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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 24, 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 1576<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'> On Thursday and Friday of this week many of us will be traveling to Myrtle Beach to attend the sixtieth annual State Convention of the NFB of SC. The State Office has been extremely busy this past week producing print and Braille agendas, Braille menus, name tags, and handling many other details for the convention. If you want a sneak preview of the agenda, it has been posted on the NFB of SC list serve, web site, and Newsline. The theme for the convention this year is “Raising Expectations”. To promote this theme, the NFB of SC will be selling t-shirts which will have the NFB logo imposed on a beach scene on the front of the shirt and with the phrase “Raising Expectations” written in both Braille and print on the back. The t-shirts were designed by our own Jamie Allison. 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, October 29, to help fund the Federation Center and the NFB of SC. We need individuals as well as chapters to step up and contribute during the banquet to these two extremely important programs. We will have door prize drawings throughout the convention as usual. Of course, Lenora Robertson of Rock Hill is the Chairperson of the Door Prize Committee. All door prizes should be given to Lenora soon after you arrive to the State Convention. As in past years, we will be conducting a memorial service 8:30 Sunday Morning of the Convention. Please give Patsy and Douglas Roberts the names of those individuals in your chapter who have passed away since last year’s state convention. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> We have an announcement from Shelley Coppel, President of the Senior Division. “The Senior Division is sponsoring a drawing to be held on Sunday morning of our State Convention. We are offering three prizes: a beautiful afghan made by Emily McKenzie, an electric can opener, and a $25 gift certificate to Walmart. Tickets are selling for $2 for one ticket or $5 for three tickets. Please help us to raise funds for our seniors!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> We have an announcement from Linda Dizzley, President of the Lee County Chapter. “Chocolate Lovers, the Lee County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will be selling delicious, Edible Chocolate High Heel Shoes, Cowboy Boots, Roses, Chocolate Covered Pretzels and much more in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate or any color you wish, solid, crunch or with nuts. You may place your order in advance by calling 803 459-4585. All $10.00 purchases will automatically be placed in a special raffle drawing. Stop by the Lee County Chapter table.” <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'> Much anticipation and excitement concerning the 60th annual state convention of the NFB of SC is apparent. I have had the privilege of reading the convention agenda and I’m impressed with the program. In my long career I’ve had many interesting experiences involving conventions. In this Positive Note I’m sharing with you briefly an unforgettable experience in two different conventions – one in the NFB of SC and the other convention being out of state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Some 50 years ago the NFB of SC convention was held in Charleston in what was then the Francis Marion Hotel. Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, NFB Founder, was scheduled to be at the convention to give the Banquet address. However, during the convention I received a call from Dr. tenBroek stating that he would be unable to be present as the plane he was traveling in had experienced mechanical difficulty, grounding him in Virginia. I immediately recognized that I’d better find time to rehearse an out of state banquet speech that would be suitable for a convention. The speech involved the power of love. I pointed out the NFB of SC Founder Dr. Samuel Miller Lawton gave much of his time to the NFB of SC although he was a busy minister as he loved his fellow blind. I stated that the Red Cross demonstrated love every day by working with persons in distress. After the banquet Senator John D. Long of Union who had been honored earlier during the banquet, was very complimentary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> In 1960 I was the national representative to the Tennessee convention in Knoxville. The NFB had just gone through a very difficult convention and Tennessee was one of the state affiliates which declined to sign the resolution requiring cooperation with the national organization. Also, without any prior knowledge I learned that there were two out of state former federation members who were there to cause trouble. Both had been on the national board and they were there to attack Dr. tenBroek. I challenged them, pointing out that they were not present to contribute in a wholesome way to the Tennessee convention but were there to create as much trouble as possible. The Tennessee affiliate because of the unrest was seriously weakened. However, it ultimately regained its strength. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> In reading the August/September edition of the Braille Monitor, I note that the Tennessee affiliate now has a board member on the national Board of Directors, this being James Brown. Also, I attended subsequent Tennessee conventions and spent time in the state recruiting new members. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I believe I benefitted and was made stronger from the convention in Charleston and the Knoxville convention, although at that time it was challenging.<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: #34. 2001 - The NFB of SC fought to reduce a 17% budget cut to a 9% cut, saving the Commission for the Blind $300,000.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>