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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 19, 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 1614<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> Shelley and I had a wonderful time attending the 2017 NFB national convention. This was my thirty-fifth convention and this year’s convention ranked high on my list as one of the best conventions I have had the pleasure of attending. We had 2,485 federationists attend this year’s convention. South Carolina was proud to have sixty-two delegates which I feel was a pretty good turnout considering the fact we did not charter a bus. The convention had many outstanding presentations which dealt primarily with the need to have accessible technology as well as presentations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, two members of Congress, and inspiring stories of blind individuals who succeeded in transforming their dreams into reality. During the general sessions there was a great deal of enthusiasm and energy which was felt throughout the ballroom. Of course, President Riccobono’s Presidential Report and Banquet address were outstanding. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The highlight of the convention as always is the Banquet. The NFB handed out thirty scholarships and these young men and women were extremely impressive. The NFB national convention at times reminds me of a large family reunion and for Shelley and I, it was wonderful to reconnect and visit with friends we have not seen for a long period of time. Although I was proud of the approximately sixty plus South Carolinians who registered for this year’s convention, it was very disappointing to me to see the extremely poor attendance from our delegation at most of the general sessions. One of the primary purposes of the national convention is to become more familiar with issues facing the blind on a national level and this is very difficult to do if you are not present at the general sessions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not done so already, I would strongly urge you 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. 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 are still a limited number of rooms available for the $99 rate Thursday, August 17. The deadline to make reservations is July 27,2017. The Hyatt Regency Hotel has set aside a block of rooms for the NFB of SC until July 27 which is only one week away! If you wait until after July 27, to make your hotel reservation, the hotel may not have an available room for you and you may be required to pay the standard room rate of $189 per night. If you pay in advance, your reservation will be guaranteed; however, you will not have to pay as long as you arrive by 6:00 p.m. Any amount you pay, of course, will be applied toward your bill. 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Also, I would strongly encourage you to pay your $80 preregistration fee for this year’s State Convention to the Federation Center of the Blind, 119 S. Kilbourne Rd. Columbia, SC 29205. All preregistration fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The $80 preregistration fee will cover the reception on Friday evening, continental breakfast Saturday morning, the luncheon, banquet, and a continental breakfast Sunday morning. The deadline to accept your $80 preregistration fee is August 9. If you wait until after the deadline of August 9, the registration will increase to $100. Save $20 and preregister early! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As I reported in last week’s Positive Note, Ever Lee Hairston, NFB National board member will be our national representative for the convention. I had the opportunity of speaking with Ever Lee last week at the national convention and she was very excited about coming to South Carolina and being a part of our state convention. She is an awesome speaker and it is my hope we will have an excellent turnout for the convention as well as to hear her banquet address Saturday evening . <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> In this week’s Positive Note we are spotlighting one of the finest chapters in the NFB of SC or anywhere in the nation. Charlis Borodin is the President of our Grand Strand Chapter. She was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in the New York City area. She attended the New York City public schools and graduated from Queens College majoring in Computer Science. She began work as a secretary knowledgeable in shorthand and dictation. However, when computers began to be used in the 1070’s, she returned to school to obtain her Computer Science degree. Charlis is married to Paul Borodin and they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on July 1. They have a son who is a NYU graduate and a daughter who graduated from RPI. They also have a two year-old granddaughter who is the love of their life. Charlis says that her husband Paul is a great help to her in all that she does and he deserves a lot of credit. Paul and Charlis moved to Myrtle Beach in 1999 and Charlis began losing her sight. They joined the Grand Strand Chapter seven years ago and she assumed the Presidency two years ago. She is quite a capable chapter president and even brings food to the monthly meetings. She is a strong believer in continuing the federation in that it helps blind people to lead better and more productive lives. She states that blindness is a challenge but she is making a real difference. This year’s 2017 Orlando NFB Convention was her first national convention and she learned a lot from it. She has attended four state conventions and at last year’s Myrtle Beach state convention the Grand Strand Chapter and the Borodin’s worked hard to design and distribute Myrtle Beach packets to each convention delegate. Charlis explains that her hobbies include reading at least five talking books a week, she sends emails, does Facebook and goes on the internet and she collects World War II era aircraft hammered aluminum antiques. Charlis has many talents and together with her husband Paul, they work hard to help the blind live the life they want. I’m proud of the NFB Orlando Convention South Carolina delegation although I agree with President Coppel that the South Carolina delegation must at least attend all General Sessions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Federation conventions offer much you can learn and apply to life and in helping others…if you attend them.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>