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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>June 22, 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 1558<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> We begin this Positive Note with an important announcement from Shannon Cook, Chairperson of the NFB of SC Scholarship committee. “It is less than a month away from the deadline for all scholarship applications and accompanying materials to be submitted. Please urge eligible chapter members and students to go to www.nfbofsc.org and complete the application by July 18, 2016. I have gotten several applications so far, and look forward to receiving many more worthy submissions. Thanks to all applicants and supporters of the scholarship program! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to Charlis Borodin, President of our Grand Strand chapter and her members for their $1,000 contribution to the NFB of SC Scholarship program. I believe this is the first time the Grand Strand chapter has participated in the Scholarship program. The chapter is giving this scholarship in honor of our former State President, Parnell Diggs who was also a member of the Grand Strand chapter for many years. This scholarship along with other monies will be given to deserving college students at our State Convention banquet Saturday evening, October 29. If you or your chapter would like to make a significant contribution of $500 or more in memory of or in honor of an individual to the NFB of SC Scholarship program, you can do so by sending a check to the Federation Center of the Blind, 119 S. Killbourne Rd., Columbia SC 29205. You or your chapter can also make a smaller contribution of $100 or less, to the Metro Scholarship fund. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I had the pleasure of talking with Charlis Borodin on the phone last week, and she informed me her chapter members are extremely excited of having the state convention in their “back yard” this year. Speaking of the 2016 state convention, it is not too early to make your room reservations at the Ocean Dunes/Sands Resort Hotel in Myrtle Beach the weekend of October 28-30. To make your room reservations call the Sands Resort Central Reservations at 1-800-599-9872 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. All reservations must be guaranteed by check or credit card and received within 5 days of reservation date. Advance deposits will be credited to the last night's stay as indicated by individual reservation request. Room rates for this year’s convention are very affordable. The price of rooms including taxes is $87 per night for ocean view and $99 per night ocean front and can accommodate up to four in a room. These room rates will be available three days before or three days after the convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are also now accepting your $70 preregistration fee for this year’s State Convention. Please send your $70 preregistration fee to the Federation Center of the Blind, 119 S. Killbourne Rd. Columbia, SC 29205. All preregistration fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The deadline to accept your $70 preregistration fee is September 23. If you wait until after the deadline of September 23, the registration will increase to $85. Save $15 and preregister early! <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> Billy Singleton is a distinguished member of the Advisory Board of RBRCCB. He is also a patriotic American. For a number of years Mr. Singleton has spearheaded a July 4 parade at Rocky Bottom. No doubt he is currently working on this annual event which attracts considerable interest throughout the Rocky Bottom community. He also supports RBRCCB as well as other federation functions. Mr. Singleton upon learning of the Mattress Fund project in last week’s Positive Note, immediately made a contribution of $100 which was the first received from an Advisory Board member. We are grateful to Mr. Singleton for his generosity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During Senior Week at RBRCCB, it’s Director, Frank Coppel following a field trip stopped by with the seniors for dinner at the Sagebrush Steakhouse in Brevard. The service was terrible during their visit and afterward Mr. Coppel contacted the regional office to complain about the lack of service. The regional manager wanted to make things right and the company, upon Mr. Coppel’s request, offered $250 toward the Mattress Fund at RBRCCB. This takes the Mattress Fund total to $1,250 which is adequate to furnish two rooms in the Ellenburg Lodge. This was followed by a contribution of $500 from the Belvedere Chapter and $400 from Senior Blind Week along with Mr. Singleton’s $100.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Over the weekend I called Lenora Robertson concerning food arrangements for the Fun Day Festival. Lenora explained that the amount of $40 will be charged this year which is the same as last year. The $40 amount is broken down as follows: $30 for the six meals over the weekend and the special Saturday lunch at a cost of $10. The $30 should be given to RBRCCB Treasurer Valerie Warrington with Lenora’s representative receiving the $10. Lenora tells me that once again the Saturday luncheon will feature barbecue. Lenora is a faithful volunteer working the food service throughout the year. She has our gratitude. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> One of the highlights of the Fun Day Festival is the appearance of Rickey Godfrey of Nashville who will perform Saturday afternoon, September 3 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The tickets are only $10 each and can be purchased from the state office (803-254-3777) or from our RBRCCB office (864-878-9090). Another feature is the Auction which will be held Sunday afternoon, September 4 beginning around 12:00 noon. We need for someone to volunteer to be the Auctioneer. Your help in this regard will be appreciated. We need participants to bring auction items as this is one of the top money makers for this program. Once again Frank Coppel will head up the merchandise committee. As we did last year we expect David Houck to head up Fun Day ticket sales, Alma Lee Doyle will head up the Yard Sale, Brooke Rivers will head up the Old Country Store, and we will need a volunteer to head up BINGO. The Fun Day Festival is the only statewide funding program for RBRCCB and it is essential for everyone to support this project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Betty and I will be celebrating our 67th wedding anniversary this Saturday, June 25.<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: #10: 1970 - Act #1286 authorizes the Association of the Blind of South Carolina to transfer certain real estate to the SC Commission for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>