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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 4, 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 1651<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> On Friday, March 30, the 18th annual Vision Summit was held at the Archives building in northeast Columbia. Approximately 100 people were in attendance which included teachers of the visually impaired, parents of blind children, and other individuals who worked in the field of blindness. The NFB of SC was well represented as Valerie Warrington and Casey Eubanks participated on a panel entitled “from my prospective” which dealt with how they successfully handled their a visual impairment on a daily basis. Other members present were Ed and Julie Bible, Thom and Tracy Spittle, and David and Darleen Houck. Our own Marty McKenzie presided over the conference and did an excellent job. Each conference participant received a packet which included information regarding the assistive technology training programs offered at the Federation Center of the Blind. The NFB of SC is pleased to see how much this conference has grown over the years as we were honored to host the first Vision Summit which was held at the Federation Center during the last 1990’s. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Debra Canty, President of the Sumter chapter. “The Sumter chapter will have chicken and pork BBQ sandwiches available for sale April 21, at the RBRCCB and NFB of SC board of directors meetings. The BBQ chicken sandwich will sell for $5 and the pork BBQ sandwich will sell for $6. If you are interested in purchasing a BBQ sandwich, please contact Debra Canty at (803)775-5792 to place your order. The Sumter chapter has conducted this event for many years as proceeds from this fund raiser helps to financially assist chapter members to attend the national convention. .” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Tiffiny Mitchell, Chairperson of the NFB of SC state picnic planning committee, regarding the Saturday, June 2, state picnic to be held at Saluda Shoals state park. “There will be a teleconference held on Monday evening, April 9, at 8:00 to further discuss plans regarding the state wide picnic. The number for the teleconference is (862)902-0241. The access code is #3588716. Please join the teleconference Monday evening and let’s plan a great picnic!” <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 trust that your Easter was meaningful and uplifting. Over the Easter weekend I reminisced regarding the many Easters I have celebrated. During my early childhood my mother over Easter would take us to Reedy Creek Baptist Church which is one of the oldest churches in the state. My first away Easter was at the SC School for the Deaf and Blind in 1939. I recall that those students who lived nearby the School would be able to go home for Easter but those of us who lived a distance from the School had to stay at the School. I was at the School for Easter in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1944. I chose to take my Junior and Senior years at Mullins High School where I grew up. While I was a student at SCSDB I never dreamed that I would later serve on the Board of Commissioners of the School for a quarter of a century beginning in 1980 until 2005. This was the period Dr. Sheila Breitweiser was hired as SCSDB President. It’s my understanding that all students at SCSDB today are bussed home for Easter. That’s certainly better than having to be away for this special Easter season. Some time ago I was asked when my most meaningful decades in which I served was and I promptly said, “the decades of the 1950’s and 60’s,” as both of my children, Beth and Craig were born in 1955 and 1958. My federation participation first occurred in 1953. Beginning in 1959 we moved into in our current residence in our frame house, residing there for some 60 years. We were able to enjoy picnics and other occasions with our children. Of course Betty got new outfits for both children which we showed off at our church – Kilbourne Park Baptist Church. One of the things we enjoyed doing on Easter in the 1950’s and 60’s was holding an Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard. Betty would color several eggs which were utilized in the Easter Egg Hunt. In those days for a period extending for 25 years, we had two Cocker Spaniels which were wonderful pets. Their names were Penny and they participated in the hunt also. It didn’t seem to matter where the eggs were placed in the back yard to hide them from Penny as she always managed to find the eggs before Craig and Beth would find them. One of the standards during Easter was the chocolate bunny although it is not as prevalent today as it was in the 1950’s and 60’s.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Happiness is being content by not comparing what you have with what others have.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>