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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>January 3, 2018 <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 1638<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> Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season and are now ready to begin 2018 with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. You can now begin to make your reservations for the upcoming 2018 Orlando National Convention. The date of this year’s national convention will be July 3, to July 8, 2018 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The 2018 room rates are singles and doubles, $88; and triples and quads, $93. 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 2018 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 $100 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 $100 check. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June, 1, 2018, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. The schedule of the convention is as follows: Tuesday, July 3, Seminar Day - Wednesday, July 4, Registration and exhibits - Thursday, July 5, National Board Meeting and division and committee meetings - Friday, July 6, Opening General Session - Saturday, July 7, General session - Sunday, July 8, Banquet <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Loretta Green and Isaiah Nelson. “the NFB of SC is planning a charter bus trip to the Jernigan Institute (our national headquarters) in Baltimore, Maryland the weekend of April 6-8. The cost to ride the charter bus will be $100 per person. The initial $25 is due by January 6, at the statewide seminar and the remainder of the money is due no later than Friday, February 23 2018. If you have any questions, regarding this trip you can contact Loretta Green at (843) 276-9649 or Isaiah Nelson at (803) 413-2434.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 2018 promises to be an exciting and busy year in the NFB of SC. It would be great if we could kick off the New Year with a large crowd of enthusiastic federationists at this year’s state wide seminar. Shelley and I look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday, January 6! <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> Happy New Year to all of you across the state. This time of year always ushers in the time we hold the annual Statewide Seminar. This program has grown tremendously over the years. The origin of the “Seminar” occurred in the 1970’s or some 50 years ago. Initially the NFB of SC was understandably small but the program grew steadily. In the early days there were just a handful of federation chapters and the program was not statewide until many years later. In the beginning we discussed such things as the state constitution and chapter constitutions. We were new at that time and our leaders across the state needed to understand both the state and chapter constitutions. We also discussed how to recruit new members. Today the Statewide Seminar is of course a very important part of our annual programs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> In last week’s Positive Note I talked about my eye surgery at John’s Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore which occurred over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. On Friday, December 29, 2017, Betty became ill, necessitating our rushing her to the hospital for appropriate treatment. Upon our arrival at the Baptist Hospital Emergency Room, Betty was treated immediately. After many tests she was diagnosed with a “mini-stroke” and was subsequently hospitalized for two days and nights. Betty was not released until New Year’s Eve, December 31. After intensive treatment she now has no physical signs of the mini-stroke. However, due to her age, extra action is being taken. For example, as I dictate this Positive Note Tuesday morning, there is a physical therapist in our home working with Betty to ensure her good progress continues. While I am grateful for all of the treatment she is receiving, it will prevent Betty and me from attending this Saturday’s Statewide Seminar. I don’t believe I have missed any of these Seminars but Betty’s situation dictates my being very careful. I will be thinking of all of you this weekend but I know that this Statewide Seminar will be one of the best ever. Please keep Betty and me in your prayers and let all of us work hard this year to make this the best year the NFB of SC has ever had.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: We celebrated our accomplishments over the old year. We have a clean slate for this new one. Let’s see if our efforts can exceed our expectations.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>