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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>July 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 1665<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> Shelley and I had a wonderful time attending the 2018 NFB national convention. This was my thirty-sixth convention and this year’s convention ranked high on my list as one of the best conventions I have had the pleasure of attending. Approximately 2,500 federationists and visitors were in attendance during this year’s festivities in Orlando Florida. South Carolina was proud to have seventy-nine delegates registered placing us in ninth place in the overall attendance which I feel was a pretty good turnout considering the fact we did not charter a bus. Included in our delegation to help put us in 9th place, were 16 students and 11 staff from our Successful Transitions program. They were in attendance during a significant part of the general sessions, and enthusiastically participated in activities such as Rooky Roundup, Youth Track activities, and National Association of Blind Student meetings. The convention had many outstanding presentations which dealt primarily with the need to have accessible technology as well as presentations from a member of congress, a former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and inspiring stories of blind individuals who succeeded in transforming their dreams into reality. During the general sessions there was a great deal of enthusiasm and energy which was felt throughout the ballroom. Of course, President Riccobono’s Presidential Report and Banquet address were outstanding. President Riccobono’s banquet speech Sunday evening emphasized the importance of diversity to our movement and he enlightened the audience regarding the major role blind women have played in shaping the history of our organization. The highlight of the convention as always is the Banquet. The NFB handed out thirty scholarships and these young men and women were extremely impressive. Many thanks goes to Tiffiny Mitchell and all of the volunteers who helped to man the South Carolina table in the Exhibit Hall during the convention. I am pleased to announce our efforts in the Exhibit Hall raised over eight hundred dollars for the NFB of SC. The NFB national convention at times reminds me of a large family reunion and for Shelley and I it was wonderful to reconnect and visit with friends we have not seen for a long period of time. Although I was extremely proud of the approximately eighty South Carolinians who registered for this year’s convention, it continues to be very disappointing to me to see the extremely poor attendance from our delegation at most of the general sessions. One of the primary purposes of the national convention is to become more familiar with issues facing the blind on a national level and this is very difficult to do if you are not present at the general sessions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There are only a few days remaining to make your hotel reservations for the 2018 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Columbia August 10-12. Rates for this year’s convention are $109 per night for up to four in a room. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 14 percent. The deadline to make reservations is July 15, 2018. If you wait until after July 15, to make your hotel reservation, the hotel may not have an available room for you and you may be required to pay the standard room rate. You can make your room reservations by calling the Columbia Marriott reservation toll free telephone number (800) 593-6465 or (803) 771-7000 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> One of the convention agenda items we are considering at this time, is an“ NFB Has Talent Showcase) which will occur during the Saturday afternoon session of the state convention. All talent is welcomed! This should be a lot of fun as we will have judges and prizes for the most talented acts. If you wish to participate, you can contact Shelley Coppel at (803) 796-8662 or you can email her at frankandshelley51@gmail.com no later than August 1. <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 spotlights a local Columbia Federation member who has served the movement for many years. I am speaking of Jean Sutton, the wife of Mike Sutton of Columbia. Jean was born in Spartanburg and raised in Inman. She attended the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind through eleventh grade and then transferred to Chapman High School in Inman where she graduated. Following high school she attended the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduating from USC Jean graduated from Midlands Technical College, focusing in the area of Medical Transcription. It is to be noted that after completing Midlands Tech Jean Sutton went to work at the Veterans Hospital applying her medical transcription credentials. This past Friday, July 6, she retired from the VA Hospital after a 36 year work history. One year Jean Sutton was recognized as the Disabled Employee of the Year by the VA Hospital. Mike and Jean have been married for 37 years with their anniversary being on August 1. It seems that Jean as well as Mike have two anniversary dates to celebrate! Jean tells me that now she is retired, she plans to become more active in the Columbia Chapter. Mike and Jean have attended a dozen national conventions and many more state conventions. Jean has canvassed the annual barbecues and has worked on the contact committee and she sang along with Doug Hudson at the June Columbia Chapter meeting. After meeting Mike Sutton she learned of the federation as Mike was a member of the Lancaster Chapter. Mike and Jean are members of the Calvary Chapel in Cayce and Jean says she has taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. Jean has a beautiful singing voice. Jean’s hobbies include reading and keeping up with current events, not to mention spending more time with her husband, Mike. Mike has been involved in many leadership positions over the years and Jean has been quite supportive of Mike’s endeavors as well. We salute Jean Sutton who has applied herself academically, vocationally and in many ways with the federation. She has learned well how to lead the life she wants.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: When you attend NFB conventions you always bring home more than you brought with you like enthusiasm, information, and many new federation friends.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>