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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>June 8, 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 1556<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> With the onset of summer weather, the NFB of SC is beginning one of its busiest times of the year. On June 29 and 30, many of us will be traveling to Orlando Florida to attend the seventy-sixth annual National convention of the National Federation of the Blind. If you have not done so already, you can still make a room reservation by calling the hotel at (866) 996-6338. You may also write directly to the Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. The hotel will want a deposit of $95 for each room and will want a credit card number or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $95 check. The 2016 room rates are singles and doubles, $83; and triples and quads, $89. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> From July 17-23, our annual camp for blind children ages 6-15, will be held at Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind. Jennifer Bazer, camp Director, is putting a great staff and program together and there is no doubt the children will have a wonderful and busy time that week. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The NFB of SC will host the third annual NFB Braille Enrichment Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy which will be held on the campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, July 18-29, Monday to Friday, 8:15-3:00 daily. The Academy provides children ages 4-12 with intense Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman, State Coordinator of the NFB of SC BELL Academy and Jamie Allison, lead instructor, do a great job implementing this very important program. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> On Saturday, August 20, RBRCCB Board of Directors and the NFB of SC Board of Directors will hold their third quarter meetings at the Federation Center of the Blind beginning at 10:00 A.M. Board meetings are always open to the membership and we strongly encourage participation of our members in these meetings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Of course, the Fun Day Festival will be held Labor Day weekend September 2-5. This year’s Festival promises to be excellent with a musical performance Saturday afternoon as well as having wonderful food, the auction, crafts, the selling of camp merchandise and great fellowship. Please make plans to be there! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have two announcements from Tiffiny Mitchell, President of our Columbia Chapter. “The Columbia Chapter is sponsoring a Cruise April 3, to April 8, 2017 (six days five nights) to Jamaica and Haiti. Room rates are interior $1007 for two Ocean view $1208 for two balcony $1848 for two. The cruise will be on the “Independence of the Sea” (Royal Caribbean Cruise lines) leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Columbia chapter would like you to be a part of our book club. Deadline to sign up is August 22.” For further information regarding both announcements call Tiffiny at (803) 603-2098. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As you can see, there is a great deal of activity happening in the NFB of SC during the next few months. I feel certain all these programs will go a long way to improve the quality of life for blind people in this state. <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> We are proud to announce the booking of legendary Blues and Jazz artist Rickey Godfrey of Nashville, Tennessee during the annual Fun Day Festival on Saturday September 3rd, 2016. The concert will begin at 3pm in the newly renovated Lawton Hall with seating limited to 132. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Godfrey is a South Carolina native who has been blind since birth and started studying music at the age of seven, while attending the South Carolina School for the Blind. He studied classical piano and voice, and, at age 13, began playing guitar as well. In his late teens he signed with Capitol Records and became one of the most popular bands in the S.C. Upstate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Since moving to Nashville in 1993, Godfrey has worked with artists such as Donna Fargo, Rufus Thomas, Junior Walker, Sam Moore, Billy Preston, Clifford Curry, E. G. Kight, Sonny Turner and Bill Pinkney, performing throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. In 2003, Godfrey formed the Rickey Godfrey Band, which catered to beach and blues audiences in the Carolinas. He released two CDs while he had the band which earned four 2004 CBMA awards including Song of the Year in addition to awards for Blues Album of the Year, Group of the Year and Group Album of the Year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Since disbanding the group, Godfrey has been a sought-after composer, session player and touring musician –including a performance with the Chocolate Thunder Band at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival. He has also released his fourth solo CD, Nasty Man, a powerhouse of a unique to the talented musician.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Rickey Godfrey has been nominated by the Music City Blues Society as both Guitarist and Keyboard Player of the Year. He earned a 2008 Marion James Musician’s Aid Society award and, in 2009, Nashville’s Best Blues Keyboardist. In late 2010, the N.C. Cape Fear Blues Society chose Nasty Man as its nomination for Best Self Produced CD at the Blues Foundation awards.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This will be the concert event not to be missed and one of many highlights during this year’s Fun Day Festival. Concert tickets are $10 each and may be secured from our state office or the RBRCCB office. Checks should be made payable to RBRCCB – Rickey Godfrey Benefit Concert in order to fill Lawton Hall to capacity which we can do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I’m also proud to announce that the senior blind donated $400 toward the purchase of mattresses for Ellenburg Lodge. Thanks to Frank Coppel who was helpful in this respect. Some time ago we received a letter from Constance Miller, President of our Belvedere Chapter advising us that their chapter will donate $500 toward the mattress fund. We appreciate our Belvedere Chapter for their generous contribution. We have been able to secure a very low bid for these mattresses. The bid reads as follows: 20 mattress sets with box springs totaling $6,483.98. Mattress Firm, the nation’s largest mattress business is providing these mattresses. Thus, you will note the quote amounts to about $600 per room. Thus, we have received sufficient funds to cover one room and half the amount for a second room. This move is needed to replace the current mattresses which have served us well but are the original mattresses. New mattresses will provide much more comfort. We believe our chapters will want to rally around this much needed fundraising project. Checks should be made payable to RBRCCB – Mattress Fund. The total amount of $6,438.98 is not an overwhelming amount for the NFB of SC chapters and divisions to raise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: History of NFB of SC Legislative Victories: #7 & #*: 1965 - Legislation providing for 9 member legislative study committee to study the feasibility of establishing the Commission for the Blind. 1966 - Act #2127 establishing the SC Commission for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>