<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>March 28, 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 1650<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> If you have not done so already, please 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> 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. To mail in your preregistration please download the pdf version and mail to NFB no later than May 31st. Please Note: All convention preregistration and banquet sales are final. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Loretta Green regarding the bus trip to our national center in Baltimore. “We will leave the Federation Center of the Blind in Columbia at 8:00 a m. on Friday, April 6. Please make sure to tag your luggage. For those who would like to get on the bus in Florence, we will make a stop at the Florence mall which is exit 160 a off of Interstate 95 around 9:00 A.M. Contact persons are Loretta Green at 843-276-9649 and Isaiah Nelson at 803-413-2434.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Krystal Reece, President of the Anderson chapter. “The Upstate Seminar will be held on April 14, 2018 from 10 am to 2 pm @American Legion 1301 E. Greenville St., Anderson, SC 29621. Cost to attend is $10 per person. We hope that all Upstate chapters will get involved and attend. Please bring any items you would like to auction off at the seminar. Lunch will be provided @ 12. We hope to see you there.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, April 1, is Easter Sunday and Shelley and I would like to take this time to wish all of you a very happy and blessed holiday. <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> It is a pleasure this week to spotlight Tommy McNeil, a longtime member of the NFB of SC. Tommy was born in Greenwood. He has served as President of the Greenwood Chapter for several terms. Tommy was born into a prominent Greenwood family. His mother taught school for many years including Senator John Drummond. Both of his parents are now deceased. Tommy briefly attended SCSDB but later returned to Greenwood, attending the public schools. Subsequently he received some training at the Vocational Rehabilitation agency. Beginning in 1970, he was at the Commission for the Blind for 16 weeks. Incidentally, Tommy stayed with his aunt on Wheat St. in Columbia where he lived independently. Tommy reports that after he received his 16 weeks of training and adjustment at the Commission, he returned to Greenwood but recalled that the then Commissioner, Dr. Fred L. Crawford went to Greenwood to personally see him to determine what he desired. For six years Tommy worked in a mop and broom shop in Greenwood. He returned to the Commission in order to learn massage therapy, becoming a masseur. Giving his very best in securing suitable employment, Tommy obtained a job with the YMCA in Columbia for three months. He decided to have a career as a masseur, returning to Greenwood after training and has been working as a masseur since 1983. He has been employed for over three decades in this same type of employment utilizing his home during this entire period. Tommy joined the federation in 1974 and has served faithfully for this entire period of time. Tommy has attended most every state convention since joining the federation. Tommy has attended more than ten national conventions. His hobbies include reading and listening to baseball games. He is a longtime member of the Greenwood United Methodist Church located on Main St. Tommy is highly respected by federation members across the state. He is known to have a good track record and is further known for his honesty and integrity. Once the Department of Transportation attempted to recall the Greenwood chapter’s van in order to to give it back to DOT. The NFB of SC was responsible for the van staying in the sole possession of the chapter with our state President, Parnell Diggs, negotiating the matter efficiently. The NFB of SC spotlights Tommy for his four decades of service in the NFB of SC and for his steadfast commitment to the organization.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Accomplishment multiplies by the number it applies to.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>