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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>January 2, 2019<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 1690<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> Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season and are now ready to begin 2019 with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. Although we were successful in the NFB of SC in 2018 in such areas as, reorganizing the South Carolina Association of Blind Students, revitalizing the Darlington chapter, finishing in the top ten in attendance in Orlando at our 2018 national convention, and hosting a national senior’s retreat at Rocky Bottom, I believe 2019 will present the NFB of SC with many more challenges and hopefully accomplishments. <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. The seminar will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. And will adjourn at approximately 4:00 p.m. During the lunch break, the NFB of SC and the RBRCCB Board of Directors will be holding their first quarter meetings in the board room of the Federation Center. These are open meetings and members are invited to participate. 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. 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. It looks like we will have a large turnout of federationists attending this year’s seminar. I would encourage you to come early if you would like a good seat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> When you submit your $10 state dues, it is imperative you provide accurate 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. 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 2019 promises to be an exciting and busy year in the NFB of SC. It will be great to kick off the new year with a large crowd of enthusiastic federationists at this year’s state wide seminar. Shelley and I look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday, January 5! <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> Happy New Year. 2018 is now past and we have a New Year and we have plenty of opportunity for additional service to the federation. This includes the upcoming Statewide Seminar being held this Saturday. Perhaps you may have wondered why a seminar has been held each year for nearly 45 years and how it got started. The origin dates back to my many years as a Claims Adjuster for Colonial Life. The company determined that certain seminars for management improvement were needed as I was invited to those early seminars. The company designed these programs to improve the management of the company. This included seminars for various departments including claims, underwriting, agents, legal, etc. The company brought in several USC business specialists to provide for these basic needs. Individuals in their official capacity were given training to improve service to policyholders, etc. I recall on one occasion when Colonial brought in a speaker from UNC Chapel Hill. Seminar forms were designed including relevant issues. On one occasion I was given a seminar form. There was a question asking Colonial employees as to the greatest job complaints. I answered the question as follows: “People.” I was right. It occurred to me that Colonial Life seminars could benefit the federation by having its own seminar. This was tried and turned out to be a most successful program. In the beginning of the federation seminars, there was a select attendance such as state and local officers. As time went by it was determined that everyone across the state should be invited. Some 45 years later those seminars have developed programs in which guests are invited. Agency heads also participate in these annual seminars. This enables the NFB of SC to cover important issues which otherwise would not be discussed. We have fundraising, national travel plans, and reports by the state President and other officers including Rocky Bottom and the Federation Center. There are auctions and members generously participate. A complimentary lunch is served. The turnout is wonderful. Once again I want to thank you sincerely for your many expressions in memory of my beloved wife. The living memorials have been generous including numerous communications. These have been inspirational feelings of encouragement from my fellow federationists and others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Happy New Year! As the church hymn says: “I am resolved no longer to linger.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>