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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 7, 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 1621<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> I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended and volunteered their services at the Fun Day Festival held at Rocky Bottom this past Labor Day weekend. Although the turnout was good, we need to work harder to attract more of the public to attend as well as encourage more of our members to sell their Fun Day tickets and to attend the Fun Day festivities. The weather this weekend was spectacular and everyone appeared to have a great time enjoying each other’s company and raising money for Rocky Bottom. Although there are some issues we need to definitely address for next year, I truly believe the 36th annual Fun Day Festival was very successful. Many thanks go to Lenora Robertson, Ellen Taylor, Glenda Culick and the rest of the “Food Crew” for preparing outstanding meals throughout the weekend. I would like to especially thank Valerie and Larry Warrington, and Libby Farr for their willingness to help where ever needed. I would also like to recognize Alma Lee Doyle, Elouise Hunt, David and Darleen Houck, Linda Bible, Jennifer Bazer and her staff for their assistance on Saturday as well as Jeff Baser who did a great job handling the duties of auctioneer. RBRCCB is an extremely important and vital program of the NFB of SC and all of us as members need to work diligently and creatively in the years to come to increase the amount of monies raised during the Fun Day Festival. As I have stated many times, Rocky Bottom belongs to all of us. We need to take ownership and be proud we have such a unique facility in South Carolina. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Isaiah Nelson, President of the Alumni of the SC School for the Blind. “The meeting of the alumni of the SC school for the blind will be held the weekend of October 20-21, 2017. The meeting will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria located in Robertson hall. I am asking that all members be present and on time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Those members from the Columbia area who will be riding up to Spartanburg on Friday evening, the van will be departing at 3:00 p.m. You should arrive at the federation center located at 119 S. Kilbourne Rd., Columbia SC 29205 no later than 2:30 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The total cost of the trip is forty ($40.00) dollars per person which will include transportation as well as registration. Each person will be responsible for your overnight stay at the Quality Inn and Suites ($110 per room per night’s stay) and for all of your meals. The telephone number for the Quality Inn is: 864-542-0333. Please make your reservations no later than September 20, 2017. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Those of you living in the Columbia area who will be attending please give me a call to verify that you will be attending the meeting for transportation purposes. You may reach me at 803-413-2434. Thanking you in advance, I am. Ike nelson, President. PS: Also, if you have any questions in regards to the above listed information, feel free to contact me at the above given number.” <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> I very much appreciate President Coppel’s changing the issuance of the Positive Note by one day as the telephone was out on Wednesday. As I read Frank’s Positive Note I realized just how fortunate we are in having Rocky Bottom but also how much we were missing the 36th annual Fun Day Festival. From preliminary reports this looks like it was a very successful Fun Day Festival.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Throughout the years Betty was very much involved by both Presidents Jernigan and Maurer as they utilized Betty’s talents. For many years, both Presidents Jernigan and Maurer had Betty sit at the speaker’s table at the NFB convention Banquet as everyone knew Betty had an impeccable reputation and would handle the drawing of door prizes with absolute honesty. At the 1977 Jacobus tenBroek Award presentation I was the recipient of this highest award but in going to the podium I had Betty accompany me as I wanted to demonstrate nationally just what Betty means to me. In the earliest days of the federation Betty operated a messy mimeograph machine to get out mailings. She also drove me nationally.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> To all of you attending the Fun Day Festival it was apparent this was the first time in 36 years that we missed this event. It was apparent that something very serious kept us away. Since this occurred I felt it appropriate to bring our statewide membership up to date. At a routine examination in May of 2012 Betty’s illness was diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease. It was hardly noticed but the condition, hardly detectable but five years later this has changed. Her ability to remember is virtually gone. However, in the Spring of 2013 I secured part-time services of caregivers but this service in my opinion, was very inadequate and the charges were exorbitant I felt. Thus after a year we had a full-time, live-in caregiver for four years who is a “Godsend.” Full-time attention is essential as Betty would wander away. We don’t know what lies in the future, as no one does, but I can assure you of one thing, both of us love each other as we take it one day at a time.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>