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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 18, 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 1601<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> Just a friendly reminder the spring meetings of the Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind Board of Directors and the NFB of SC Board of Directors will be held at the Federation Center of the Blind this Saturday, April 22, 2017. The RBRCCB Board of Directors meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and will adjourn at 12:00 noon. The NFB of SC Board of Directors meeting will begin promptly 1:00 p.m. and adjourn at 4:00 p.m. There will be much to discuss at both meetings, and so I would like to strongly encourage Federation members who are not on either board to come Saturday and actively participate in the meetings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Please do not forget to make your hotel reservations for the 2017 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenville, SC August 18-20. Room rates are very affordable. Rates for this year’s convention are $99 per night for up to four in a room. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 12 percent. There will also be a limited number of rooms available for the $99 rate Thursday, August 17, for those individuals wanting to arrive at the hotel a day prior to the official start of the convention. The deadline to make reservations will be July 27, 2017. You can make your room reservations by calling the Hyatt Regency reservation telephone number 402-592-6434 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. The Hyatt Regency hotel has also made available a dedicated website to book your hotel rooms online. Reservations can be made starting immediately at this web address: https://aws.passkey.com/go/natfedblind.<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. <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. If you would prefer a print copy of the preregistration form, contact David Houck at the Federation Center, (803( 254-3777 and he will mail one to you. Or 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> I hope all of you had a blessed Easter holiday and I am looking forward to seeing many of you this Saturday. <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> Our very strong friend, Dr. A. Baron Holmes, IV, has retired after many years of service to the state. Baron writes as follows: “My wife and I have moved to Cashiers NC. We have been living here most of the time over the past few years. This is why I have been unable to attend the Advisory Committee meetings. But I am still a supporter. I hope that Dr. Capps and Betty’s health enables them to be active.” We first met Dr. Holmes when he was President of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind. This was in 1980 to 1981 as the General Assembly had amended a law requiring the service of a blind person on the Board of Commissioners. Currently, Ed Bible serves on the School’s Board of Commissioners. Dr. Holmes was scheduled to serve as School President temporarily for only about a year, enabling the board to find a replacement. Dr. Holmes wound up serving for about a half dozen years, during which time he made many improvements at the School. Dr. Holmes was a different kind of President as he played with the children and was very much on hand with the students. Soon after accepting the School presidency he also became a member of the Advisory Board of the Federation Center of the Blind and his Advisory Board service spanned some three decades. I worked closely with Dr. Holmes with the Legislature during his service at the School as well as during his subsequent Advisory Board service. In his capacity as an Advisory Board member, Dr. Holmes contributed significantly, making generous contributions to the Center. After completing his service with the School, Dr. Holmes assumed a very important position with the Budget and Control Board. He is a prominent South Carolinian of which the state has benefitted from his service. We wish the very best for Dr. Holmes and his wife Sue and we know they will enjoy their retirement in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Raising Expectations: 1,601 Positive Notes as of today - this even had to start with the first one over 30 years ago!<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>