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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>May 29, 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 1711<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> Between now and the beginning of August, I will be spending much of my time planning the program for the 2019 NFB of SC state convention. If you have any thoughts regarding program items for the agenda or special activities to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the NFB of SC, please contact me at (803) 796-8662 or you can email me at Frankcoppel@att.net<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have not done so already, I strongly encourage you to go ahead and make your hotel reservations for the 2019 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Columbia August 9-11. Room rates are very affordable. Rates for this year’s convention are $112 per night for up to four in a room. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 14 percent. The deadline to make reservations will be July 15, 2019. There will also be a limited number of rooms available for the $112 rate Thursday, August 8, for those individuals wanting to arrive to the hotel a day prior to the official start of the convention. If you pay in advance, your reservation will be guaranteed: however, you will not have to pay as long as you arrive by 6:00 p.m. Any amount you pay, of course, will be applied toward your bill. The Marriott Hotel has given the NFB of SC a block of rooms to reserve until July 15. If you wait until after July 15, to make your hotel reservation, the hotel may not have an available room for you and you will not be eligible for the convention room rate of $112. You can make your room reservations by calling the Marriott toll free reservation telephone number (800) 593-6465 or (803) 771-7000 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. At this year’s state convention, we will be celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of our organization. We are planning special activities throughout the weekend to commemorate this wonderful milestone. We are expecting a large turnout for this convention so you may want to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. This will be a very special and historic convention you do not want to miss! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Also, please continue to preregister for the NFB of SC 2019 state convention. The total preregistration package is $80 which includes a very special Friday evening reception, continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning of the convention, the Saturday Luncheon and the Saturday evening Banquet. The preregistration period will end August 2, after which time the cost to register for the state convention will be $100. We will again offer a discount for families with children during the preregistration period. Parents will pay the $80 preregistration fee and each child eighteen years of age and younger will pay $20. There will also be a discounted rate to college students in the amount of $50 during the preregistration period. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Shannon Cook, Chairperson of the NFB of SC Scholarship committee. “As many students are finishing up the academic school year, it is a good time to turn your attention to applying for a NFB of SC Scholarship. The Scholarship deadline is June 9th. Application and scholarship info can be found at www.nfbofsc.org. I look forward to receiving many, many applications this year. With the Successful Transitions program growing, and with many educators in our midst, I expect that we will have a large group of students to apply this year! Please pass this information far and wide. Competition makes us all work harder to be able to be our best!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As Memorial Day was celebrated on Monday, May 27, it is my hope all of us took time out during our busy schedule to reflect upon those individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice to our nation and who made it possible for us to pursue the opportunities and freedom we have today. <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> You may recall that at last year’s state convention of the NFB of SC, Larry Warrington wo the Associate Member of the Year Award and Valerie Warrington, Treasurer of the NFB of SC and Rocky Bottom won the Donald C. Capps Award. Valerie is also President of the Newberry Chapter of the NFB of SC where Larry is also most helpful. This is another example of how couples work together in harmony for the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Larry Warrington whom we are spotlighting was born in Baltimore, MD, but most of his childhood was spent in Myrtle Beach, SC. He has one brother, Ted, and two sisters, Jeannie and Laurie. He is the youngest of the four kids. Larry has a lovely wife, Valerie Warrington and a beautiful daughter named Alivia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> After finishing high school in Myrtle Beach, Larry went to Newberry College. He received his Bachelors of Science in Accounting from there. Larry has had many career experiences from being a hotel desk maintenance man and desk clerk up to being a CPA. Currently, he is CPA and works with the SC Office of the State Auditor. He is an Audit Manager with OSA.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Larry Warrington found out about the federation through Valerie. Larry Warrington has worked at the state conventions running the live streaming over the internet and helping to set-up the audio equipment. He has volunteered to do projects at Rocky Bottom. He also has assisted with Fun Day at Rocky Bottom. He even assists Valerie in her duties as Treasurer by picking up the mail at the Federation Center. He tries to do anything anyone asks of him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Larry and Valerie have attended fifteen State Conventions. However, he has not yet been to a National Convention, but hopes to go to one sometime in the future.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Larry Warrington likes to read, watch football, and play with Alivia. He also tries to help out at their church, St. Philip's Lutheran. He will usually help with Alivia's Sunday School class, or assist with Vacation Bible School. When each spouse is involved in this big program of service to the blind, much can be accomplished. Let’s salute Larry Warrington for all he does for the blind of South Carolina!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Keep cool this Summer! Eat more ice cream and share with your federation friends.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>