[NFBofSC] Positive Note 1716

[David Houck]

July 3, 2019

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1716

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              I would suggest if you have not made your room reservation as
yet for the upcoming 2019 state convention, you need to do so by calling the
Marriott Hotel's toll free Reservations number at (800) 593-6465 or you can
call (803) 771-7000.  Inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for
the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention
which will be held August 9-11.  Rates for this year's convention are $112
per night for up to four in a room.  In addition to the room rates there
will be a tax, which at present is 14 percent.  There are a number of rooms
still available for the $112 rate for Thursday, August 8.  Remember, you
need to make your room reservation at the Marriott no later than July 15.
If you wait until after July 15, it may be extremely difficult to reserve a
room.  For those of you who will be attending the NFB National convention
from July 6-13, I would strongly encourage you to go ahead and make your
room reservations for the state convention now and not wait until you return
from Las Vegas.  If you wait until July 13, to make your room reservation,
you could forget to do it, and thereby, miss the July 15 deadline.  

              In the next few days, many of us will be traveling to Las
Vegas, Nevada to attend the 2019 NFB National Convention.  It is gratifying
to know that many of you across the state are making the necessary
sacrifices to attend the National Convention, as we are expecting to have
approximately 100 people in attendance from South Carolina.  Although I am
quite certain a good time will be had by all of us during our time in Las
Vegas, I cannot stress enough, the importance for all of us to participate
fully in the convention, especially attending all general sessions which are
extremely important in our Federation growth and service.     

If you did not pre-register, please be sure to register for the convention
on Monday morning, July 8.  At this time, more than half of our delegation
still needs to register ($30 fee) for the convention.  If you do not
register and do not have a convention badge, you may not be eligible to
receive the special hotel rates.  It is also very important to register for
the convention as the final registration numbers are used to recognize the
attendance rankings for state affiliates.  

              For those of you who are unable to attend this year's national
convention, The convention will be streamed during the Board of Directors
Meeting, General Sessions, and the Banquet. Find the media players available
to access and the sessions scheduled to be broadcasted at
https://www.nfb.org/livestream.  Agenda and other convention documents
available on NFB-NEWSLINE:  To read the agenda or the other
convention-related documents using the telephone access method, go to Option
Five for Newspapers in Different State, then Option Five for National
Meetings of Interest to the Print Disabled and follow the prompts to select
the item of your choice such as the 2019 NFB Convention Agenda, the 2019 NFB
Convention Exhibitors, 2019 NFB Convention First Timers Guide, or the 2019
NFB Convention Restaurant Guide. If you're using NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile, choose
Publications, Publication Options, and All Publications to maneuver to the
documents. 

              Let's have a great 2019 National Convention and I look forward
to seeing many of you in Las Vegas!  

 

              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.  

              South Carolinians have been attending National Federation of
the Blind conventions beginning in 1956.  This year is no different as about
100 South Carolinians will leave on Friday, July 5 for Las Vegas, Nevada
where this year's NFB convention will be held. State President Frank Coppel
will serve as our official delegate with Lenora Robertson serving as the
alternate delegate.  In 1956 the NFB convention was held in San Francisco.
Lois Bolton Tucker, her sister, my wife Betty and I were present for that
historic convention.  In this Positive Note I thought you'd like to hear
about some of the experiences I've had.  Some are significant experiences
while others are not.  In 156 at the San Francisco convention our four
member delegation enjoyed steam heat which was the usual for the Fourth of
July week.  This is an important anniversary as the national convention was
held 50 years ago here in Columbia in 1969.  Incidentally, in 1969, Gov.
Robert E. McNair hosted the national convention at the Governor's Mansion.
Lt. Gov. John West attended the Banquet.  At the 1969 convention the air
conditioning went out.  NFB conventions have utilized the Fourth of July as
no better deal can be had at a cheaper rate than at that particular time.
My son Craig and my daughter Beth attended several conventions with us.  I
remember Craig was looking for the recording, "Bye, Bye Birdie" and found it
in 1967 in Los Angeles.  He "nursed" his recording all the way home to
Columbia and still has the recording which has been recorded onto a CD.  In
the early 1960's on our return trip we went by Yellowstone National Park.
With great excitement, Beth said to me, "Daddy, there's a teddy bear in that
tree!"  At one of the California conventions we noted the hotel drained its
swimming pool and when asked why, they replied there was a leak which caused
a problem.  However, when the convention concluded and everyone was leaving,
we noted the hotel started filling the pool.  At the 1976 convention Beth
attended the convention and bought a chain for me which I still use on a
daily basis.  The 1970 convention was held in Minneapolis.  Ten South
Carolinians were present.  I noted many states had more than we did and that
troubled me.  I determined at that time we would do better in 1971
regardless of where the convention was held.  The 1971 convention was held
in Houston, Texas and South Carolina had some 45 members attending.  This
was the first time we chartered a bus to an NFB convention.  We have
continued this program which greatly improves convention attendance. During
the 1960's we held several conventions in Chicago.  On one occasion we saw
the President and his staff in the hotel.  It was Bill Clinton.  His suite
was the one above our accommodation and there was a tremendous staff which
served the President.  The NFB of SC ranks high in convention attendance and
this year is no different.  I attended NFB conventions from 1956 to 2011
when I had to terminate my attendance because of Betty's declining health.
When you depart on Friday, July 5, all of you will be in our thoughts.  We
are very proud of each and every member who makes the effort to attend these
conventions.  

 

Final Thought:   We fought for freedom and we cherish liberty as we pursue
happiness tis Fourth of July.

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