<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:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" 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 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind would like to invite each of you to our State Convention in August, please see below for details! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The National Federation of the Blind of SC will be having our sixty-fifth NFB of SC state convention August 20-22, 2021 at the North Charleston Marriott, 4770 Goer Drive, North Charleston, SC, 29406. It is time for all of us to begin making our reservations and registering for our hybrid convention. You may contact the hotel directly at 843-747-1900 and let them know you are registering for the NFB of SC state convention to receive the discounted rates.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Room rates are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Singles and doubles, $115.00 per night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Triples, $125.00 per night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Quads, $135.00 per night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>You will also need to add sales tax which currently is 14%.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The NFB of SC block of rooms at the above rates will be good until July 29, 2021 until 5:00 PM Eastern time. After that date, the hotel will release the rooms to the general public and we will not be guaranteed our group rate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The NFB of SC board voted on Thursday, April 22, 2021 on the following rates for convention registration. The prices include reception on Friday night, boxed breakfast Saturday and Sunday, and banquet Saturday night. There will not be a luncheon on Saturday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Adults, $85.00 per person until July 15; $100.00 after this date.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>College, graduate and doctoral students, $55 per person until July 15; $60 after this date.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Individuals 18 and younger, $25.00 per person until July 15; $30 after this date.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Virtual, $25.00 per person until July 15; $30 after this date.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In order to have a hybrid event so that as many individuals can attend as possible, we are charging a small registration fee for virtual attendance to cover the cost of broadcasting from the Marriott; the hotel charges the NFB of SC around $1,000 for audiovisual equipment and broadcasting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you plan to vote in this year’s election for the NFB of SC, you will need to be a member of the NFB of SC in good standing as of June 30, 2021 by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may register online and submit payment through Pay Pal. Registration will not be confirmed until payment has been received through the mail or Pay Pal. If using Pay Pal, please remember to add 3% to your total to cover Pay Pal’s administration fees and so that NFB of SC receives the entire amount.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s have a large in-person and virtual turn-out for the NFB of SC Sixty-Fifth state convention!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Register online at<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbofsc.org">www.nfbofsc.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1<sup>st</sup> Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center. Below is a link to read more about Rocky Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rockybottomofsc.com/"><span style='color:blue'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any of the below links!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/"><span style='color:blue'>National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-SC-343263089815304/"><span style='color:blue'>Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/"><span style='color:blue'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Scabs1944/?refid=46&__xts__%5B0%5D=12.%7B%22unit_id_click_type%22%3A%22graph_search_results_item_tapped%22%2C%22click_type%22%3A%22result%22%2C%22module_id%22%3A1%2C%22result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22session_id%22%3A%22dde06b014c19c1fa49889d82a62edcda%22%2C%22module_role%22%3A%22ENTITY_PAGES%22%2C%22unit_id%22%3A%22browse_rl%3Aaed5eb18-5eed-4148-8ec7-5150ce26bf7b%22%2C%22browse_result_type%22%3A%22browse_type_page%22%2C%22unit_id_result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22module_result_position%22%3A0%7D"><span style='color:blue'>South Carolina Association of Blind Students</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr"><span style='color:blue'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>