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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>January 8, 2020<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 1743<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 want to thank all of you who attended the 50th annual Statewide Seminar this past Saturday. Just prior to the start of the seminar, you could feel the energy and enthusiasm permeating throughout the meeting hall. 155 Federationists from across the state were in attendance. I was told every seat in the room was nearly filled when the Seminar was called to order at 10:00 a.m. All three heads of agencies who provide services to the blind, Zunaira Wasif, Director of Consumer Services of the SC Commission for the Blind, Dr. Paige McCraw, President of the SC School for the Deaf and Blind, and Kristin White, Director of Talking Book Services of SC, gave presentations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Thom Spittle did an excellent job as auctioneer as we raised $1,000 for Rocky Bottom. This is probably one of the highest totals we have earned from the statewide seminar auction, and I want to thank each of you who donated an auction item or who financially contributed to Rocky Bottom during the day. At the NFB of SC Board of Directors meeting, which was held during the two hour lunch break, the Board elected Frank Coppel to serve as the official delegate and Debra Canty to serve as alternate delegate to the NFB National Convention in Houston, Texas. Since there appears to be a lack of interest to charter a bus to Houston, the board voted to equally disperse the monies raised from the sale of bus tickets to those individuals who will be attending the convention. The requirements to receive a stipend are as follows; the individual must be a dues paying member of the NFB of SC, must have sold bus tickets, and must register for the convention. The stipends will be distributed the first day of the general sessions which will be Friday morning, July 17. The board discussed the 2020 state convention which will be held at the North Charleston Marriott August 21-23. The cost of a room will be $115 per night. There will be an additional 14 percent tax added to each room. The board also voted to increase preregistration for this year’s state convention to $85 for adults, $55 for college students and $25 for children under the age of eighteen. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the RBRCCB board of Directors meeting, the board voted to move the 2020 Fun Day Festival to Saturday, May 2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the afternoon session of the seminar, the audience heard excellent reports from Rocky Bottom and the Federation Center. Jennifer Bazer did an excellent job reporting on the progress of the Successful Transition program and the audience heard from two students, Matthew Duffell Hoffman and Derique Simon who participated in a Mentoring program recently held at the SC Commission for the Blind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During the afternoon session, it was announced the NFB of SC will again host a state picnic on Saturday afternoon, May 30, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Saluda Shoals state park in Columbia. Tiffiny Mitchell is again in charge of this year’s state picnic. If you need further information or have any questions regarding the picnic, you can contact Tiffiny Mitchell at (803) 603-2098. Also during the afternoon session of the seminar, the “100/100 club” (100 people contributing $100) was established in an effort to raise $10,000 to purchase a much needed freezer and refrigerator for the commercial kitchen in the conference center at Rocky Bottom. Since the NFB of SC Seniors Division spearheaded this fund raising project during the fall senior camp in October, checks need to be payable to the NFB of SC seniors division. Thus far, $2,300 in cash and pledges have been raised. Let’s keep the momentum going and let’s try to raise the remainder of the money by Friday, February 28. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to Annie Johnson from Cheraw, SC who was the seller of the winning bus ticket and to Richard Johnson from Cheraw who purchased the winning ticket. Also, congratulations to the Columbia Chapter for selling 908 Houston national convention tickets and finishing in first place. The Cherokee County Chapter finished second selling 256 bus tickets and the Rock Hill Chapter finished third selling 205 tickets. A grand total of 2,869 tickets were sold. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to take this opportunity thank Isaiah Nelson and his group of volunteers for preparing and serving a delicious lunch. I am very pleased to announce this was the first time the NFB of SC has ever streamed the state wide seminar and I would like to thank Thom Spittle and Steve Cook for their efforts in this area. Finally, I want to especially thank David Houck for all of his hard work prior to the Seminar and all day Saturday to ensure the meeting was a success. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from Debra Canty, NFB of SC Fund Raising Chairperson. “You are cordially invited by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What: 5th Annual Sweethearts Dance. When: Saturday, February 15, 2020. Where: The Federation Center, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. Time: 5:00 p.m.---9:00 p.m. Dress Attire: Dressy Casual. Ticket Donation: $25.00 by-February 5. Please make checks payable to (NFB of SC) and mail to: The Federation Center, C/O Sweethearts Dance, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. All Sweethearts Dance Tickets donations must reach The Federation Center by February 5. Contact the Federation Center or Debra Canty. Mega thanks for your past support and we look forward to you attending on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 5 p.m.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> National Federation of the Blind members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB National Convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply for the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship. Applications are now open. Applicants will submit contact, Federation, and mentor information as well as answer a few essay questions. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2020. Further details regarding the KJ national convention scholarships can be found in the January issue of the Braille Monitor. <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: “A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>