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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>November 28, 2016 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1581<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are writing this edition of the Positive Note earlier than usual in order that you may receive it prior to the Christmas Board Retreat which will be held this weekend, December 2, 3, and 4, at Rocky Bottom. Saturday, December 3, promises to be a very busy day. We will kick things off Saturday morning with the Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind Board of Directors meeting at 9:30 a.m., followed by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina Board of Directors meeting which will begin at 2:00 p.m. We will have our holiday dinner at 6:30 Saturday evening and immediately afterwards we will gather around the Christmas tree and celebrate the Christmas season as we sing carols, exchange gifts, fellowship, and sample a variety of delicious desserts which I am certain many of you are planning to bring. If you wish to participate in the Christmas gift exchange Saturday evening, ladies will need to bring a ladies’ gift and men will need to bring a men’s gift. The schedule for meals throughout the weekend is as follows; Saturday morning breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m., lunch at 1:00 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. And Sunday morning we will have a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The month of December is a busy time in the NFB of SC as many chapters hold parties to celebrate the Christmas season. If you would like for me to attend your Christmas party please contact me at (803) 796-8662 and I will try to attend. At this time, Shelley and I have been invited to the Chesterfield County Christmas luncheon on December 8 and the Sumter Christmas Banquet on December 13. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As we approach the end of 2016, I would like to remind everyone that this is a great time to pay your 2017 state dues of $10. Article XII of the NFB of SC state Constitution states “The dues of this organization shall be $10 per year, payable during the month of January. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.” The dead line for submitting dues is January 31, 2017. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, I hope all of you had a blessed Thanksgiving. We currently are expecting over forty people to attend the Board Retreat and I look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with you at Rocky Bottom this weekend. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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></p><p class=MsoNormal> I am also glad to be able to participate in the Christmas Board Retreat this weekend. I’m sure that many of you will be cries-crossing the state to make the trip to Rocky Bottom which is one of the most pristine sites in the state. The annual Christmas Board Retreat is very important as it brings together chapter and state leaders annually to discuss important NFB of SC and RBRCCB issues and it also sets the goals and objectives for 2017. The two board meetings will be presided over by the state President Frank Coppel. Frank is very busy these days. This is the 25th anniversary of holding the Christmas Board Retreat in the Conference Center which was dedicated in July 1991. Prior to that time housing was made in Osterneck Cottage and Oglesby Cottage as the Ellenburg Lodge was not completed until 1999, some eight years after the Conference Center. Christmas Board Retreats date back to the early 1980’s when they were held in Osterneck. The Conference Center dedication attracted people in all walks of life including county and state public officials. The keynote speaker was the late Gov. Carroll Campbell. In acknowledging the growth and development of RBRCCB, he stated that, “a large oak tree begins as an acorn.” Some 500 people attended the dedication. It’s a good thing the Fire Marshall did not show up for the occasion as he would have had to remove some of us from the building. There was a Reception held after the dedication with guests being served light refreshments. Betty was in charge of the Reception. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We of course had some distinguished NFB officials to visit RBRCCB. Shortly after the Conference Center was dedicated, the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan traveled with us to RBRCCB with Dr. Jernigan spending the night. He was most impressed and thought he would be attending a camp type building, nothing like the Conference Center. Dr. Marc Maurer also visited RBRCCB and was particularly impressed with the Ellenburg Lodge noting it featured a chandelier which Betty insisted upon when the contract was being honored. This type chandelier is very expensive but adds to the atmosphere of the building. Of course Dr. Jernigan and Dr. Maurer were Presidents of the National Federation of the Blind. Also, Dr. Fred Schroeder, President of the World Blind Union visited RBRCCB. Gary Wunder, Editor of the Braille Monitor made a visit to RBRCCB just two years ago and wrote an article for the Braille Monitor covering his visit. Joanne Wilson, past President of the NFB of LA and the LA Center for the Blind and now a staff member of the NFB, visited RBRCCB for a group of blind clients from the LA Center. Of course there are many others but too numerous to mention. I know that our own Parnell Diggs, Director of Governmental Affairs for the NFB loves RBRCCB. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We eagerly anticipate the Christmas Board Retreat this weekend and we will see you there!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: History of NFB of SC Legislative Victories: #43: 2008 - Governor's General Appropriations Bill - Calls for privatization of Independent Living services to be made by the NFB of SC. This does not pass but is first mention of Governor Mark Sanford's support of adjustment to blindness services being done by the blind.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>