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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>November 20, 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 1736<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 trust all of you are continuing to work extremely hard selling your 2020 Houston National Convention bus tickets. As has been the case in previous years, the cost of each ticket is $1. The drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Statewide Seminar scheduled for Saturday, January 4, 2020. The individual who purchases the winning ticket will receive $300, the seller of the winning ticket will receive $100 and the chapter who sells the most tickets will receive $300. If you are lucky and purchase bus tickets yourself, you could win a grand total of $400! We are expecting a large turnout of our members to attend the 2020 national convention in Houston, Texas (July 14-19). Let’s work very hard selling these bus tickets in order that we may be able to provide an affordable means of transportation to as many of our members as possible. At our Christmas Board Retreat at Rocky Bottom, one of the agenda items the NFB of SC Board of Directors will be discussing will be the selection of a charter bus company to provide transportation for our members to attend the 2020 national convention. In 2018, the NFB of SC sold a total of 3,707 tickets to assist members to attend the 2019 Las Vegas national convention. Although the total of 3,707 tickets sold in 2018 was good, I believe all of us in the NFB of SC are capable of “raising the bar” and selling a minimum of 5,000 bus tickets this year. If you need additional tickets, please contact David Houck at (803) 254-3777 and I am sure he will be glad to mail them to you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have two announcements from the November 18, President’s note book. “It is time for Santa letters. >From now until December 16, parents can go online at www.nfb.org/santa-letters and fill out a request for a Braille letter from Santa. The form can also be printed and faxed to 410-685-2340 or emailed to communityrelations@nfb.org. Beginning Monday, December 2, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to boys and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read) as well as some other fun Christmastime activities. The deadline for letter requests is December 16 to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. For more information, visit www.nfb.org. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> “Saturday, November 16, was the seventy-ninth anniversary of the founding of the National Federation of the Blind. Since 1940, we have worked collectively in a unified national organization, improving the lives of blind people throughout the country, and in some cases, the world. Along with high expectations and strong values, our structure continues to empower members of the National Federation of the Blind to live the lives we want. Consider sharing the history of the organized blind movement and invite members to read Building the Lives We Want.”<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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming our dreams into reality: What are the dreams you want to make into reality?<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>