<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-size:10.0pt;
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>September 18, 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 1727<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> Hello from Rocky Bottom where Shelley and I are participating in a week long training program for seniors sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind Seniors Division. Shelley and I traveled to Rocky Bottom on Saturday, September 14, to do some last minute preparation prior to the start of the program which began on Sunday, September, 15, and will conclude on Saturday, September 21. Thirteen seniors representing nine states (Michigan, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Tennessee) are learning blindness skills such as: cane travel, Braille, home management, organizational skills, and assistive technology. These seniors are wearing learning shades while learning these skills and they are participating in daily group discussions which are designed to reinforce appropriate choices when encountering a variety of blindness issues. This is the second consecutive year a training program of this type is being offered at Rocky Bottom and the NFB of SC is very excited and honored to host such a program to blind seniors from across the country again this year. It is my hope this important program occurring this week will lead to other national divisions and state affiliates of the NFB to utilize Rocky Bottom for workshops, meetings and future training programs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> On Thursday, September 5, President Riccobono sent out an email to state presidents which reads as follows: “Dear Affiliate Presidents, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Yesterday a popular morning radio show called Breakfast Club attacked the capacity of blind people to supervise children. We know perpetuating misconceptions like that harms our community, particularly the rights of blind parents. Below is the link to the episode. For reference, it’s a topic that is ongoing throughout the episode. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> https://www.iheart.com/podcast/the-breakfast-club-24992238/episode/blind-babysitter-8881600/?campid=homepage_featured_shows&pname=0&cid=%2Fpodcasts%2F<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We cannot let them use their public forum to jeopardize the rights of blind parents and their families. They have millions of subscribers and followers. They say they are willing to learn, so let’s educate them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Let them know how blind people care for children, particularly if you are a blind parent. Connect with them on social media (@breakfastclubam) or call 800-585-1051.” <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> I note that the 2020 NFB convention will be held in Houston, Texas. The 1971 NFB convention was held in Houston and it was the first time the NFB of SC sponsored its first bus trip which enhanced our national convention attendance. Some years ago, my nephew (my sister’s son) graduated from Mullins High School and later graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville. Upon graduation my nephew was offered a very attractive position with a prominent law firm in Houston and to the best of my knowledge, he continues to practice law in Houston. I believe the 2020 NFB convention will be a good one. While I was fortunate to be present in 1971, this will not be the case in 2020. The national office is very careful in selecting the NFB convention sites. In this Positive Note I know that some of you would like to know the locations of the NFB conventions throughout the years. Some of the convention cities are as follows: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Santa Fe, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Louisville, Nashville, Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, Columbia, SC, Charlotte, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and there may be others but this is a pretty good listing. Some conventions have been located in the same location throughout the years. Perhaps in next week’s Positive Note I will have other NFB convention cities. Also in the future we might list the different state conventions held throughout South Carolina. I realize that many have traveled to several of these NFB conventions but there may be newer NFB members who do not fall into this category.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming our dreams into reality: When others put up barriers to success for blind persons, we must react quickly to prevent them from not turning our dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>