[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1690

[David Houck]

January 2, 2019

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1690

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Happy New Year!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday
season and are now ready to begin 2019 with a great deal of enthusiasm and
energy.  Although we were successful in the NFB of SC in 2018 in such areas
as, reorganizing the South Carolina Association of Blind Students,
revitalizing the Darlington chapter, finishing in the top ten in attendance
in Orlando at our 2018 national convention, and hosting a national senior's
retreat at Rocky Bottom, I believe 2019 will present the NFB of SC with many
more challenges and hopefully accomplishments.  

              If you have not notified the Federation Center as to whether
you are planning to attend the Statewide Seminar on January 5, please do so
as soon as possible.  This will help us to determine the amount of food to
purchase for lunch.  The seminar will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. And will
adjourn at approximately 4:00 p.m. During the lunch break, the NFB of SC and
the RBRCCB Board of Directors will be holding their first quarter meetings
in the board room of the Federation Center.  These are open meetings and
members are invited to participate.  We will be conducting an auction
throughout the day to raise money for Rocky Bottom.  Be sure to bring items
for the auction such as, cakes, pies, cookies, gift baskets, and
electronics.  Also, please continue to sell your Las Vegas national
convention tickets.  The drawing will take place at the conclusion of the
Seminar.  The winning ticket will receive $300, the seller of the winning
ticket will receive $100 and the chapter selling the most tickets will
receive $300.  It looks like we will have a large turnout of federationists
attending this year's seminar.  I would encourage you to come early if you
would like a good seat.  

              When you submit your $10 state dues, it is imperative you
provide accurate contact information such as, name, address, phone number
and email address if applicable.  These things do change and if we do not
have accurate information, we cannot keep you up to date on what's going on.
Our national office is requiring each state affiliate to submit a list of
members and their contact information by January 15, 2019.  The deadline for
NFB of SC state dues is January 31.  

              2019 promises to be an exciting and busy year in the NFB of
SC. It will be great to 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 5!  

              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.  2018 is now past and we have a New Year and
we have plenty of opportunity for additional service to the federation.
This includes the upcoming Statewide Seminar being held this Saturday.
Perhaps you may have wondered why a seminar has been held each year for
nearly 45 years and how it got started.  The origin dates back to my many
years as a Claims Adjuster for Colonial Life.  The company determined that
certain seminars for management improvement were needed as I was invited to
those early seminars.  The company designed these programs to improve the
management of the company.  This included seminars for various departments
including claims, underwriting, agents, legal, etc.  The company brought in
several USC business specialists to provide for these basic needs.
Individuals in their official capacity were given training to improve
service to policyholders, etc.  I recall on one occasion when Colonial
brought in a speaker from UNC Chapel Hill.  Seminar forms were designed
including relevant issues.  On one occasion I was given a seminar form.
There was a question asking Colonial employees as to the greatest job
complaints.  I answered the question as follows:  "People."  I was right.
It occurred to me that Colonial Life seminars could benefit the federation
by having its own seminar.  This was tried and turned out to be a most
successful program.  In the beginning of the federation seminars, there was
a select attendance such as state and local officers.  As time went by it
was determined that everyone across the state should be invited.  Some 45
years later those seminars have developed programs in which guests are
invited.  Agency heads also participate in these annual seminars.  This
enables the NFB of SC to cover important issues which otherwise would not be
discussed.  We have fundraising, national travel plans, and reports by the
state President and other officers including Rocky Bottom and the Federation
Center.  There are auctions and members generously participate.  A
complimentary lunch is served.  The turnout is wonderful.  Once again I want
to thank you sincerely for your many expressions in memory of my beloved
wife.  The living memorials have been generous including numerous
communications.  These have been inspirational feelings of encouragement
from my fellow federationists and others.

              

Final Thought:  Happy New Year!  As the church hymn says:  "I am resolved no
longer to linger."

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