<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>August 14, 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 1722<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to take this opportunity to thank the more than 150 individuals who attended the 2019 NFB of SC state convention this past weekend. It was great celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NFB of SC with our federation family. There were many outstanding presentations on Saturday and the enthusiasm and spirit of the convention was wonderful throughout the weekend. Jim Gashel did an excellent job as National Representative. His National Report was thorough and his Banquet Address was one of the best I’ve ever heard. He was also a great deal of help with writing the two resolutions that were adopted by the convention. I would like to take a few moments to recognize a few people who helped to make this year’s convention a huge success. Many thanks goes to the Planning Committee of this year’s convention for the outstanding reception and silent auction on Friday evening as well as for other activities throughout the weekend. Also thanks to the Computer Science and Technology Division for the “walk up music” featured before each speaker. I would also like to recognize Valerie and Larry Warrington for their work in streaming the convention as well as all the other duties they performed during the weekend. Finally, I would like to thank David Houck for all of the work that was done prior to and during the convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to thank everyone for their generosity at the Banquet fundraiser Saturday evening as we were able to raise over $10,000 in proceeds. Also, kudos to everyone who participated in the silent auction Friday evening as we raised $1,400 for Rocky Bottom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The convention voted Saturday to amend Article III of the state constitution dealing with membership:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“Article III. Membership <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Section 1. Though this organization exists to promote the economic, social and spiritual well-being of blind South Carolinians, active membership shall be comprised of both blind and sighted members. At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind. All members of this organization shall have the right to vote and hold office, except that only blind members shall be eligible to serve in the office of President or Vice President. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Section 2. All voting members of local chapters or divisions shall automatically become voting members of this organization with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Section 3. Any person who is not affiliated with a local chapter or division may become a voting member of this organization by receiving a majority vote of the voting members present and voting at a convention or by complying with requirements established by the Board of Directors.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to the following individuals who were elected to two year terms Sunday morning: Loretta Green from District One, Derique Simon from District Three, Linda Dizzley from District Five, and Isaiah Nelson and Ed Bible for the two At Large positions. The convention adopted two resolutions, one dealing with accessible voting machines and the other dealing with the SC Commission for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the third quarter meeting of the RBRCCB Board of Directors, the board discussed plans for the 2019 Fun Day Festival during the Labor Day weekend (August 30-September 1). Four meals will be served including three on Saturday, August 31, and breakfast on Sunday morning, September 1. The board voted again to charge $30 for adults and $15 for children under twelve years of age to cover all four meals including the lunch on Saturday. Those individuals who are only attending the Fun Day Festival Saturday will need to pay Valerie and Larry Warrington $10 for lunch. Room reservations for the weekend are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need to make a reservation for the Fun Day weekend, you can call the Federation Center (803) 254-3777 or call me (803) 796-8662 no later than August 26. I hope that you are selling your $5 Fun Day tickets as this contributes to the profits. Remember, the winning ticket drawn will yield $50 to the seller and $500 to the buyer or $550 if you bought your own ticket. The chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300 for its treasury! We need to bring new items for the auction which will take place on Saturday afternoon August 31, at 12:00 noon. Let’s have a great turnout for the Fun Day Festival as Rocky Bottom very much needs our financial support. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, in the next day or so you will be receiving a letter on a possible five night Carnival Cruise which will be held on November 14, 2020.<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> My information concerning the 75th anniversary of the NFB of SC Convention is that it was a great convention. I congratulate the different persons who contributed to the convention. It was especially kind of several individuals who recognized my involvement in the NFB of SC, Rocky Bottom and the NFB. It was especially kind of our National Representative Jim Gashel who congratulated Betty and me for our work with the blind of South Carolina, nationally and worldwide. I worked closely with Mr. Gashel throughout the years in his different roles. While Mr. Gashel was the NFB Director of Governmental Affairs, I learned a great deal from him. Jim continues to serve in his high position as the Secretary on the NFB Board of Directors. Over the years, Jim and I would from time to time work together calling upon various members of Congress as well as various US officials. I recall Jim and I met with the then Commissioner of the US Department of Education being none other than Richard “Dick” Riley who worked with the Clinton Administration. Incidentally, Mr. Riley was the first SC Governor to appoint me to the Board of Commissioners of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind in 1980. I have also been blessed to have attended World Blind Union meetings in Madrid, Cairo and Melbourne, Australia. I very much appreciate the kind comments from our state President Frank Coppel who recounted the history of Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind from Dr. Capps first visit to the area in 1958 to its founding for use by the blind in 1979, to the growth and development of the facilities and grounds to our 40th anniversary celebration this year. He also noted the founding of the Aurora Club by Dr. Lawton in Spartanburg in 1944 to the rapid growth and development of local chapters, divisions and facilities by Dr. Capps beginning in 1953. I also appreciate the kind comments made by our former state President Marshall Tucker who also commented on the founding of the Aurora Club by Dr. Samuel Miller Lawton and the beginning growth of the organization by Dr. Donald and Betty Capps. My thanks also to former state President Parnell Diggs who recounted the big jury bill battle and how Dr. Capps won over the opposing legislator by bringing the legislator’s blind school teacher to the meeting. Finally, I don’t want to forget the tremendous role played by my lovely wife Betty who was always by my side. My thanks to our former state Secretary Dorothy Barksdale for remembering my wife Betty during the Devotional and Memorial Service on Sunday morning. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming our dreams into reality: “The biggest barrier to what we want in life is ourselves.” - Lefford Fate<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>