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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 11, 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 1726<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> Before we turn our attention to other activities in the NFB of SC, I would like to share with you numbers regarding the Fun Day which occurred at Rocky Bottom on August 31. We were able to raise $5,034.69 in gross proceeds. Fun Day Lunch $290.00, Fun Day food for weekend $750.00, Fun Day Tickets $2,555.00, T-shirts $92.00, Fun Day Yard Sale 82.69.00, Fun Day Auction $1,265.00.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It is time to turn our attention toward Meet the Blind Month which is held during the month of October. This is an extremely important event, because it provides our members the opportunity to educate the public of the programs and services offered by the National Federation of the Blind. Meet the Blind Month activities can also be used as a recruitment tool to introduce blind individuals to our organization. It is my hope many of our chapters and divisions are planning activities in their respective communities to promote this worthwhile event. Let me know if your chapter or division will be having a Meet the Blind Month activity and I will be glad to share this information in the Positive Note. If you are still looking for ideas for the month, a recommendation is to focus on web and technology accessibility. Here are some ideas: demonstrate accessibility and the tools used for daily activities using an iPhone or computer at a public library, a local event, or a school; or plan a presentation to a local business such as a bank. If you aren’t comfortable with a technology demonstration, plan an event in your local community to talk about blindness and the NFB philosophy. There is still time to order materials from the Independence Market such as Braille alphabet cards. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the next two weeks or so, all of you should be receiving your 2020 Houston bus fund tickets. Let’s do all we can to raise the necessary funds to charter a bus so that as many of our members as possible will be able attend the 2020 national convention in Houston Texas. As we have done previously, tickets will cost $1. Remember, the winner of the winning ticket which will be drawn on January 4, 2020 at the Statewide Seminar will win $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100, and the Chapter selling the most tickets will win $300. <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> An adequate hotel facility is essential to accommodate a federation convention. For some 30 years I have worked with hotels in South Carolina to be sure that each facility could accommodate NFB of SC conventions. On three or four occasions, however, we did hold NFB of SC conventions on another site. I specifically recall utilizing Clemson University for an NFB of SC convention some 40 years ago or about 1980. Although Clemson went all out to assist the NFB of SC, there were situations where they were not able to provide such things as telephone service from room to room. During that particular convention university officials told me that they would like to see me. I immediately went to the lobby and a very attractive African-American lady greeted me. She had read in the Greenville News that the NFB of SC convention was being held at Clemson University and she had an interest in our work with the blind. Her interest was for a good reason. She reported that her mother was blind and had been a teacher. I’m referring to none other than the late Ruth Jordan. This meeting resulted in Mrs. Jordan combined with a foundation proving to be of tremendous financial assistance to the Federation Center of the Blind and to Rocky Bottom. Ruth Jordan introduced Maxine Bock and her foundation to the federation in this regard. On more than one occasion Mrs. Jordan made a contribution of $100 without being solicited. We wanted to especially honor Mrs. Jordan’s mother. Shortly after the convention, Mrs. Jordan traveled to Rocky Bottom so that she could see what was being done to develop this unique program. Mrs. Jordan passed a few years ago. We offered to name one of the Conference Center rooms the “Carrie Lee Cox Memorial Library” in her mother’s honor. Mrs. Jordan was responsible for contributions to federation programs. We also set up a meeting with Mrs. Jordan in Spartanburg where we had an excellent experience which resulted in a significant contribution to the School for the Blind. Mrs. Jordan was a school teacher. I believe Mrs. Jordan joined the Greenville Chapter which resulted in her being responsible for the chapter’s annual scholarship for the blind in that area. I’m glad there were no telephones in the Clemson University rooms as otherwise we would never have met Mrs. Jordan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming our dreams into reality: Don’t just be a spectator. Get involved with your local chapter or division. Fundraise for Rocky Bottom, the NFB of SC and the NFB. Transforming dreams into reality requires your active participation!<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>