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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>August 29, 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 1620<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> This upcoming weekend many of us will be traveling to Rocky Bottom to attend the 36th annual Fun Day Festival. Over 50 Federationists are planning to be at Rocky Bottom for the entire weekend with other chapters planning to come Saturday, September 2, to participate in the festivities. One of my favorite activities during Fun Day is the auction which will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Many thanks go to Jennifer Bazer and Valerie Warrington who were very instrumental securing items for the auction. Items for the auction include a National Championship football autographed by Clemson head football coach Dabbo Sweeney, a USC basketball autographed by women’s basketball head coach, Dawn Staley, two black and silver footballs autographed by the Carolina Panthers, tickets to Caro-winds and Dollywood, gift baskets, and bakery items just to name a few. We will be selling a variety of items at our country store, yard sale items, and we will be selling RBRCCB merchandise. If you would like to donate craft or baked items to the country store, please contact Jennifer Bazer at (803) 661-6622 or email her at jhipp25@sc.rr.com. Outside, we will have activities for children, as well as selling cotton candy and snow cones. Seven meals will be served throughout the weekend. Times for meals are as follows; Saturday, September 2, breakfast 8:00, BBQ lunch 12:00, and supper 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 3, breakfast 8:30, lunch 1:00 and supper 6:00. Monday, September 4, breakfast at 8:00. You will need to see Valerie Warrington and pay $40 for adults and $20 for children under twelve years of age to cover all seven meals including the lunch on Saturday. Those individuals who are attending the Fun Day Festival Saturday and who are only eating lunch will need to pay Valerie and Larry Warrington $10 for adults and $5 for children. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Reservations for room accommodations are filling up quickly and, therefore, you will need to get your reservation in now. As always we are expecting a full house. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need to make a reservation for the Fun Day weekend, you can call the Federation Center (803) 254-3777 or call me (803) 796-8662 no later than Thursday, August 31. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is extremely important we all do what we can to sell as many $5 Fun Day tickets as possible as this greatly contributes to the overall profits of the festival. Remember, the winning ticket drawn will yield $50 to the seller and $500 to the buyer or $550 if you bought your own ticket. The chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300 for its treasury! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We need to do all we can to support Rocky Bottom. We are expecting a large turnout from the surrounding community and there also needs to be a large Federation turnout for this very important fundraising event. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> J.W. Smith, President of our Greenville chapter, would like to thank everyone for their prayers and telephone calls last week during his time of bereavement for the loss of his sister. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, congratulations to Ed Bible and Julie Bible who became proud grandparents Monday, August 28, at 7:16 a.m. with the birth of their second grandchild, Sally Ann Walker, who weighed 7 pounds and 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. Also congratulations to Dale and Pat Wolthoff, members of the Columbia Chapter, who celebrated their fortieth anniversary on Sunday, August 27. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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> Not many of us can say that we have served the blind for more than 40 years in the programs of federation chapters and otherwise. Winnifred Spears is one of those individuals who has done so. Winnifred Spears is a longtime Associate Member of the Rock Hill Chapter who has been quite active in a number of areas as a volunteer. She was born in Williamsburg County and began school there. However, during World War II her family moved to Charleston as her father worked in the shipyards. After the war, they moved between Williamsburg County and Johnsonville. Winnifred Spears graduated from Johnsonville High School where the school’s mascot was a lightning bolt known as “the flashers.” She then went to Columbia College and completed two years of training in Business School. She used her educational training to work for many years doing clerical work with the Rock Hill Police Department from which she retired in 2001. As she put it, Business School helped her achieve her Mrs. Degree as well. Her husband, Olan or “Pee Wee” Spears worked in a funeral home. Together they have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Spears first joined the federation when there was a state convention held in Rock Hill in the 1970’s and Boy Scouts were used as assistants during the convention. Soon after, they joined the Rock Hill Chapter. At that time Frances Messer was President and Pee Wee was Vice President. Pee Wee also served as chapter President for a time. Winnifred volunteered over the years as an associate Treasurer and Secretary. She also does chapter devotionals. She has attended four national conventions and at least a half dozen state conventions. Her hobbies include church as she attends the Christian Fellowship Church in Rock Hill, traveling and being a member of the OWLS – Older, Wiser, Loving Seniors. This group of seniors likes to bowl, work with the Special Olympics, and has four parties annually. As you can see, Winnifred Spears has led a long and active lifestyle, dedicating her life to serving the blind, other seniors, her church family and the police department in whatever way she can. Congratulations to Winnie and we hope that you will have many more years of service to the blind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We extend congratulations to Dr. Fred Crawford, the first Commissioner of the Commission for the Blind, who celebrates his 91st birthday on Wednesday, August 30. I also celebrate my 89th birthday on Wednesday, August 30 and you will note that Dr. Crawford and I have the same birthdays.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: How long has it been since YOU have been to Rocky Bottom?<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>