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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 11, 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 1652<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, April 6, Shelley and I along with fifty other Federationists from across the state, traveled to Baltimore, Maryland for the purpose of visiting our National headquarters of the NFB. Members representing seven chapters, (Columbia, Charleston, Upper Dorchester County, Belvedere, Lancaster, Sumter, and Lee County) comprised one of the largest groups to ever attend the Jernigan Institute from South Carolina. I was very pleased to have NFB of SC State officers Second Vice President, Debra Canty, Secretary, Dorothy Barksdale, and state board members Isaiah Nelson, Loretta Green, Tiffiny Mitchell, and Linda Dizzley joining us on the trip. We were also pleased to have David Houck, Executive Director of the Federation Center of the Blind, and his wife Darleen in attendance as well. When we finally arrived to the Jernigan Institute late Friday evening, we were warmly met by staff who showed us to our rooms and who had prepared a wonderful meal waiting for us upon our arrival. The day long program began at 8:00 Saturday morning with a recorded message from President Riccobono, who could not be with us as he was attending the state convention of the NFB of Missouri. President Riccobono’s outstanding message will appear as an audio file on the NFB of SC list serve and on our website in the very near future. I encourage all of you to listen to what our national president had to say. The remainder of the morning was spent discussing NFB philosophy and taking a tour of our National Center. During the afternoon session, the group heard from various staff members regarding Newsline, programs and activities of the Jernigan Institute, and advocacy and policy. Saturday evening, some of our group visited the Harbor area in Baltimore where we ate dinner either at the Cheese Cake Factory or Phillips Seafood Restaurant. Others remained at the center and enjoyed the fellowship and relaxation after a very busy day. Maurice Peret, our excellent host for the weekend, did a wonderful job planning the agenda for Saturday and making certain our needs were address throughout the weekend. Since returning from our trip, I have received a great deal of positive feedback from those who attended this weekend and I feel each person has a better understanding of our goals, purpose and philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind. For some of our members, the seminar sparked a renewed feeling of ownership and commitment to improve the quality of life of blind people. I would like to thank Tiffiny Mitchell and Shelley Coppel for all of their assistance this past weekend. A very special thanks goes to Isaiah Nelson and Loretta Green who did an outstanding job organizing and planning the Baltimore trip. During the morning session of the program two very important questions were asked of each individual in the group which I believe set the tone for the entire weekend. The questions were: “Why do you need the NFB, and, “Why does the NFB need you.” These are two questions all of us need to think a great deal about, if we want to continue to build a Federation. <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> The 65th annual barbecue sponsored by the Columbia Chapter will take place on Thursday, April 26. The first barbecue held at the Federation Center was in 1962 or some 56 years ago. This has become a huge project but the proceeds are highly profitable and this helps us to assist the blind in various ways. Our Columbia Chapter President, Tiffiny Mitchell is doing a great job in coordinating this year’s barbecue fundraiser. I am especially proud of the members who are participating in the three night canvas. For instance, in the first of three nights of canvassing, there were 17 canvassers and their guides who canvassed neighborhood streets nearby the Federation Center on Tuesday evening, April 10.. The weather was not good for canvassing. When everyone returned to the Center and the totals were tallied, 118 barbecue tickets were sold totaling $1,180 plus $458 was collected in donations, totaling some $1,638. There are still two more nights of canvassing on Thursday, April 12 and Monday, April 16. Columbia Chapter members are also working hard selling tickets on their own. Thus far, my own ticket sales and donations are coming along nicely. I have found it necessary to work harder this year than in the past in order to meet the goal that I have established. This project has been ongoing since the middle of March consuming a lot of time and effort. Both our blind and sighted members give considerably of their time and energy in this great and worthwhile undertaking. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Barbecue brings out the best in people.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>