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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>February 8, 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 1591<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> I want to thank all of you who attended the 47th annual Statewide Seminar this past Saturday. When Shelley and I walked into the Federation Center at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, both of us could feel the excitement and enthusiasm permeating throughout the meeting hall. Almost every seat in the room was filled when the Seminar was called to order at 10:00 a.m. All three agencies who provide services to the blind, Jim Kirby and Kyle Walker, from the SC Commission for the Blind, Scott Falcone, from the SC School for the Deaf and Blind, and Sandy Knowles, from Talking Book Services gave presentations at the Seminar. Loretta Green, President of our Upper Dorchester Chapter and NFB of SC Board member, and Gary Engel of our Sumter Chapter both gave Inspiring presentations as to the positive impact the NFB has had on their lives. Thom Spittle did an excellent job as auctioneer as we raised $900 for the Federation Center. At the State Board meeting, which was held during the two hour lunch break, the Board voted unanimously not to charter a bus for the National Convention but to disperse equally the money raised from the selling of bus tickets ($3,000) to those individuals who register for the National Convention in Orlando Florida. The Board also elected unanimously Frank Coppel to serve as the official delegate and Second Vice President, Debra Canty, to serve as the alternate delegate to the national convention this year. Congratulations to Anthony Doyle as he was the $300 winner of the Orlando National Convention bus fund raffle and to Tiffany Mitchell who won $100 by selling the winning bus ticket. Also, congratulations to the Columbia Chapter for raising $1,128 in bus ticket sales and finishing in first place. The Sumter Chapter finished second raising $524 and the Rock hill Chapter finished third raising $414 in bus ticket sales. I want to take this opportunity thank Isaiah Nelson and his group of volunteers for preparing and serving a delicious lunch. I also want to especially thank David Houck for all of his hard work prior to the Seminar and all day Saturday to ensure the meeting was a success. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman, state Coordinator of the NFB of SC, of the (BELL) Academy has the following announcement. “For the fourth year running the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina is proud to present NFB Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning Academy! Our program will run June 5-June June 15, Monday to Thursday, 8:15-3:45 daily in Spartanburg on campus at SCSDB. We will focus on Braille, including slate and stylus, Nemeth and the abacus, along with white cane travel and other nonvisual skills in a fun learning environment. This is the fourth year of NFB BELL Academy in SC! We are looking forward to seeing return students as well as meeting new students. Jamie Allison is Braille literate and a certified classroom teacher. Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman is the mother to two blind teenage boys. We are passionate about Braille literacy, white cane travel and nonvisual skills and we teach these in a positive and fun manner. Each summer our students have shown great progress in skills and self-confidence. Please call Jennifer at 803-287-5391 or email at jaduffell@yahoo.com with any questions or concerns. Lunch: Lunch and snack will be provided daily. Lunch will primarily consist of sandwich meats and cheeses or peanut butter and jelly on bread or wraps with carrots and fruit. Milk, juice and water served. No soda. Sweets will be limited. Please tell Jennifer about any food allergies or other concerns.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Registration Fees: A $40.00 fee is requested, but will be waived if cost prohibitive. Please speak with Jennifer about fee and waiver if needed. Transportation: We do not provide transportation.”<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> As I sat through the 47th annual Statewide Seminar last Saturday I realized that this program has grown in so many ways. About 35 or 40 attended the first Statewide Seminar in 1971. Five or six times that number attended last Saturday’s Seminar. There were members who made the trip to Columbia from throughout the state. It was apparent that great enthusiasm was present. This annual event is actually a Mid-Winter convention as much business was discussed and handled. Members across the state brought auction items which netted some $900 which was considerably more than last year. Many different auction items consisted of a real variety, which were very nice. Profits from the auction will assist the Center greatly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> In 1971 we had just completed the first expansion of the Federation Center including the kitchen area of the facility. A second expansion of the Center occurred in 1978. This involved the offices and other rooms. In the beginning of the Statewide Seminar in 1971 we concentrated on procedural matters such as learning about constitutions, etc. Since the program was in its infancy, we felt we needed to learn the basic issues such as presiding at chapter meetings, appointing committees and recruiting new members, etc. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I thought the program last Saturday was excellent. We appreciated having representatives from the Commission for the Blind, School for the Blind and Talking Book Services. The afternoon session featured different leaders from federation and Rocky Bottom matters. It was good to have Ed Bible emphasize to the gathering that Rocky Bottom is ours and that we need to support it. President Coppel reported how pleased we were to get all of the mattresses replaced at Ellenburg Lodge at Rocky Bottom. Since my grandson Michael Holdcraft is in the mattress business and worked with us in getting the mattresses, it gave me an opportunity to brag on my grandson. The Statewide Seminar enables us to see each other every year as otherwise some may not be able to attend the state convention. It was great seeing Dorcas Campbell the distinguished President of the Chesterfield County Chapter as she is such a dear lady. She doesn’t permit her age of 94 from carrying out her duties as chapter president. It was also good to see Patricia Tuck as I have not seen her in a number of years. Patricia is happy as a member of the Greenville Chapter. Betty, myself and my assistant Debbie Manning enjoyed the Seminar. However, it was a real strain on Betty and we will probably have to cut back in our participation in the Seminar. Let me thank all of you for a job well done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Raising Expectations: “I’m working on my second million dollars of income. I gave up on the first years ago.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>