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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>October 14, 2015<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1522<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I hope all of you have recovered from the extensive rain and flooding that occurred last week. In talking to many of you across the state, it appears most of us came through this ordeal with minimal or no damage. However, some of our members did not fare so well and therefore, we need keep these individuals in our thoughts and prayers during their difficult time. Tiffiny Mitchell, President of our Columbia Chapter, is asking members to bring personal and nonperishable items to the chapter meeting Thursday evening which will be donated to The Harvest Hope Food Bank to assist flood victims in the Midlands area. Kudos to Tiffiny and the Columbia Chapter for their initiative in this area. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope many of you are planning to attend The 2015 Christmas Board Retreat which will be held at Rocky Bottom December 4, 5, and 6. This will be a busy time since we will be holding three Board meetings beginning with the RBRCCB Board of Directors meeting Saturday, December 5, followed by the Federation Center Board of Trustees meeting, and ending with the NFB of SC Board meeting. Saturday evening will be a time for observing the Christmas season, singing carols, fellowship, and eating delicious desserts. I hope we will have a large turnout. Make plans to be there! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Governor Haley has proclaimed October 2015, as Disability Employment Awareness Month. Below, is her proclamation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>State of South Carolina Governor’s Proclamation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, South Carolinians with disabilities have the same aspirations to competitively work and contribute to their communities as everyone else; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, business and community leaders have called for a diverse and capable work force to further advance the South Carolina economy; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, the support and cooperation of all people are needed to reduce the attitudinal and physical barriers that hinder full acceptance of people with disabilities and their rightful place in employment; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, Disability Employment Awareness Month recognizes that individuals with disabilities are capable, contributing members of society worthy of full access and inclusion in South Carolina’s workforce.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nikki R. Haley, Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 2015, as<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to identify barriers to employment for persons with disabilities and continue to work toward improvements to ensure a competitive wage in an integrated environment for all South Carolina’s citizens.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Seal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NIKKI R. HALEY, GOVERNOR<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Let me first thank those of you across the state who have called to enquire about our well-being. The damage from the rain storm/flood was so extensive that progress is very slow. My next door neighbor, the Wallace’s, had a tree to fall across the roof of their house two or three days ago. In late August we also had a tree to fall across our back porch and carport. Many of my neighbors lost everything and this is true in many neighborhoods. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Wednesday, October 15 is White Cane Safety Day. More than 50 years ago, NFB Founder, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek wrote the White Cane safety Law which was adopted by many states without change including South Carolina. I remember in 1972 I gave a copy of the bill covering civil rights for the blind to legislators in both the House and Senate. The following is the first provision of the bill which reads, “It is the policy of this State to encourage and enable the blind, the visually handicapped, and the otherwise physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to engage in remunerative employment.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> White Cane Safety Day, October 15, is an important part of this bill and reads as follows, “Each year, the Governor shall take suitable public notice of October fifteenth as White Cane Safety Day. He shall issue a proclamation in which: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(a) He comments upon the significance of the white cane; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(b) He calls upon the citizens of the State to observe the provisions of the White Cane Law and to take precautions necessary to the safety of the disabled; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(c) He reminds the citizens of the State of the policies with respect to the disabled herein declared and urges the citizens to cooperate in giving effect to them; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(d) He emphasizes the need of the citizens to be aware of the presence of disabled persons in the community and to keep safe and functional for the disabled the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, other public places, places of public accommodation, amusement and resort, and other places to which the public is invited, and to offer assistance to disabled persons upon appropriate occasions.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> With October being “Meet the Blind Month,” provisions of the White Cane Law are very applicable. I’m glad to see several chapters promoting Meet the Blind Month projects as our public relations are very important.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Come heavy rain or high water, people come together when everything falls apart.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>