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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>March 7, 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 1647<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> Please continue to contact David Houck at the Federation Center of the Blind either by phone or by mail, if you are planning to attend the Leadership Seminar which will be held on Saturday, March 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We need to have this information by Wednesday, March 14, in order for us to have an accurate head count for lunch which is free of charge. We are expecting a good crowd to be present for the seminar as we already have approximately thirty people to sign up thus far. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is time for you to preregister online for the 2018 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 $65. After May 31, the cost for convention registration will increase to $30 and the cost of a banquet ticket will increase to $70. 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. Please Note: All convention preregistration and banquet sales are final. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Shannon Cook, Chairperson of the NFB of SC Scholarship Committee. “Scholarship Season has begun in the NFB of SC! Since the state convention is August 10-12, the deadline for all scholarship applications is June 15th. The committee will select the top three applicants, and they will be notified prior to the convention. The Scholarship Committee will meet via teleconference on July 15th, and winners will be notified soon thereafter. The updated scholarship application is now available at www.nfbofsc.org. Please also remember that the scholarship program operates on donations exclusively. If you or your chapter would like to contribute a scholarship or make a donation to the Metro Fund, please get in touch with both me, Shannon Cook, and Valerie Warrington, NFB of SC Treasurer. Also, please help us get the word out about the program. If you or someone you know is in school full time, please let them know about the program. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Shelley and I are looking forward to being with those of you who are planning to travel to Baltimore, Maryland the week end of April 6-8 to visit and tour the Jernigan Institute (our NFB National Center). Isaiah Nelson tells me there are only five seats remaining on the charter bus and if you would like to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, you need to contact Mr. Nelson at (803) 413-2434 immediately. . Also, those of us who have not paid in full their $100 charge to ride the bus need to do so, by mailing your payment to Isaiah Nelson, Po box 12063, Columbia, S.C. 29211, no later than March 15. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, I would like to report as to the amount of funds raised at the third annual Sweet Heart dance. Total revenues were $1,140, expenses $500 for catering, leaving a net profit of $640. Kudos to Debra Canty and her committee for their hard work planning this fund raising project. I also would like to especially recognize all of you who came to the dance and for your financial support for the NFB of SC. <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> This week’s Positive Note is spotlighting an active member of the Columbia Chapter. I am delighted to spotlight Katie Jackson. She was born and raised in Newberry County. She attended the public schools there as well. She has four children, fourteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. For a time she worked at Camron, a railroad equipment company, as an engineering clerk. When she got laid off, she went to the Commission for the Blind for vocational services. It was at that time she was introduced to the NFB of SC by attending a Columbia Chapter meeting in 1991. While Katie took an internship at the Federation Center of the Blind, she became active in the Columbia Chapter in the early 1990’s, especially in working on the Barbecue Committee, canvassing and selling tickets. Katie furthered her education at Midlands Tech where she earned an Associate degree in Human Services. She eventually took a position with the US Forestry Service in their Human Resources Department where she was employed for fifteen years until she retired. She has been the Treasurer of the Columbia Chapter for the past two years. Katie has attended two Florida NFB national conventions and many state conventions going back to the 1990’s. She is a member of the Right Direction International Church where she served on the Hospitality Committee and now serves as a “Seasoned Citizen.” She likes to watch inspirational TV programs and although she cannot read like she used to, a CCTV donated to her by the Federation Center has helped a lot in her Treasurer’s duties in the Columbia Chapter. We salute another federationist who does not let age hinder her federation duties and opportunities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Be yourself – Everyone else is already taken.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>