 p.m.
There will be much to discuss at both meetings.  These meetings are open to
the membership, and all Federation members are welcome to come Saturday and
actively participate in both meetings.  

              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.  

              This is April Fools Day - No joke!  This is Monday, April
first, and to the best of my knowledge, April fools pranks are still
performed.  When I was young, April fools was "big" as we liked to play
tricks on others.  For many years, however, I have not kept up with April
Fools Day.  I know that in bygone years I observed that occasionally things
happened such as chairs being pulled from behind others.  

              Notwithstanding April Fool's Day, this is a very nice time of
Spring and the flowers are magnificent I'm told.  Our live-in caregiver
Debbie Manning was so impressed with the Dogwoods and Azaleas.  Yesterday,
Sunday, she got a camera and took pictures of the beautiful Spring time
flowers.

              Here in the Columbia Chapter we are in the peak of the sale of
barbecue tickets for the 66th annual barbecue.  The three canvas nights will
begin very soon.  We have a good relationship with our Center neighborhood.
For many years I canvased and enjoyed it but Father Time caught up with me
and now I don't.  It is important to me to devote as much time as possible
in the barbecue as some of the proceeds are used to assist members to attend
the NFB national convention early in July.  By far the largest ticket sale
was from a local firm who bought 70 tickets for $700 and gave the balance of
$300, making a total of $1,000.  No other sale is as much as than that
amount.  I'm proud of Columbia which respects the federation and is willing
to participate.  I hope I will continue selling barbecue tickets each year
and for several more years.  Chapter members share in the cost of having
food prepared for those who have participated in the canvas.  This is a nice
gesture.  

              Finally I am not participating in April Fool's Day although
this part of the Positive Note is being dictated on Monday, April first.

              

Final Thought:  April Fool's Day - Sometimes he fool is not the one who is
pranked but the one who pulls the prank.

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