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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 26, 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 1676<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> With October 1, just around the corner, I hope many of our chapters have Meet the Blind Month events already planned. On Saturday, October 27, the Columbia Chapter will hold a Step It Up Walk at the Drew Wellness Center at 9:00 a.m. The cost to walk at least one mile is $20. I hope to hear from other chapters regarding your Meet the Blind Month activity, and I will share this information in the Positive Note. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the next few weeks, I will be formulating committees for 2018/2019. If you wish to serve on a committee or Chair a committee, please let me know and I will try very hard to accommodate you in regards to your expressed interests. Also, if you would like to know the purpose and function of a particular committee, you can call me at (803) 796-8662 or you can email me at frankcoppel@att.net. NFB of SC committees are extremely important as they carry out the business of the Federation between Conventions and Board meetings. The list of committees are as follows; Legislative committee, Resolutions committee, Membership committee, Scholarship committee, Public Relations committee, Social Media committee, Finance committee, Braille Literacy committee, Fund Raising committee, White Cane Walk-a-thon committee, Donald C. Capps Award committee, Associate Member of the Year Award committee, Employer of the Year Award committee, Educator of the Year Award committee, PAC Plan (pre-authorized contribution plan) committee, and Sun Shares (Shares unlimited NFB) committee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Tiffiny Mitchell, chairperson of the 2019 Las Vegas National convention Transportation committee. “We will hold another conference call on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss new information regarding additional transportation opportunities to the national convention. We will be able to answer some questions also, so please be thinking of what you’d like to ask during the call. The call in number is (862) 902-0241. The access code is 358-8716. To keep the background noise to a minimum, once you have entered the conference, please press *6 to mute your phone. If you would like to make a comment press the same keys to unmute. Also, please state your name before asking a question or making a comment. This will help ensure that everyone can hear all comments and get the most from the information provided. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at (803) 603-2098. I look forward to talking to you soon!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, we need to continue to keep those members in our thoughts and prayers who may be encountering hardships as the result of the terrible flooding in Conway, Horry county, Georgetown, and Florence county. If any of these members need assistance please do not hesitate to call the state office at (803) 254-3777. <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> A cruise has been one of the nation’s most enjoyable activities. It enables passengers to visit many places around the world. Some of you know that David and Darlene Houck took an Alaskan cruise and land tour. A number of our members have taken cruises leaving Charleston for the Caribbean. Many years ago Betty and I took a cruise. The late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, longtime President of the NFB, disliked airplanes but liked to go on cruises. Upon hearing that Betty and I were celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in 1989, Dr. Jernigan invited us to join him on a cruise. He made reservations on the QEII (Queen Elizabeth II) securing discounts, etc. We departed from New York City Harbor and several days later we landed at South Hampton, England where we spent the next several days. The QEII is an enormous ship. However, because of its age I believe it is no longer in use. While on the QEII I enjoyed fabulous food and great entertainment. Several different orchestras played during the evening hours which I enjoyed. I even made up Rotary on the QEII, meeting other Rotarians from around the world who were also making up Rotary. I enjoyed spending time on the huge deck. The ladies enjoyed shopping. This unforgettable cruise was not without incident. While in the North Atlantic Ocean, a vicious storm shook the gigantic QEII. Passengers were asked to return to their respective cabins. During the storm I happened to be in the dining room and I observed the storm was causing the cabinets to open wide with the dishes flying everywhere. I was glad when the storm was over. On the cruise Dr. Jernigan learned of the loss of property by several of our members because of Hurricane Hugo which also occurred in 1989. Soon thereafter we received a $10,000 check from the national office arranged by Dr. Jernigan. In late 1989 we held a board meeting at Rocky Bottom which was used to distribute these funds to blind persons affected by Hurricane Hugo. It is my understanding that President Mark Riccobono is putting together a fund to assist blind persons who were affected by Hurricane Florence. The NFB is a very caring organization and I’m proud to be a member.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Never be afraid of learning something new; you might find it easier than you thought.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>