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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>September 21, 2016 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter &Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>Positive Note 1571<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>Greetings Fellow Federationists: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Hello from RBRCCB where the 2016 Fall session of Senior Camp is in full swing. Twenty-four seniors from all corners of the state arrived at Rocky Bottom on Sunday afternoon. The weather this week has been perfect and the seniors have enjoyed activities such as walks, BINGO, group discussions, a field trip to the Farmers’ Market in Asheville N.C. and visiting with each other on the deck of the Conference Center. As usual, Lenora Robertson and her “food crew” have done an outstanding job and most of us probably have gained a few pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> To accommodate as many of our members as possible, we are going to extend the deadline to receive the $70 preregistration for the State Convention until October 14. The $70 preregistration for the convention 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 October 14, the registration will increase to $85. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Remember, we are planning a “Beach Party” theme for our Friday evening reception. So bring your dancing shoes and let’s “shag on the beach”! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> It is time to turn our attention toward Meet the Blind Month which is held during the month of October. This is an extremely important event, because it provides our members the opportunity to educate the public of the programs and services offered by the National Federation of the Blind. Meet the Blind Month activities can also be used as a recruitment tool to introduce blind individuals to our organization. It is my hope that all our chapters are planning activities in their communities to promote this worthwhile event. Thus far, I am aware the Anderson Chapter is having their annual Walk a Thon on Saturday, October 8th, 2016 at the Balloons over Anderson. Registration will start at 12:00 pm and the walk will begin at 1:00 pm. Donations are most needed to promote scholarships for qualified students, utilities for Rocky Bottom Camp, and transportation to and from local and state meetings. I am also aware the Columbia Chapter is planning a March for Independence on Saturday morning, October 8. The march will take place at the Drew Wellness Walkers Track on Harden St. Registration begins at 8:15 am and the walk begins at 9:00 am. Cost to walk is $20. Let me know if your chapter will be having a Meet the Blind Month activity and I will be glad to share this information in the Positive Note. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> In a few days, all of you should be receiving your 2017 Orlando National Convention bus tickets. Let’s do all we can to raise the approximate $7,500 which will be needed to charter one bus to the National Convention in Orlando. Remember, the NFB of SC State Board during its August 20, meeting voted to raise the price of the bus ticket to $2 for one ticket or $5 for three tickets. Also, remember, the buyer of the winning ticket which will be drawn on January 28, 2017 at the Statewide Seminar will win $300, the seller of the winning ticket will now receive $100, and the Chapter selling the most tickets will win $300. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I am saddened to report of the passing of Matthew Holmes a member of our Georgetown chapter. He was a charter member of the Georgetown Chapter and he will be greatly missed. Let’s remember the chapter members and Mr. Holmes family in our thoughts and prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> On Saturday, September 24 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the Columbia Chapter will host the Taste of Columbia. Bring your best recipe and enter it for $25. If you enter two recipes, it costs only $40. Those making entries do not have to pay the $10 to sample the food. We will have judges and a first, second and third prize. Those attending and wishing to taste of these culinary delights will be charged $10. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> 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></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> With the senior blind enjoying this week at RBRCCB, it’s a good time to talk about the beginning of Rocky Bottom. We met with the Chairman of Pickens County Council in October of 1978 requesting his cooperation in handling the Rocky Bottom property to be turned over to the blind for their pleasure and enjoyment. A few weeks later we received notification that our request had been granted. We had told the county council chairman that we would develop the property although at that time we had no money in the bank but had faith we could get the job done. In January 1979 we began to do some work on the site as there was a small cottage that had been on the property for a long time. We needed some startup money to purchase paint and it was entirely necessary to raise funds to have a well drilled in order to stay overnight at the cottage. A blind person supplied the startup funds. At the chapter meeting during that time I reported that the Rocky Bottom property had been turned over to the NFB of SC for development. After explaining this, a visiting blind person receiving training at the Commission for the Blind arose and stated that he would gie $5,000 for the startup funds. He was David Osterneck. $5,000 was a lot of money in 1979 and it was just like a gift from Heaven. A decision was made to honor Mr. Osterneck by naming the cottage in his honor. Now you have the story of how Osterneck Cottage came about. The $5,000 gift enabled us to have a well drilled and obtain other needed items. I remember we spent the night in Osterneck Cottage in January 1979 when the weather was well below freezing. We used the old bunks for sleeping purposes. After receiving some statewide support we began construction of the much needed expansion of Osterneck in early 1980. The first official meeting in the expanded Osterneck Cottage occurred in December 1980 when the Board of Directors of the NFB of SC held a Christmas meeting in the newly expanded facility. Meanwhile, it had become necessary to adopt a constitution and bylaws and have RBRCCB incorporated. The Board of Directors worked closely together to finalize an appropriate constitution. It was felt that the RBRCCB constitution should closely reflect the philosophy and policies of the NFB of SC. For example, the RBRCCB constitution features five state officers of the NFB of SC, the Executive Director of the Federation Center of the Blind, the inclusion of a resident board member from Rocky Bottom and a member-at-large. Thus, the constitution and bylaws of the RBRCCB board is required by its provisions to cooperate with the NFB of SC. The RBRCCB Board of Directors elects its officers under the constitution featuring a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and a Treasurer. We were fortunate in 1979 to obtain the services of a blind gentleman as Resident Manager; this being Jerry Whittle who also was the first Resident Manager. Incidentally, Jerry went on to become a leader in the NFB of Louisiana as well as a leader in the NFB. As you can see, there was a lot of work done in the infancy days of RBRCCB. It was also very apparent that we carry out our pledge to the Chairman of Pickens County Council which was predicated on faith and hard work. A few years after Osterneck Cottage was constructed we built Oglesby Cottage in 1984, the Conference Center being dedicated in July of 1992 and the Ellenburg Lodge in 1999. We have renovated Lawton Hall from time to time and we also had a swimming pool constructed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I was saddened to learn of the death of my longtime friend Matthew Holmes. I recruited Mr. Holmes who was the first President, I believe, of the Georgetown Chapter. Mr. Holmes was a deeply religious person, a highly respected Christian. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the NFB of SC and was a faithful member. I extend sympathy to his surviving family members.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'>Final Thought: History of NFB of SC Legislative Victories: #23: 1986 - Fair Insurance Coverage for the Blind bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>