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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>October 31, 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 1681<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> In a couple of days, NFB of SC and RBRCCB Board members as well as chapter and division presidents should be receiving letters regarding the 2018 Christmas Board Retreat which will occur at Rocky Bottom the weekend of November 30, December 1, and December 2. This will be a busy time since we will be holding two Board meetings beginning with the RBRCCB Board of Directors meeting Saturday, December 1, at 9:30 a.m. and ending with the NFB of SC Board meeting at 2:00 p.m. Saturday evening will be a time for observing the Christmas season, singing carols, fellowship, and eating delicious desserts. If you are planning to attend, please contact the Federation Center (803) 254-3777 or return the reply card enclosed with your letter in order for us to have an accurate head count for meals. If you cannot attend, please contact me at (803) 796-8662 or email me at frankcoppel@att.net prior to November 30. I hope we will have a large turnout. Make plans to be there! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I am sure all of you are working very hard to sell your $1, 2019 Las Vegas National Convention tickets. Money raised from this fundraiser will be used to financially assist those members who will be attending the NFB national convention July 7-12, 2019 in Las Vegas. Remember, the drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Statewide Seminar on January 5, 2019. The individual who purchases the winning ticket will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100 and the chapter who sells the most tickets will receive $300. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This is an important reminder to get out tovote either in early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6. As has occurred in recent elections, there will be a blind-voter-experience survey available sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind. More details on the survey will be included in next week’s Positive Note. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Isaiah Nelson. “The third annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at the Federation Center located at 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC, 29201. The time of the dinner will be 2:00 o’clock p.m. The menu consists of: baked turkey, baked chicken, ham, rice and gravy, dressing, mac and cheese, potato salad, green beans, lima beans, cranberry sauce, sweet potato soufflé, dinner rolls and sweet potato pie and cake. Drinks will also be served with meals. The cost of the meal is Fifteen ($15.00) for adults and Seven ($7.00) Dollars for children 5 thru 12 years old.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you are planning to attend this dinner please bring your money to the Columbia chapter meeting in November. Also, you may call Dorothy Barksdale at 803-765-1622 if you are planning to attend so that we can get an accurate number of people attending.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, according to an article written by Caroline Simon from USA TODAY, South Carolina’s favorite Halloween candy is; Skittles (118,870 pounds), Second Favorite: Candy Corn (97,610 pounds), Third Favorite: Hot Tamales (39,738 pounds). There you have it. Enjoy! <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> In the spotlight this week we highlight a Sumter Chapter member who has made it possible for the Sumter chapter and her chapter President and NFB of SC Second Vice President Debra Canty to be highly successful. I am speaking of Diana Singleton. Diana was born in Hartsville, SC and raised in Sumter, SC. She attended Sumter High School. She is the oldest of six children. Her parents had four girls and two boys. Her father passed in 2005 and a sister passed in July 2018. Diana has been married for 37 years. They have two children. Their son, Dr. Tremain Singleton married La'Kia Sharda Singleton who is a Nurse Practitioner. Their daughter Crystal Gilmore who is a Registered Nurse, is married to Julius Gilmore II, a Computer Programmer. They have two beautiful granddaughters, Khloe and Juliana Gilmore. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Diana has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She worked at South Carolina Department of Environmental Control, in the Division of Children’s Rehabilitative Services for 30 years. She retired in May 2010.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Debra Canty and Diana Singleton have been friends since the third grade. When she became blind and later became the President of the Sumter Chapter, Diana followed and she put her to work doing a variety of things. Diana attends chapter meetings and helps with meals as needed, spearheading our Annual Barbecue sales, helping with the Annual Sweetheart Dance to raise money for the Federation Center, helping with the Sumter Chapter Christmas Gala, and any tasks the chapter or the president requests. She has driven to and from the Washington Seminar and once from Washington DC because the driver had a family emergency. She drove members to Rocky Bottom and state and national conventions. She worked with the Columbia Chapter’s annual dinner sale this year, attended the Washington seminar in January and volunteered in the exhibit hall at the National and State conventions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Her hobbies are reading, traveling and learning about other chapters. She attends Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Dalzell, SC. Diana is the president of the Neighbors Reunion. The Neighbors Reunion is where neighbors come together with past and present neighbors to celebrate the whole weekend, by socializing, reconnecting and worshipping from Friday to Sunday. Let’s congratulate Diana Singleton who has dedicated her life to the blind in the Sumter Chapter and beyond and to others in helping them to live the life they want!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We extend our deepest sympathy to Columbia Chapter member Joe Urbanek in the loss of his mother Mary Urbanek who passed away on Thursday, October 25. Mrs. Urbanek was one of the finest people I’ve ever known. She provided service to a number of Columbia chapter members including considerable transportation. We first met Mrs. Urbanek many years ago when she lived in Sumter. She will be greatly missed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Skip the trick and give a treat by contributing to the NFB of SC, Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind or to the Federation Center of the Blind. Remember, its tax deductible, so you get something out of it too!”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>