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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>August 17, 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 1566<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> This past Thursday morning, August 11, Shelley and I traveled to Pageland South Carolina where we had the pleasure of attending the Chesterfield County Chapter of the NFB of SC monthly meeting. Dorcas Campbell is the longtime President of the Chesterfield County chapter and it is evident she is doing an excellent job leading her chapter. The Chesterfield County chapter is probably one of the more active chapters in the state as it consistently contributes financially to the Federation Center, Rocky Bottom, and the state organization. The chapter is also very visible in the community as evidence of their participation in local parades and their willingness to hand out NFB literature at various county functions. I spoke to the chapter on the history of the NFB and the NFB of SC and also discussed the responsibilities of Associate and Voting members and the reasons why there are two classifications of members in the NFB of SC. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> In speaking with members from across the state, excitement appears to be building for the upcoming 2016 NFB of SC state convention which will be held October 28-30 at the Ocean Dunes/Sans Resort Hotel in Myrtle Beach. I have spoken with Lajetta Jones, our events coordinator at the Ocean Dunes/SanResort Hotel and she informs me room reservations are increasing significantly. I would suggest if you have not made your room reservation as yet you may want to do so by calling 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. Amenities include in-room safes, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, electronic door locks, wireless Internet connections, and telephones with voice mail in all sleeping rooms. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I would also encourage you to go ahead and pay your $70 preregistration for the convention which will cover the Friday evening reception, the Saturday luncheon and the Saturday evening banquet as well as a continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning. After September 23, the registration will increase to $85. The program for the convention is shaping up nicely. We are working very hard to have a surprise or two for Saturday morning which hopefully will create excitement and set the tone for the convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to Sarah Massengale, a member of our Clarendon Chapter, who will be singing the National Anthem prior to the start of the Columbia Fire Flies’ minor league baseball game Friday evening September 2nd. Although many of us will be traveling to Rocky Bottom on September 2nd to participate in the Fun Day festivities, I hope we can have a large turnout of federationists at the baseball game to support Sarah! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I look forward to seeing many of you at the Federation Center of the Blind Saturday morning, August 20, for the RBRCCB and NFB of SC Board of Directors meetings. The RBRCCB Board of Directors meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will adjourn at 12:00 p.m. The NFB of SC Board of Directors meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will adjourn at approximately 4:00 p.m. <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> Mr. Neal McJunkin is a distinguished member of the music community. Those of us who will be attending Mr. McJunkin’s performance on Saturday afternoon, September 3 at 3:00 p.m. will no doubt find him to be a very entertaining professional. The following is some biographical information on Mr. McJunkin for your review.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Neal McJunkin was born in Greenwood, SC, and grew up in Liberty, SC and began playing guitar and vocals in his teens. Neal played concerts for local venues and with various bands until 1977, when he began traveling full time with such bands as WOODEN APPLE, a show band from Spartanburg, SC, THE ROYAL FAMILY, which was Billy Joe Royal's band, THE COASTERS and THE DRIFTERS. In 1978, Neal formed a rock and variety band called JOSHUA and toured the southeast United States. Neal then went out on his own, traveling the southeast playing acoustic music. In 1979, Neal formed the band DRIVING WHEEL and later joined SLEWFOOT as front man, replacing the country super group ALABAMA at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach. In 1987, Neal returned to The Bowery with the group, SHOWDOWN. Neal joined THE BEACHCOMBERS in 1990, playing at Ocean Annie's in Myrtle Beach. In 1993, Neal joined KID COLT and toured nationally and internationally. KID COLT had 2 tours in Japan and released the album "LIVE IN JAPAN". In 2010, Neal began playing for Princess Cruise Line with Australian singer, Danielle Taylor. In 2011, Neal returned to PALE HORSE, and played with THE HOT NOTES and THE SOUND FACTORY bands in Greenville, SC. Neal is still a member of both bands and also plays as a guest guitarist for many upstate SC bands. In 2015, Neal released his solo album "DIAMOND DUST". His song, "Tell Me Why" rose to number 1 on the chart and his album received international air play.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Fun Day Festival is just two weeks away as most of us are arriving on Friday evening, September 2. Please be sure to bring your money and filled out stubs for the $5 Fun Day tickets. Also don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the McJunkin performance. Our thanks to the Sumter, Lee and Grand Strand Chapters for their $100 contributions each to the Federation Center. I hope that other chapters will also respond. We appreciate the Anderson Chapter’s contribution of $95 to cover the food expense at the Fun Day Festival. Also, our thanks to the Columbia Chapter for donating $200 to the Fun Day foods expense. We also appreciated the $300 gift from the Columbia Chapter to cover utilities at RBRCCB. Additionally, we thank the Columbia Chapter for the $1,550 given in May out of barbecue proceeds to the Federation Center. Our friend Jack Todd, Coach of the Spartanburg High School Track Team gave Osterneck Cottage a microwave oven and a toaster oven. This has been the greatest power expense we have had since the inception of this program as the current bill from Blue Ridge Electric is $3,945.27. Let’s do what we can to conserve at RBRCCB. While RBRCCB is a much appreciated program, we note that it is expensive to fund this program as RBRCCB belongs to all of us across the state. Our appreciation to our very good friends the Salem Lions Club which will be having a workday on August 24 with the upstairs area and the bedrooms being painted in the Ellenburg Lodge. I look forward to seeing many of you at the board meetings which get underway this Saturday at 10:00 a.m.<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: #18: 1978 - Bill S59 an act providing for the operation of vending facilities in public buildings and other property, known as "The Right To Work" bill.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>