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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>May 24, 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 1606<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> Hello from Rocky Bottom where 23 seniors from across the state are attending the 2017 Spring edition of Senior Camp. Although it’s been rainy throughout the week the seniors have participated in several activities such as taking walks, playing BINGO, participating in a dance, participating in group discussions dealing in the various aspects of blindness, and taking a field trip to the Asheville Farmers Market. Of course all of us have gained a few pounds as we enjoyed the delicious food cooked by our “food crew” headed up by Lenora Robertson. I’ve been told that JJ, our resident duck has enjoyed senior camp and has especially enjoyed playing in all of the mud puddles.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I have been informed by Isaiah Nelson that the bus trip to Baltimore to visit our National Center has been changed to the weekend of September 29 to October 1. Enclosed you will find an application which is self-explanatory.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This past Thursday, May 18, Shelley and I along with our Resident Manager Linda Bible hosted a drop-in for the Rocky Bottom community. Approximately eleven individuals attended the drop-in including longtime friend Janice Taylor, the Bowens and Jimmy McMaster.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There is only one week remaining 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not done so already, please make your hotel reservations for the 2017 NFB National Convention in Orlando, Florida. The date of 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. For 2016 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> The current edition of the Palmetto Blind features a front cover picture of Parnell Diggs, Esquire being sworn in as a Social Security Administrative Law Judge. Congratulations to Judge Diggs who made all of us happy here in South Carolina where he got his start. At the same time, David Houck showed wisdom in using Judge Diggs’ swearing in as the front cover for the Palmetto Blind. We could not possibly find any recent picture of this type which does more good for the ability of the blind as Judge Diggs’ swearing in. I don’t know how many Administrative Law Judges there are in the country who are blind, but not very many I suspect. However, Judge Diggs proves that with proper training and experience, blind people certainly can serve as Administrative Law Judges. Prior to leaving the NFB position as Director of Governmental Affairs where he supported the NFB leadership, the May edition of the Braille Monitor covers his successful assistance to a blind post office user as well as assisting a blind person who was having a difficult experience with an airline carrier. I’m glad I was on hand at the Federation Center some 30 years ago greeting blind prospective members including Judge Diggs who still refers to this memorable membership banquet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This week the Senior Blind are at Rocky Bottom for the first of two sessions each year. In last week’s Positive Note President Coppel, one of the country’s most outstanding state presidents commented that his first NFB convention 40 years ago provided the inspirational experience that convinced him that he needed to dedicate his life in service to blind people. This week Frank is in Rocky Bottom directing the Senior Blind program. For many years Frank has handled this annual service to the state’s blind as a volunteer, and as in Judge Diggs situation, I admire Frank’s lifetime of service. As all of us know, Frank is Chairman of the Board of Directors of RBRCCB and also serves as President of the NFB of SC – so he certainly has his hands full. As many of you know, my first experience with the NFB was in San Francisco in 1956 where I attended the NFB convention and that was the initial experience causing me to dedicate my life to the blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> While I was in Rocky Bottom some three weeks ago it was brought to my attention that JJ, our RBRCCB resident duck has no one to swim with him in the Eddie Mae Lucas Webb Memorial Pond as previous ducks seem to have vanished. I was pleased to receive a report from our Resident Manager Linda Bible, jubilantly telling me that JJ now has a duck friend at RBRCCB and he is very happy to share the pond with JJ – no fooling.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: As we approach Memorial Day when we remember and revere our fallen veterans, “Taps” consists of 24 notes, but do you know the words? “Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, >From the hill, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*******<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1, 2017<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Baltimore, Maryland Bus Trip<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Registration Form<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Name of Passenger: ___________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Address: ____________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone Number: _______________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Emergency Contact: ___________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone Number: _______________________________________<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Date of Trip, September 29 – October 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cost of Trip: $100.000<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final payment is due by July 5<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Make checks payable to Isaiah Nelson and mail to:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Isaiah Nelson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>PO Box 12063<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Columbia, SC 29211<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>