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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>March 15, 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 1596<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> Saturday evening Shelley and I traveled to Bishopville where we had the pleasure of attending the Black and White Banquet hosted by the Lee County Chapter of the NFB of SC. Approximately 100 individuals were in attendance and they were treated to a wonderful meal as well as great musical entertainment provided by Doug Hudson and others. Gary Engle, a member of the Sumter Chapter, and Ed Bible, NFB of SC state board member, were the speakers for the evening. Both of these individuals made excellent presentations as they openly discussed with the audience how they dealt with their blindness and how the National Federation of the Blind has played an important role in their life. Also during the evening’s program, family and friends gave a moving tribute to Cheryl Mott-Sims second vice president of the Lee County chapter, who suddenly passed away on February 11. Not only was the banquet successful in raising a great deal of funds for the chapter, but it also educated the sighted individuals in the audience to the philosophy and the programs of the NFB of SC. Linda Dizzley, the Lee County chapter President, did an outstanding job as Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. It was very evident many hours were spent organizing and planning this event and Linda is commended for all of her hard work to make this banquet a tremendous success. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not done so already, please make your hotel reservations to attend the upcoming 2017 Orlando National Convention. The dates for this year’s national convention will be July 10, to July 15, 2017 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The 2017 room rates are singles and doubles, $83; and triples and quads, $89. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested. Please note that the hotel is a no-smoking facility.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> For 2017 convention room reservations you can call the hotel at (866) 996-6338. You may also write directly to the Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. The hotel will want a deposit of $95 for each room and will want a credit card number or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $95 check. If a reservation is cancelled before Thursday, June 1, 2017, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. The schedule of the convention is as follows; Monday, July 10, Seminar Day. Tuesday, July 11, Registration and exhibits. Wednesday, July 12, National Board Meeting and division and committee meetings. Thursday, July 13, Opening General Session. Friday, July 14, General session. Saturday, July 15, Banquet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is time for you to preregister online for the 2017 NFB National Convention in Orlando Florida. If you preregister prior to May 31, registration for convention will cost $25 and a banquet ticket will cost $60. After May 31, the cost for convention registration will increase to $30 and the cost of a banquet ticket will increase to $65. Save $10 and also skip the need to stand in line for a long period of time at the convention by purchasing your convention registration and banquet ticket by the May 31 deadline. You can preregister online at,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Shelley Coppel, President of the Seniors Division. “Dear Seniors and friends: Our 2017 conference calls are going to resume March 23 at 4 p.m. eastern time. The topic will be: Health Care issues, moderated by Art Shriver from New Mexico. Please join this call. The phone number and access code is as follows: 712-432-1500; access code: 759633 pound. The call should last approximately an hour. Thank you all for your support. Shelley Coppel, President” <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> Recently I have covered some information regarding the three NFB conventions in 1967, 1968, and 1969. Also I discussed some experiences that were notable. During the decade of the 60’s I believe it’s safe to say that the two major accomplishments of the NFB of SC was the erection of the Federation Center of the Blind on October 15, 1961 and the creation of the Commission for the Blind in May of 1966. Groundbreaking for the Federation Center of the Blind was in April 1961.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It required portions of three years to accomplish the creation of the Commission. The first action occurred at the Charleston convention of 1964, and in 1965 there was the creation of a nine member legislative study committee and other actions as the bill was placed on Gov. Robert E. McNair’s desk on May 6, 1966. During all of that time the NFB of SC worked hard resulting in the following outcome. In the background it was necessary to get Gov. McNair to appoint a five member Board of Commissioners that would favor the appointment of our choice for this important agency head. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> After nine years in 1970 the Center was expanded. The 1970 NFB convention was held in Minneapolis. Some dozen years ago in 1858 Lois Boltin Tucker traveled to Minneapolis to take braille switchboard operator training which she learned about during her attendance at the 1956 San Francisco NFB convention. The convention hotel was a mix up as the hotel had overbooked the convention facilities. There was a special meeting of the Rotary Club that booked our hotel at the same time as our meeting. To be sure that our people had adequate accommodations, I had joined the Rotary Club some months ago and Dr. Jernigan asked me to meet with Rotary officials which I did. Things were worked out with the NFB and Rotary. As you know, Minneapolis is near the Canadian border with Wimple being the nearest Canadian city. We decided to go to Winnipeg and other Canadian sites. We visited the zoo which was outstanding. From there we traveled some two hours which enabled us to visit Riding Mountain National Park. It was an animal reserve with such things as buffalo and gatherings of rabbits. As we traveled through the park, we ran into a gathering of rabbits. When our daughter Beth saw the rabbits she said to me, “Daddy, their having a rabbit convention.” Even though it was July, Beth and Craig had never seen a lake too cold to swim in although they tried it. In closing, in next week’s Positive Note I will write about further experiences at the 1970 NFB convention as well as the 1971 NFB convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Raising Expectations: “Sometimes it is easier to expect more from others than we expect from ourselves.” <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>