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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>December 21, 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 1584<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> This time of year is a very busy time in the NFB of SC. Not only are we planning the agenda for the Statewide Seminar, we are getting ready to begin planning for the second annual Sweetheart Dance which will be held at the Federation Center on February 18, 2017. The 2016 Sweetheart Dance was a huge success and I am certain the 2017 version will be just as successful. The evening promises to be a fun and enjoyable experience with a professionally catered dinner, music and dancing. Tickets to this event will be $25 per person and $45 per couple. Stay tuned for further details in upcoming Positive Notes regarding the Sweet heart Dance. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Speaking of the Statewide Seminar which will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017, I am very excited about some of the agenda items on the program. Please remember to fill out the form at the end of the Seminar letter and return it to the state office by January 23, in order for us to purchase the correct amount of food for lunch. Also, remember we will be conducting an auction throughout the day to raise money for the Federation Center. Be sure to bring items for the auction such as, cakes, pies, cookies, gift baskets, and electronics. Let’s make this auction a tremendous success! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Holiday Inn Capitol is accepting reservations for the 2017 Washington Seminar, which will occur from January 30 to February 2. Please call (877) 572-6951 or go to https://nfb.org/washington-seminar to make your reservations using booking code F7B.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The rates are $188 a night for a room accommodating up to four persons, and the applicable tax is 14.5 percent. These rates are good for check in as early as January 29 and check out by February 3. While the reservation deadline is December 28, I urge you to take care of this now before the holidays get too busy. Also, please notify me if you are planning to attend the Washington Seminar at (803) 796-8662 in order for us to make the necessary transportation arrangements. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Christmas season is a very beautiful and special time of the year. I especially enjoy listening to Christmas music, being with family and friends, eating wonderful food, and watching our grandchildren opening their gifts on Christmas morning. Shelley and I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and let’s all of us remember the “Reason for the Season”. <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> Merry Christmas to each and every one of you across the state. I hope it’s the best Christmas for all of you. Do you remember your first Christmas? I do. I was about three or four years old when I remembered my first Christmas. This would have been in 1931. It was during the height of the Great Depression. That year, 1931, we moved into a large two-story house, some seven miles south of Mullins in Marion County. My older brothers grabbed an axe and made their way to the woods on the farm where they cut down the best tree for Christmas and brought it home, placing it in the living room of the big house. My older sisters decorated the tree utilizing ornaments, etc. I thought it was beautiful. There was no electricity in our house. As a matter of fact, until the late 1930’s there was no electricity available in the countryside where we lived. In the mid to late 1930’s under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, electricity was made available under the Rural Electrification Association. Even so, most country families, even ours, could not initially afford electricity, relying upon oil lamps, etc. I remember getting up early and rushing to the living room where I had a bag of fruit and two toys. I gave Santa Claus the credit. We wanted to see if we could identify where Old Saint Nick had entered the house and, therefore, we made a dash to the chimney outside and sure enough, there were tracks according to us, confirming Santa’s visit. As indicated, those were hard times. However, everybody else was poor. My mother had lost the farm which had been inherited by her and this was the result of the Depression. I remember there was a little boy about my age who lived with his family near our residence. One day it was cold and when he was seen by my mother who observed the little boy poorly dressed with no shoes, one way or another she got the necessary money to buy him an outfit including a pair of tennis shoes. Incidentally, I’m aware that the little boy went on to become highly successful in the field of education. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Betty and I had two children in the 1950’s. From that time until the late 1960’s we enjoyed arranging Santa to visit our house. We now have three adult grandchildren and three great-grandchildren ages three, five and seven. I know Old Santa will stop by Louisville to drop off presents for the little ones. I hope Santa visits your home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Why does the farmer plant a crop when there exists the challenge of in climate weather, blight on the crops and other issues? Because he takes these things into consideration, but he is also “Raising Expectations” that he will have a good crop at harvest time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>December 21, 2016<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: NFB of SC 2018-2017 Committee Members and Chairpersons and Other Federationists<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Attached you will find a listing of the 2016-2017 NFB of SC Committees listing each committee, its Chairperson and the committee members. Please review these committees and note the ones you may be listed on as a chair or as a member. Contact the committee chair should you have any questions about the committee or contact the state office. These committees are very important and determine the strength and direction of the NFB of SC. As we are “Raising Expectations” in 2017, your input and cooperation is very important. Others not serving on these committees will find the information helpful should you desire to become involved with any of these committees. See you at the Statewide Seminar on February 4!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>PAC Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dale Wolthoff, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marty McKenzie<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jamie Allison<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donald C. Capps Award Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burriss<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Bundy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Door Prize Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora Robertson, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora to provide list.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>White Cane Safety Day Walk-A-Thon Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burriss, Vice-Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorcus Campbell<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Leverne Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Grants Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donald Capps<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Public Relations Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Bazer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>J.W. Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thom Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nancy Erwin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronald Benjamin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Associate Member of the Year Award Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Johnson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Julie Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Employer of the Year Award Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burriss<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Bundy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Educator of the Year Award Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marty McKenzie, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Isaiah Nelson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kim Diggs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Duffell Hoffman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Braille Literacy Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Duffell Hoffman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jamie Allison<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pat Woltoff<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracey Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Organizing/Membership Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible, Vice Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora Robertson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jamie Allison<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Isaiah Nelson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tiffiny Mitchell<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Bazer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alexis Blanding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Youth Rcruitment Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jamie Allison, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shannon Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Linda Dizzley<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ED Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Duffell Hoffman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Bazer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nancy Erwin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alexus Blanding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Scholarship Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shannon Cook, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alexus Blanding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Linda Dizzly<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Bundy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lynn Hornsby<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracey Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Legislative Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frank Coppel, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donald Capps<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thom Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora Robertson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loretta Green<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronald Benjamin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Resolutions Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alexis Blanding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shelley Coppel<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carey Burris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Leverne Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Finance Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donald Capps, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frank Coppel<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SUN Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“Shares Unlimited in the NFB”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shelley Coppel, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Katherin Zeigler<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>White Cane Week Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck, Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donald Capps, Vice-Chairman<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tommy McNeil<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Katherine Zeigler<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lenora Robertson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frank Loza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warrington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>J.W. Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Linda Dizzley<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thom Spittle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 NFB of SC Committees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fund raising Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debra Canty, Chairperson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Levern Wilson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shannon Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frank Loza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JW Smith<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Linda Dizzley<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marty McKinzie<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jennifer Bazer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Bible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dorothy Barksdale<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>David Houck<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Valerie Warring<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>