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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>April 3, 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 1703<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> Kudos to the mission’s team from Mt. Hebron Methodist Church in West Columbia which included Ed Bible, his wife Julie and David Bundy for all of their hard work at Rocky Bottom this past weekend. As many of you know, the chapel, the fence leading to the pond and boardwalk were severely damaged by fallen trees this winter. It is my understanding much needed repairs were made to the fence and boardwalk around the back of the chapel. Also, gutters on Osterneck Cottage were cleaned out as well as the water system’s holding tank was repainted to comply with DEHEC regulations. Mt. Hebron’s mission’s team has been volunteering their time at Rocky Bottom since 2016 and their efforts are deeply appreciated by all of us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Shannon Cook, Chairperson of the NFB of SC scholarship committee. “The NFB of SC 2019 Scholarship application has now been posted at www.nfbofsc.org under the Scholarship link. Please share with your network.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not done so already, please make your reservations for the upcoming 2019 Las Vegas National Convention. The date of this year’s national convention will be July 7, to July 12, 2019 and will be held at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. 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 877-632-9001. 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. It is important to note, the hotel will charge against your card a $400 deposit to cover incidentals during the time you are staying at the hotel. This deposit will be credited back partially or in full to your card soon after you check-out from the hotel. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. It is my understanding room reservations for the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are going quickly, so I suggest you make your room reservations soon. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This is a reminder national convention Preregistration Opened March 1, Online. Preregistration will be available from March 1 to May 31, 2019. Additionally, registration will be available on site in Las Vegas. When purchased online by May 31, the preregistration fee for convention is $25 ($30 on site) and the cost of a banquet ticket is $70 ($75 on site). For more information regarding preregistration and other details, please visit https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention. Please note all preregistration and banquet sales are final. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I am very sad to report Teena Adams, a member of the Columbia chapter, passed away this past Saturday evening. Teena served on the Columbia chapter board in 2009 and prior to serious health complications as a result of diabetes, she participated in all aspects of chapter activities. She was a very caring individual who was extremely committed to do all she could to improve the quality of life of blind people. All of us in the Federation family need to keep Teena and her family in our thoughts and prayers. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you Saturday April 6, for the RBRCCB board of directors meeting which will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the NFB of SC board of directors meeting which will begin at 1:00 p.m. There will be much to discuss at both meetings. These meetings are open to the membership, and all Federation members are welcome to come Saturday and actively participate in both meetings. <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 is April Fools Day – No joke! This is Monday, April first, and to the best of my knowledge, April fools pranks are still performed. When I was young, April fools was “big” as we liked to play tricks on others. For many years, however, I have not kept up with April Fools Day. I know that in bygone years I observed that occasionally things happened such as chairs being pulled from behind others. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Notwithstanding April Fool’s Day, this is a very nice time of Spring and the flowers are magnificent I’m told. Our live-in caregiver Debbie Manning was so impressed with the Dogwoods and Azaleas. Yesterday, Sunday, she got a camera and took pictures of the beautiful Spring time flowers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Here in the Columbia Chapter we are in the peak of the sale of barbecue tickets for the 66th annual barbecue. The three canvas nights will begin very soon. We have a good relationship with our Center neighborhood. For many years I canvased and enjoyed it but Father Time caught up with me and now I don’t. It is important to me to devote as much time as possible in the barbecue as some of the proceeds are used to assist members to attend the NFB national convention early in July. By far the largest ticket sale was from a local firm who bought 70 tickets for $700 and gave the balance of $300, making a total of $1,000. No other sale is as much as than that amount. I’m proud of Columbia which respects the federation and is willing to participate. I hope I will continue selling barbecue tickets each year and for several more years. Chapter members share in the cost of having food prepared for those who have participated in the canvas. This is a nice gesture. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally I am not participating in April Fool’s Day although this part of the Positive Note is being dictated on Monday, April first.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: April Fool’s Day – Sometimes he fool is not the one who is pranked but the one who pulls the prank.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>