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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'>October 5, 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 1573<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'> Anticipation and excitement is beginning to build as we move closer to the start of the 2016 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held October 28-30 at the Sands Resort/Ocean Dunes Hotel in Myrtle Beach. We are currently finalizing the agenda for the weekend, as well as finalizing many other details which will insure us to have a successful convention. Along with the usual division and committee meetings which are held on Friday, we are also holding a BELL X work shop and a drop-in for Chapter Presidents. Both of these activities will begin at 2:00 and conclude at 3:30 p.m. Remember, we are planning a “Beach Party” for our Friday evening reception. So bring your dancing shoes and let’s “shag on the beach”! Saturday plans to be a very busy day filled with a variety of informative and interesting agenda items. The theme for the convention this year is “Raising Expectations”. To emphasize this theme, the NFB of SC will be selling t-shirts with the phrase “Raising Expectations” written in both Braille and print on the back of the shirt. The t-shirts were designed by our own Jamie Allison and I am told they look very sharp. The t-shirts will sell for $13 or $15 depending on the size of the shirt. Also, we will be conducting our annual banquet fundraiser Saturday evening, October29, to help fund the Federation Center and the NFB of SC. We need individuals as well as chapters to contribute during the banquet to these two extremely important programs. As you can see, the 2016 NFB of SC State Convention is a convention you do not want to miss. It is not too late to make hotel reservations for the state convention. However, I strongly suggest you do so immediately 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. I am being told by the hotel that there are plenty of ocean view rooms for $87 per night including tax, however, ocean front rooms for $99 per night including tax are becoming limited. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> As we have announced in the past two Positive Notes, we are extending 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. The 2016 State Convention will be historic as this is our sixtieth annual convention and the first time this event is being held at Myrtle Beach. With many exciting activities being planned for the convention, we need to continue to encourage more of our members to come and participate in this convention which promises to be one of the best ever! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Debra Canty, President of our Sumter Chapter and second Vice President of the NFB of SC who reports, “Kudos to Laura Skelton, Chairperson of the fair booth…The Sumter Chapter observed October as Blind Awareness month at the Sumter County fair. Our exhibition booth theme was “Do you see as well as you used to?” With tips to improved “seeing” with the sight that you have, like bringing in natural light and experiment with different types of lighting, use magnifiers or products with magnified markings, explore color and contrast to allow items to pop, and “see” with other senses. We extended the hand of friendship, the sense you are not alone, you can do this with bags of a Kernel book, NFB literature, candy and our local information. We raised over $300.00; way to go Sumter chapter! Mega thanks to Laura and her team of volunteers who made this happened in the community at the fair!<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'> The Columbia Chapter spent last weekend at RBRCCB. The members enjoyed private bedrooms and private bathrooms. This was not the case 50 years ago when the Columbia Chapter first visited RBRCBB in 1962. Our Columbia members last weekend enjoyed air conditioning. This was not the case 50 years ago. However, the weather during the Labor Day weekend seemed much cooler than it has been in recent years and air conditioning was not needed. The Columbia Chapter had the benefit of a modern public kitchen and dining room over the weekend. This was not the case 50 years ago. A telephone was available for the benefit of the members last weekend but there was no telephone from 1962 to 1966 when the Columbia Chapter first attended RBRCCB. All of us at that time enjoyed going to the old chapel for group singing despite the windows being covered with chicken wire and the tin top roof had holes. From 1962 to 1966 there was a dormitory building standing where the Conference Center now exists. This building was just before the old 4-H Camp – the first in the nation – was closed by the Pickens County Health Department in 1966 because of an inadequate water system. The camp remained closed for a dozen years until 1978 when we were successful in having Pickens County Council turn the property over to the NFB of SC. We have made good on our promise to Pickens County Council to develop this program for the state’s blind. You can imagine that there are only a handful of people still alive who attended that first 1962 visit to RBRCCB. Where the Conference Center now stands there was also a building containing a primitive kitchen and dining area. There were no windows in either the dormitory or kitchen buildings. Instead there was chicken wire in the dining building but just open windows in the dormitory building. There were separate areas for the ladies and the gentlemen but the separate bathroom facilities were not completely closed in and privacy was compromised. The dormitory building had benches across the porch area and we enjoyed chatting with each other while utilizing the benches. I have fond memories of the half dozen years being in Rocky Bottom in the very early days despite the difficulties which existed just before the buildings were dismantled. Between 1967 and 1977 Columbia members utilized the Eva Goode Camp locate a few miles from Greenville and Caesar’s Head. Even though we “roughed it” in the beginning and for some time thereafter, I’m glad we had the experience. We are sorry to report that our Resident Manager Brooke Rivers experienced an attack of kidney stones over the weekend. Let’s keep Brooke in our thoughts and prayers.<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: #27: 1994 - General Assembly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the NFB of SC by declaring August 4, 1994 as "National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Day." #28: 1994 - SC Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. celebrates the 50th anniversary of the NFB of SC by proclaiming August 4, 1994 as "National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Day." & President Clinton also congratulates NFB of SC on its 50th anniversary.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>