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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 19, 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 1575<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'> Kudos to Jamie Allison who is currently featured on a video discussing the Importance of Blindness Skills. In this video, Jamie Allison talks about her journey to becoming an independent blind person and the importance of Braille and cane travel. Jamie did an outstanding job and I encourage everyone to go to nfb.org home page and view the video. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> We have an announcement from Tiffany Mitchell, President of the Columbia Chapter. “On October 22, the Columbia Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina will have a “Step It Up” walk at the Drew Wellness Walkers Track on Harden St. Registration begins at 8:15 and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Cost to walk is $20. The purpose of the walk is to bring awareness to the blind and visually impaired in our community. Come out and support our local NFB chapter with a donation and make a new friend in our community! We will also be handing out literature about the NFB.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Only nine days remain until the start of the 2016 NFB of SC State Convention. During the next couple of days, we are planning to have the agenda for the State Convention posted on the NFB of SC’s website, as well as the NFB of SC list serve and Newsline. It is not too late to reserve a room for the convention. I would strongly suggest you do this right away 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 which will be held October 28-30. Registration for the State Convention is now $85 as the deadline for the $70 preregistration was October 14. <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'> RBRCCB continues to receive outstanding service from the Salem lions Club. Brooke Rivers reports the following: “On Thursday, October 13 Jack Ackerman from the Salem Lions club led a group of volunteers to apply high quality storm shield water sealant to the front deck of the Conference Center and right side deck and balconies on Ellenburg Lodge. I thanked them for all of their hard work and Jack said they were glad to do it and would be back to do more later this winter.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Jennifer Duffell Hoffman is the excellent Chairperson of the NFB BELL Academy in South Carolina and enjoys the Positive Note. Last week she wrote as follows, “I always enjoy reading your posts and learning about the history of the NFB of SC. I especially enjoyed this post that included your experiences during Hurricane Hugo while staying in Walker Hall.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I’m positive that the first NFB of SC convention to be held in Myrtle Beach will be outstanding. Unquestionably President Coppel is putting together an excellent program. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I grew up not very far from Myrtle Beach which is only some 45 miles from my hometown of Mullins. When I was a child I really looked forward to the summer months as this would be the time we would go to Myrtle Beach. I enjoyed the boardwalk and the Pavilion not to mention the vendors who sold popcorn, etc. In later years my brother bought the Tally Ho Guest House in Myrtle Beach which I visited often. Following his retirement, Tally Ho was sold by my brother and I missed it. You could see the ocean from where the Guest House was located. While my brother passed away several years ago, his wife Grace Capps still lives in Myrtle Beach, having celebrated her 95th birthday two weeks ago. I called to wish her a happy birthday. I also have a niece and nephew who live in Myrtle Beach. Thus, I have several family connections who live in this area. When Betty and I were dating, we enjoyed going to Myrtle Beach. However, on one occasion we stayed on the Strand too long and received severe burns. I had been working for Colonial Life only a year or so and I did not allow the burns to keep me from going to work without missing a single day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> There will be a special feature at the Myrtle Beach convention next week. Those of you who attended the Fun Day Festival will recall that there was a delay in receiving the 42 inch television given by Blue Ridge Electric in time for the auction. However, at that time President Coppel stated he would arrange to get the television set to the state convention and auction it off at that time. I’m grateful to President Coppel for this kind gesture. I know a lot of people who will be bidding on this nice television set.<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: #33: 2000 - A proviso passed by the General Assembly providing technology access centers throughout the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>