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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>March 6, 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 1699<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> Please continue to contact David Houck at the Federation Center of the Blind either by phone or by email, if you are planning to attend the Leadership Seminar which will be held on Saturday, March 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We need to have this information by Wednesday, March 13, in order for us to have an accurate head count for lunch which is free of charge. We are expecting a good turnout to be present for the seminar as we already have approximately fifty people to sign up thus far. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, of the NFB. “Dear Fellow Federationists: It's hard to believe, but the annual National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind is only a little over four months away. We look forward to seeing everyone at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas from July 7 to July 12, 2019!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We wanted to let you know that preregistration for the convention is now open. You can preregister from March 1 to May 31, 2019 at convention.nfb.org https://convention.nfb.org/. The cost to register for the national convention is currently $25 and the cost of a banquet ticket is $70. After May 31, preregistration will close, and you will need to register on site at the convention. See you in Las Vegas! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> On Friday morning, March 1, the Federation Center staff hosted Dr. Julian Brinkley, an Assistant Professor at Clemson University‘s School of Computing, and his students who were taking a class on Inclusive Design and Accessible Technology. The morning consisted of excellent presentations made by Jeff Bazer, Thom Spittle, and Jim Jackson regarding the benefits and variety of assistive technology that is available to the blind. The staff answered many questions regarding the assistive technology demonstrated and answered many questions regarding blindness in general. Ed Bible, Chairman of the Federation Center’s board, is to be commended for taking the initiative to establish a working relationship with Dr. Brinkley who prior to coming to South Carolina worked closely with our Florida affiliate and the NFB national office in the area of technology accessibility. <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 we are spotlighting a chapter President in his first year of being in this position. I am speaking of Demetrius Williford, President of the Anderson Chapter. Demetrius was born and raised in Anderson and attended the Anderson public schools. He had a close knit family which was very supportive as he was raised by his mother. He has two older sisters and a daughter. When he turned 15 years old he worked in the Quincy’s Steak House in Anderson. After graduating from high school, Demetrius enrolled at Spartanburg Tech where he majored in business management focusing in marketing. While at Spartanburg Tech he stayed at SCSDB and was employed as a tutor for the high school students. He enrolled in the Business Enterprise Program in 2013 and he has been operating the I-85 North Vending facility for the last six years. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Demetrius has known Carey Burriss of the Anderson Chapter most of his life and respects him very much. Carey invited him to join the chapter four years ago. Demetrius Williford has now attended three state conventions and three NFB national conventions. He is getting married to Kimberly Banks on June 29 and they will be attending the NFB Las Vegas convention in July. As stated before, Demetrius is in his first year as Anderson Chapter President and is getting into the swing of things. President Frank Coppel was just at their most recent Anderson Chapter meeting and Demetrius says he wants to help out wherever he can in the federation. His hobby is listening to talking books and he plans to be involved in a church ministry soon. Demetrius wants more members to attend federation meetings and he is looking to take a group of members to the NFB National Center in the not too distant future. Let’s salute Demetrius Williford who has stepped up to the plate as a leader in the federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: March 14 is known as “Pi Day” for 3.14…as a never ending division figure (Example Pi X radius squared equals the circumference of a circle). Some have also called it “Pie Day” and encourage people to make and share in their favorite pies.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>