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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='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> NFBofSC [mailto:nfbofsc-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Houck via NFBofSC<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 11, 2017 8:40 AM<br><b>To:</b> nfbofsc@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> David Houck<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbofsc] Positive Note 1587<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>January 11, 2017 <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 1587<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> At the December 5, 2015 Board of Directors meeting of the Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind, the board voted unanimously to begin a much needed mattress fund for the Ellenberg Lodge. For the past thirteen months, many of us have been working diligently to raise the $6,435 which was needed to cover the cost of the mattresses and box springs. Approximately a week ago, Rocky Bottom received a substantial contribution from a “Friend of the Blind” and this has made it possible for us to now purchase the mattresses and box springs for the Lodge. I am excited to report that Mattress Firm will be delivering twenty mattresses and box springs to the camp later this week. Many thanks go to Michael Holdcraft, Mr. Capps grandson, who is a district manager with Mattress Firm in Louisville, Kentucky, and who was instrumental in giving us an extremely competitive bid as well as securing a $1,000 contribution from Mattress Firm. I would also like to thank all of you who made a contribution to this very successful fund raising project. In the months to come, we will be assessing all other sleeping accommodations at the camp and hopefully we can make improvements in these areas as well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Debra Canty, Chairperson of the NFB of SC Fund Raising committee. “Dance, dine and enjoy a great time at the second annual NFB of SC sweetheart dance on Saturday evening, February 18, 2017 from 5:00 until 9:00 at the Federation Center in Columbia. Tickets are $25 per individual or $45 per couple and can be purchased by mailing a money order or check to the Federation Center, attention sweetheart dance. Please include an address so that tickets can be mailed once payment has been received. Deadline to purchase tickets is Saturday, February 4 at the statewide seminar. We are asking all chapter presidents to contribute a door prize for this special event including: gift cards, cash or assembled gift baskets. Please contact Jennifer Bazer at 803-661-6622 or <a href="mailto:jhipp25@sc.rr.com">jhipp25@sc.rr.com</a> if you would like to contribute a door prize or Debra Canty at 803-775-5792 or via email at <a href="mailto:debra.canty@frontier.com">debra.canty@frontier.com</a> if you have further questions about this fund-raiser for NFB of SC. Look forward to seeing all of you on February 18.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not notified the Federation Center as to whether you are planning to attend the Statewide Seminar on February 4, please do so as soon as possible. This will help us to determine the amount of food to purchase for lunch. 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. Also, please continue to sell your Orlando National Convention bus tickets. It is imperative we sell as many tickets as possible to help cover the expense of the chartered bus to Orlando. Remember, tickets this year are selling for $2 for one ticket or $5 for three tickets. You can either mail your ticket stubs and money to the Federation Center or bring them with you to the Seminar on Saturday, February 4. The drawing will take place at the conclusion of the Seminar. The winning ticket will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100 and the chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300. <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> This week we are featuring a lovely lady who made history over 45 years ago. Dorothy Barksdale was the first African-American to join the NFB of SC in June 1973. Because of that historical happenstance, the NFB of SC has more diversity than any other state affiliate of the NFB. Actually, Dorothy and I talked from time to time during her senior year at the SC School for the Blind where she graduated in 1973. Dorothy has two daughters and at least three grandchildren. After graduation Dorothy enrolled at the Commission and subsequently graduated from Greenville Tech as a medical transcriptionist. The support of Braille literacy by the federation has significantly improved as Dorothy is an outstanding Braillist and Braille instructor. She can type at the rate of 95 words per minute. Born in Laurens County, her parents were very supportive and Dorothy took advantage of the 12 years she spent at School and subsequent training she received at the Commission. Her loyalty to the federation is solid as she has attended 95% of the Columbia Chapter meetings since she has been a member. She has attended most all national and 42 state conventions. In fact, Dorothy has served as charter bus captain to national conventions for several years. She also attended some of the annual Washington Seminars. Currently Dorothy is a state officer serving as Secretary of the NFB of SC, Secretary of RBRCCB, Secretary of the Federation Center of the Blind’s Board of Trustees and the Columbia Chapter as well. As a highly skilled and intelligent blind person she has had a successful career working at different places including Richland Memorial Hospital, SC Department of Mental Health, worked as Receptionist/Braillist and a Computer Lab Instructor at the Federation Center of the Blind and has been a vendor for some 25 years. She has received several honors including being honored by the Columbia Housing Authority which carefully selects persons for their Wall of Fame. Dorothy was selected Mother of the Year by radio station WTGH, "the Gospel Highway" (which is now WGCV), with the event occurring at the Township Auditorium. She has also been honored with her portrait hanging in the Conference Room of the Federation Center. While serving as a blind vendor, it was necessary for Dorothy to arise at 4:00 a.m. and to arrive at her vending facility by no later than 5:45 a.m., making for a long day. It is with pride that Dorothy worked as a counselor for blind children at RBRCCB for several years. Dorothy loves her church where she has been a member for 32 years and she sings in the choir. Her hobbies include cooking, reading and assisting other blind persons. Limited space prevents me from giving other successful experiences that Dorothy has had. Congratulations to Dorothy!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Raising Expectations: One lady prayed, “Oh Lord, please give me a fat checkbook and skinny legs instead of the other way around like last year.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>