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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>October 21, 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 1523<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> Hats off to Jennifer Bazer who represented the NFB of SC by participating in a conference for exceptional Parents in Memphis, Tennessee. October 11-13. Jennifer was asked to speak on two panels: the first being a legislative panel where Jennifer discussed her instrumental role in the passage of the Blind Persons Right to Parent Act in 2014 and the second being a panel in which Jennifer spoke concerning her experiences as a blind parent of a five year old son and two year old daughter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On Thursday evening October 15, the Columbia Chapter held elections of officers for 2016. Congratulations to the following individuals who were elected to office. President – Tiffiny Mitchell, First Vice President – Isaiah Nelson, Second Vice President – Jennifer Bazer, Secretary – Dorothy Barksdale, Treasurer – Kattie Jackson, Board Members – Steve Cook and David Bundy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope all of you are doing all you can in selling your 2016 Orlando National Convention bus tickets. I am hopeful about our ticket sales and what we charge for each seat will cover the approximate $8,000 cost for a chartered bus. Remember, the drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Statewide Seminar on January 9, 2016. The individual who purchases the winning tickets will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $300 and the chapter who sells the most tickets will receive $300. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook, President of the Computer Science and Technology Division would like to make the following announcement; “If you would like to relive the 2015 NFB of SC State Convention, please stay tuned and I will let you know how! Let me start off by thanking some people first! This year’s stream was sponsored by CNI Systems in Cayce, SC and Carolina Low Vision in Harrisburg, NC. Without the contributions from these companies the stream would not have been possible. I would like to thank Billy Irwin for hosting our website www.nfbofsc.org to keep the world updated on the NFB of SC. For the past few years Larry and Valerie Warrington have been a crucial part in streaming our state conventions by volunteering their time to monitor the stream during the convention. Larry has also downloaded the recordings to host on our website. In order for the files to play on everyone’s computer. Thom Spittle with www.thinkaccess.org converted the files to Mp3. David Bundy added the audio files to the agenda that is currently located on www.nfbofsc.org for everyone to listen to. I cannot thank the above people enough that volunteer to perform these tasks!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now for what you have been waiting for! Go to the below link and you will see the agenda from the 2015 NFB of SC State convention. The link to listen to the audio file is listed below the presentation. If using JAWS, when you press enter on the link that begins with “listen” the file should start playing in your default media player. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbofsc.org/blog/2015/10/08/2015-nfb-of-sc-state-convention/.”<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> The recent NFB of SC convention adopted an important resolution providing for the NFB of SC and the Commission for the Blind to work together in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commission in 2016. The resolution reads as follows:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“Resolution 2015-01<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whereas the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina will be celebrating its Fiftieth anniversary in 2016; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whereas the NFB of SC was responsible for the creation of the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina, having worked two years with the General Assembly to pass necessary legislation; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whereas the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina offers vital programs designed to promote independence, enhance opportunity, and improve the quality of life for blind South Carolinians; and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whereas the blind and low vision South Carolinians of all ages benefit significantly from these programs and find such programs to be a helpful in developing and improving skills that will assist them throughout life; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now, Therefore, be it Resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina in convention assembled this 23rd day of August, 2015 in the city of Columbia that the organized blind movement in South Carolina congratulate the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina for its fifty years of continued service to the blind of this state, and be it further resolved that this organization partner with the Commission for the Blind of South Carolina in celebrating its Fiftieth Anniversary.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is suggested that both the NFB of SC and the Commission for the Blind appoint committees to come up with a desirable and suitable program. The blind have certainly benefitted from this relationship with the Commission for the Blind and there should be full recognition of this service. Understandably, there are not very many of us remaining who participated in the establishment of the Commission 50 years ago. Marshall Tucker who is now in his 90’s presented a very important paper to the 1964 convention. This excellent presentation was presented word for word in the Summer 2014 edition of the Palmetto Blind. In 1965 the blind of the state continued to contact their legislators and this approach was solely responsible for the passage of the legislation one year later in 1966. Less than two and one-half months remain in 2015 and it’s my belief that we should get started on this project right away. I hope that President Coppel and Commissioner Kirby will commence work on this important undertaking right away. In addition to Marshall, others who were involved in this legislation 50 years ago included Lois Tucker, Dr. Fred Crawford as well as Tommy Ingle and Ruth Weeks. Perhaps there were others who were involved 50 years ago but the preceding names are the ones I recall. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.” – Dr. Ben Carson<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>