[Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1702

[David Houck]

March 27, 2019

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

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1702

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

 

              Saturday evening, March 23, I traveled to Bishopville where I
had the pleasure of attending the Black and White Banquet hosted by the Lee
County Chapter of the NFB of SC.  Approximately 100 individuals were in
attendance and they were treated to a wonderful meal as well as great
musical entertainment provided by Tina Holmes, a member of the Columbia
Chapter, and others.  Debra Canty, 2nd vice president of the NFB of SC,
Derique Simon, board member of the SC Association of Blind Students, and
Loretta Green, 1st district board member of the NFB of SC, along with her
husband, Henry, spoke during the evening.  All of these individuals made
excellent presentations as they openly discussed with the audience how they
dealt with their blindness and how the National Federation of the Blind has
played an important role in their lives.  Not only was the banquet
successful in raising a great deal of funds for the chapter, but it also
educated the sighted individuals in the audience to the philosophy and the
programs of the NFB of SC.  Linda Dizzly, the Lee County chapter President,
did an outstanding job organizing and planning this event.  Linda is
commended for all of her hard work to make this banquet a tremendous
success.  

              Just a friendly reminder 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 6, 2019.  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.  There will be much to discuss a both meetings, and so I would
like to strongly encourage Federation members who are not on either board to
come Saturday and actively participate in the meetings.  

              We have an announcement from Debra Canty, President of the
Sumter chapter.  "The Sumter chapter will have chicken and pork BBQ
sandwiches available for sale April 6, at the RBRCCB and NFB of SC board of
directors meetings.  The BBQ chicken sandwich will sell for $5 and the pork
BBQ sandwich will sell for $6.  All sandwiches must be paid upon delivery on
Saturday, April 6 at the Federation Center.  We gladly accept cash or checks
made payable to: NFB Sumter Chapter as well.  If you are interested in
purchasing a BBQ sandwich, please contact Debra Canty at (803)775-5792 or
email her at debra.canty at frontier.com to place your order.  Orders must be
placed by Monday, April1, no later than 12:00 noon.  Drinks and chips will
be provided by the NFB of SC and Rocky Bottom.  The Sumter chapter has
conducted this event for many years as proceeds from this fund raiser helps
to financially assist chapter members to attend the national convention."  

              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.  

              Today our spotlight falls on a longtime Associate member of
the Columbia Chapter.  John Barry Chavis, or "Barry," as he is known, was
born in Orangeburg County in 1946.   He moved to West Columbia in third
grade and then to Columbia where he attended the public schools, graduating
from Columbia High School.  Barry is a member of the Beaver Creek Indian
tribe which is located in Sally, SC (Orangeburg County).  Barry researched a
50 year history of the Beaver Creek tribe including its ancestors.  He is a
Chief Elder and was a former Chief.  

              While Barry lived in Columbia, he grew up around the corner
from longtime Columbia Chapter federationists Reba and MacDonald Hancock
(now deceased) and spent much time with their son and daughter, Fred and
Donna.  That's how he found out about the federation, joining the Columbia
Chapter in 1964 and taking his first trip to Rocky Bottom in 1966.  Barry
worked many annual Columbia Chapter barbecues, drove the van to pick up
members for meetings and barbecue canvas nights, lettered the chapter vans,
etc.  He drove Frank Coppel to various statewide chapter meetings. He also
built the original conference room table in the Center's board room and now
works at the Federation Center doing renovation projects among other things.
Barry worked closely with Don and Betty Capps at Rocky Bottom over the
years.  He built the board room table in the Conference Center board room,
did building and outdoor signage and it seems that every time Barry was
found at Rocky Bottom he was repairing or fixing something which needed
attention.  Barry worked many Labor Day Fun Day Festivals, about eight
Senior Blind Camps and even was at the 2018 NFB Senior Blind retreat which
accommodated blind seniors from several states.  Barry Chavis received
several NFB of SC awards including the Associate Member of the Year Award,
Distinguished Service Award and Presidential Citation.  He has also received
an award from Rocky Bottom for his service to the camp over the years.  In
fact, Barry Chavis has served on the RBRCCB Advisory Board for six years.
Barry has attended about five state conventions but in 1969 Barry presented
a sculpted bust of Dr. Jacobus tenBroek (NFB Founder) to the 1969 Columbia
NFB national convention.  Barry's hobbies include, you guessed it,
woodworking, painting drawing and design.  These talents he has used in
abundance benefitting the federation in many ways over the years.  Barry
continues to work at the Federation Center as he is a multi-talented and
capable Center employee who still volunteers his time wherever he is needed.
Let's salute Barry Chavis for all his hard work and dedication on behalf of
the blind.

              

Final Thought:  "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery; today is a gift,
that's why we call it the present" - Bill Keene

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