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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 25, 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 1728<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> I am pleased to announce the second annual National Senior’s Retreat held at Rocky Bottom and sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind Seniors Division this past week was a tremendous success. The overall training provided to the thirteen seniors who participated in the program was well received. As I reported last week, thirteen seniors from across the country were encouraged to use their learning shades during such training as cane travel at Rocky Bottom and in the town of Brevard, Braille, cooking class, grilling on a charcoal grill, IOS training, and other independent living activities. Each afternoon, seniors participated in a group discussion designed to assist individuals to cope more effectively with their visual loss and to answer questions related to blindness issues. On Thursday, we traveled to a nearby apple orchard where the seniors were asked to wear their sleep shades and utilize their cane skills they learned during the week. Friday afternoon, closing ceremonies were held and each participant received a Braille/print certificate designed by Tracy Spittle which recognized their accomplishments during the program. I would like to take this time to thank everyone who contributed in any way to make this program a huge success. I would like to recognize the instructional staff which consisted of Shelley and Frank Coppel, Frank Loza, Wayne Marshall from Atlanta, GA., Shelley Duffy from Columbus, OH., and Ruth Sager from Baltimore, MD. Other staff included Liz Lewis and Michael Hartz who were instrumental in gathering a variety of materials prior to the Retreat as well as providing transportation when needed, Barry Chavis and Carolyn Phillips who assisted in the kitchen and who performed many other duties as needed, and of course, our Resident Manager, Linda Bible. Many thanks goes to Lenora Robertson and the rest of her “food crew”: Ellen Taylor, Glenda Culick, Jw and Ora Bell Smith for their outstanding work in the kitchen. I would also like to recognize Ted Brewer, from the Salem Lions Club for organizing Lions Clubs in the upstate to assist us in providing transportation for our seniors to and from the Greenville/Spartanburg airport. Finally, a very special thank you goes to Ruth Sager, President of the National Seniors Division, for her willingness to again hold this training program at Rocky Bottom. Plans are already underway to hold the third annual National Seniors Retreat in the fall of 2020. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally, I will be out of state from Tuesday, October 1, to Friday, October 11, as Shelley and I will be attending a family wedding in Bend, Oregon and later traveling to Denver, Colorado to visit friends and family. If anything should arise that needs immediate attention, please contact the Federation Center as I will be checking in periodically for messages. <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 want to share with you some information occurring years ago which remains interesting. I first attended a Federation chapter meeting (known as the Aurora Club at that time) in August of 1953. My brother Earl who was President of the Columbia Chapter that year talked me into joining the chapter then and now. Four months later in 1953 I was elected President of the chapter. At that time there were two chapters, one located in Spartanburg which began in 1944 and the other located in Columbia which began in 1947. These two chapters supported each other. There was no state constitution and therefore, there was technically no state organization until years later. Dr. Sam Lawton, the organization’s Founder and myself traveled to Charleston in 1955 for the purpose of organizing a chapter there and at the same time, work on a state constitution. It was necessary to finalize a statewide organization which requires a constitutional convention. The Constitutional Convention was held in April of 1956 in Columbia at the YWCA. There was a good turnout from all three chapters. The convention members adopted the proposed constitution, elected state officers and board members. The first state convention was held in April 1957 at Charleston’s Ft. Sumter Hotel. Meanwhile the Columbia Chapter had purchased an old run down school bus for $250. The bus was used to provide transportation for members to travel to meetings in Columbia which was satisfactory. However the Charleston trip was too much for the old bus and it broke down en route to the first state convention. When it arrived the convention had already begun which was not an auspicious beginning. During this convention time was made for a worthwhile activity. There was considerable excitement about taking a trip to Ft. Sumter where the Civil War started. Everyone had a great time. The Charleston Post and Courier newspaper covered the Ft. Sumter voyage. In the following day’s edition there was a huge headline, “Blind Go Sight Seeing.” There was one other Charleston experience I recall. The NFB Founder, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, a year or so later, was scheduled to travel from his home in California to Charleston. The plane Dr. tenBroek was traveling in experienced mechanical difficulty in Virginia, preventing him from getting to Charleston to attend the convention. Due to this we had no banquet speaker and it was too late to secure one. As state President I was the main person responsible for this unfortunate development. My public speaking in those days was limited to say the least. After much soul searching, I decided to do the best I could in making the speech. The primary subject concentrated on “success.” No one walked out on my banquet speech to the best of my knowledge but I was glad when it was over. I do recall at that convention, Sen. John Long of Union was there to be honored and his remarks were encouraging to me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming our dreams into reality: Always look for opportunities. Opportunities make us learn and grow. Seek success and learn from failure – either way you will be stronger.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>