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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 13, 2016 <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 1548<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> On Saturday afternoon, the Spring meeting of the NFB of SC Board of Directors was held and a variety of topics were discussed. The fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind was discussed, and I encouraged everyone to do what we can as an organization to make this event a special occasion. If you wish to attend the banquet you can purchase a $25 ticket by contacting the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The National Convention bus list was read to the Board. There are currently only six individuals who have signed up to ride the bus to Orlando. The Board voted to have May 15, as a deadline for individuals to sign up for the bus list. If we do not fill the 47 passenger bus by May 15, we will need to consider the option of using fifteen passenger vans to transport our members to the Convention. The board also discussed the possibility of conducting a fundraiser at the National Convention. Many ideas were expressed and plans are to secure a table in the exhibit area to sell items for the purpose of raising funds for the NFB of SC. The Board also discussed the cost for preregistration for this year’s State Convention which will be held October 27-30 at the Ocean Dunes /Sands Resort in Myrtle Beach. The Board voted to charge individuals $70 for early registration and $85 late registration. The deadline for receiving the early preregistration fee of $70 is September 20, 2016. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> For the past few months, Ed Bible along with Valerie Warrington, David Bundy, Jennifer Bazer, and myself have been working extremely hard to secure a grant from the South Carolina Commission for the Blind that would assist bind youth in developing skills which would enable them to transition from school to employment. Ed Bible announced during the meeting the NFB of SC will be receiving a large portion of this grant. Many thanks go to these individuals for doing an outstanding job putting this grant together. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> After listening to presentations during the past few months made by Commission staff, there seems to be a large turnover in staff at the agency. It is my feeling many of the of these new staff members are unaware of the NFB of SC and what we do as an organization to help blind people. For this reason, I would like to continue to encourage our local chapters to contact the SCCB district office in their area and invite a new staff member to one of your monthly meetings. By doing this, we can educate these individuals by demonstrating to them that, <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> There was an excellent meeting of the Board of Directors of RBRCCB last Saturday, April 9. RBRCCB is fortunate in having an outstanding board comprised primarily of the five state officers of the NFB of SC including state President Frank Coppel, First Vice President Lenora Robertson, Second Vice President Debra Canty, Secretary Dorothy Barksdale and Treasurer Valerie Warrington. Additionally, there are three other board positions including Center Executive Director David Houck, Dr. Tom Bowen our community board member and myself as member-at-large. The board elects the board Chairman whose position runs concurrent with the full board. As you can see, there is a close working relationship between the Board of Directors of the NFB of SC and the Board of Directors of RBRCCB. This is a very special week as our Resident Manager Brooke West and Jami Rivers are getting married Saturday, April 16. The board extends sincere best wishes to Brooke and Jami. They will be living in the resident Manager’s apartment. Jami has provided outstanding service to RBRCCB during the past year and we look forward to his continued service. We have already received reservations for the Labor Day Fun Day Festival from our Belvedere and Upper Dorchester Chapters. It’s not too early to make your reservations for this statewide program. We anticipate the accommodations at RBRCCB will be filled to capacity considerably before this special activity and fundraiser by RBRCCB. As always, the best possible accommodations will be assigned to participants but no doubt sharing will be necessary to accommodate as many as possible. The dates of the Labor Day Fun Day Festival are Friday, September 2 to Monday, September 5. Reservations can be made at the state office at 803-254-3777 or to myself at 803-787-0462. In just five weeks the Spring Senior Camp will take place on May 22 to 26. Frank Coppel is the Director of this popular program. No doubt, once again, we will not be able to accommodate every senior who wants to participate in this popular program. Frank reported to the board that there has already been an excellent response from seniors wishing to attend this Senior Week. For a number of years Frank has been handling this activity and always does a grand job. Jennifer Bazer is heading Children’s Week and reports that things are progressing quite nicely. Children’s Week is held July 16 to 23. Already Jennifer is putting her staff together, carefully selecting participants so that the children will have outstanding attention. Lenora Robertson will once again be in charge of the food service as last year’s food service fee was $40 which includes three meals on Saturday and Sunday and Monday breakfast including the Fun Day luncheon. This is an excellent bargain, especially since the cost of food continues to rise. We have been trying to acquire the service of a professional musician so that a concert can be held in the renovated Lawton Hall either Saturday or Sunday afternoon September 3 or 4. If you know of any professional performers who may be able to accommodate this need, we will appreciate your getting in touch with the party and report this information to the state office. I reported to the board that there had been excellent requests for rental accommodations. We are pleased that we have heard from several chapters concerning reservations for individual or group visits. I am appreciative of the service provided by so many people as this is a big program which requires extensive participation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: The formula to Success is simple: “Effort plus Time equals Reward.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>