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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'>November 9, 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 1578<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'> As I am certain by now Board members of RBRCCB and the NFB of SC as well as Chapter and Division Presidents have received their letter regarding the Rocky Bottom Christmas Board Retreat on December 2-4. Please notify the State Office as soon as possible of your intentions for attending this Retreat, in order that we may have an accurate head count to purchase food for the weekend. We will be serving four meals (Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday breakfast) as well as making the necessary room accommodations. I am confident we will have near 100 percent of our board members in attendance and we will have an excellent turnout of Chapter and Division Presidents present for the weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> I trust all of you are working very hard selling your 2017 Orlando National Convention bus tickets. I am hopeful ticket sales and what we charge for each seat will cover the approximate $8,000 cost for the chartered bus. Remember, this year, the costs of the tickets are $2 for one ticket and $5 for three tickets. The drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Statewide Seminar on January 28, 2017. The individual who purchases the winning tickets will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100 and the chapter who sells the most tickets will receive $300. If you are lucky and purchase bus tickets yourself, you could win a grand total of $400! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#006600'> Finally, I am sad to report the death of James Earl Swift, the uncle of David Bundy who passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2016. Mr. Swift was also the brother of Patricia Cheatham, David’s mother, and an associate member of the Anderson Chapter. All of us need to keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during their time of loss. <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'> I continue to be tremendously impressed over the accomplishments of the chapters and divisions of the NFB of SC and RBRCCB. During the past two months, the NFB of SC and RBRCCB have raised over $17,110 ($9,600 on the Fun Day Festival and $7,410 at the NFB of SC Convention Banquet). It required a lot of interest and hard work to bring about this accomplishment involving members across the state. I was pleased to see Larry and Valerie Warrington who personally gave $600 during the convention Banquet to lead the way. Valerie is the Treasurer of both the RBRCCB and the NFB of SC which requires a considerable amount of attention and effort. I note that a number of members as well as chapters gave $500 each including Essie Kaney of our Belvedere Chapter. I’m pleased to state that I recruited Essie some 15 or 20 years ago as she has been a chapter and state leader since that time. When I first called upon her, she and her late husband James very graciously invited us into their home. For many years, our excellent President of the NFB of SC and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RBRCCB, Frank Coppel has been a generous contributor having contributed thousands of dollars. He has led the way and without his support we would not be writing about this success. Thank you President Coppel. I’m delighted that my home Columbia Chapter which is under the excellent leadership of President Tiffiny Mitchell also gave $500. I’m grateful to my longtime friend Marshall Tucker who will be celebrating his 93rd birthday this month, but continues to be supportive of our programs; I note he gave $200 during the Banquet. He has our gratitude for his dedication and generosity. While I would like to have been able to attend the Myrtle Beach convention, I am glad to have been able to contribute $200. There are numerous others who gave and I ask your forgiveness in being unable to write about each who has contributed but you have my appreciation. I note that our new RBRCCB board member Ed Bible will head up a visit to RBRCCB by his church Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church in a visit beginning on November 17. This outstanding church will be making repairs on their visit. RBRCCB board member Jennifer Bazer will also be with the Mt. Hebron Church. We are also fortunate that President Coppel will be with the church and it’s apparent that we have the best to offer for this service. The next several weeks are going to be busy with RBRCCB and the Christmas Board Retreat and I look forward to participating in some of the activities.<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: #42: 2006 - S.1123 Defeated bill excluding vending facilities on Department of Corrections property. Successfully sued the state for refund of attorney's fees.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>