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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>December 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 1689<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> It is now time to begin making plans to attend the 2019 NFB national convention. For the first time in our history, the largest annual gathering of the organized blind will be in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Federation of the blind is excited to be hosting our convention at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119). As is the case every year, the NFB has once again arranged for exceptional room rates. Unlike in years past, the same enviable rate of $99 per night applies to singles and doubles as well as triples and quads. Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent, respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived for NFB convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and toll-free calls, and fitness center access may apply. To make reservations for the 2019 convention, you can call the hotel at 877-632-7800 after January 1. The hotel will take a deposit of the first night's room rate for each room and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, 2019, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not notified the Federation Center as to whether you are planning to attend the Statewide Seminar on January 5, please do so as soon as possible. This will help us to determine the amount of food to purchase for lunch. Remember we will be conducting an auction throughout the day to raise money for Rocky Bottom. Be sure to bring items for the auction such as, cakes, pies, cookies, gift baskets, and electronics. Also, please continue to sell your Las Vegas national convention tickets. If you have not done so already, please mail your ticket stubs and money to the Federation Center or bring them with you to the Seminar on Saturday, January 5. The drawing will take place at the conclusion of the Seminar. The winning ticket will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100 and the chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is not too early to begin submitting your state dues of $10 for 2019 to the state office (Federation Center). You can either mail your dues to the State Office or bring them with you to the Seminar on January 5. When you submit your dues, please provide current contact information such as, name, address, phone number and email address if applicable. These things do change and if we do not have accurate information, we cannot keep you up to date on what’s going on. As I wrote in the Positive Note last week, our national office is requiring each state affiliate to submit a list of members and their contact information by January 15, 2019. The deadline for NFB of SC state dues is January 31, 2019, so why wait! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I hope Santa was good to each of you yesterday and that everyone in our Federation family had a very merry Christmas. It was a busy time for Shelley and myself as we enjoyed spending Christmas morning with our son Matt, our daughter-in-law Brielle and their three children Asher eight, Eli five, and Norah, one. Christmas afternoon, we enjoyed spending time with our daughter, Laura, our son-inn-law Malcolm, and their three children Aubrey, four, and with eight month old twins Hayden and Luke. The best gift we received yesterday, was having Luke home from the hospital. As many of you know, our grandson Luke was critically ill spending three weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit at Palmetto Richland Children’s Hospital. Shelley and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your phone calls, prayers, and your generous contributions to financially assist Laura and Malcolm during this extremely stressful time. Shelley and I are extremely fortunate and blessed to be members of such a caring federation family. <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 sincerely hope that all of you had a joyous and meaningful Christmas. It was the first time in 70 years that Betty and I were not together. Nine days ago on Monday, December 17 Betty passed away after suffering from Alzheimer’s for several years. While I miss her terribly, in my heart I know that Betty is better off and is in Heaven. There was good attendance at the service on Thursday, December 20. I appreciated the many federation members and friends who have been so kind and thoughtful. The national office in Baltimore was represented by Mrs. Mary Ellen Jernigan at the funeral. I want to thank each and every one of you who made a special effort to come to the church service including representatives from several different chapters. I have received so many expressions of kindness including sympathy cards and flowers, etc. We have already received several living memorials. My immediate family, including three grandchildren were also present. These included my granddaughter Laura Setters of Louisville, Michael Holdcraft of Louisville and Aaron Holdcraft of Pittsburg. My former son-in-law, David Holdcraft of Louisville also made the long trip to attend the service. My Pastor, Rev. Terry Smoak, presented a meaningful message. I wanted the federation, my family members and my neighbors to serve as pall bearers. The federation was represented by three of its members as pall bearers including David Houck, Larry Warrington and Barry Chavis. My two grandsons, Michael and Aaron Holdcraft were also pall bearers. My next door neighbor Bruce Walker was the sixth pall bearer. Some 40 years ago Bob Crombie, a USC staff member from Melbourne, Australia, taught an exercise class at the Federation Center while he was in Columbia. I received a sympathy expression from Mr. Crombie. So many have asked me how I am doing in grieving over Betty’s loss and all I can say is that I’m doing the best that I can. I would be remiss if I did not publicly thank my son Craig Capps for the tremendous help he has given in handling all of the many details. He did a lot of work on the obituary column and he was responsible for arranging some of the best pictures we have of Betty. This will be the last Positive Note for the year 2018 but I’m going to do the best I can for the New Year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: From Christmas presents to a New Year full of renewal, promise and rededication.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>