[Nfbofsc] COLUMBIA CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

[David Houck]

COLUMBIA CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - May 10, 2018

 

ORLANDO NFB CONVENTION 2018 CONVENTION INFORMATION

              You can make your reservations for the upcoming 2018 Orlando
National Convention.  The date of this year's national convention will be
July 3, to July 8, 2018 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.
The 2018 room rates are singles and doubles, $88; and triples and quads,
$93. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is
12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under seventeen in the
room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested. Please note that the
hotel is a no-smoking facility.  For 2018 convention room reservations you
can call the hotel at (866) 996-6338. You may also write directly to the
Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357.
The hotel will want a deposit of $100 for each room and will want a credit
card number or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will
be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a
$100 check. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June, 1, 2018, half
of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.  The
schedule of the convention is as follows:  Tuesday, July 3, Seminar Day -
Wednesday, July 4, Registration and exhibits - Thursday, July 5, National
Board Meeting and division and committee meetings - Friday, July 6, Opening
General Session - Saturday, July 7, General session - Sunday, July 8,
Banquet.  

              NFB Convention preregistration is open from now until May 31.
If you need a preregistration form, contact David Houck at the Federation
Center.  It is also available online at nfb.org.  Jernigan Scholarships are
available for first time NFB convention goers.  See the December Braille
Monitor article for more details. The Jernigan Scholarship deadline is April
15.

 

NFBOF SC 2018 CONVENTION

              Also, if you have not done so already please make your hotel
reservations for the 2018 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at
the Marriott Hotel in Columbia August 10-12.  Room rates are very
affordable.  Rates for this year's convention are $109 per night for up to
four in a room.  In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at
present is 14 percent.  The deadline to make reservations will be July 15,
2018.  There will also be a limited number of rooms available for the $109
rate Thursday, August 9, for those individuals wanting to arrive to the
hotel a day prior to the official start of the convention.  You can make
your room reservations by calling the Marriott toll free reservation
telephone number (800) 593-6465 or (803) 771-7000 and inform the
reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the
Blind of South Carolina state convention.  

              We are now accepting your $80 preregistration fee for this
year's State Convention.  Please send your $80 preregistration fee to the
Federation Center of the Blind, 119 S. Kilbourne Rd. Columbia, SC 29205.
This year the NFB of SC board of directors voted again to offer a discount
for families with children regarding the preregistration fee.  Parents will
pay the $80 preregistration fee and each child eight teen years of age or
younger will pay $20.  The board also voted to offer a discount to college
students in the amount of $50 during the preregistration process.  

              All preregistration fees are nonrefundable and
nontransferable.  As in past years, the $80 preregistration fee will cover
the reception on Friday evening, continental breakfast Saturday morning, the
luncheon, banquet on Saturday and a continental breakfast Sunday morning.
The deadline to accept your $80 preregistration fee is August 3.  If you
wait until after the deadline of August 3, the registration will increase to
$100.  Save $20 and preregister early!  

 

NEW FEDERATION CENTER RENTAL FEES

              A motion was passed by the Federation Center Board of Trustees
at the first quarterly meeting on March 23 that as of July 1, 2018, rental
of the Center by members would be $150 (or a $100 rental fee plus a $50
refundable cleaning deposit).  Non-member volunteers or those presenting
recommendation letters from members would be charged $350 (or a $300 rental
fee plus a $50 refundable cleaning deposit).  All other rentals will be $500
(or a $400 per use rental fee plus a $100 refundable cleaning deposit).

 

JUNE 2 STATEWIDE PICNIC

              Tiffiny Mitchell, chairperson of the NFB of SC state picnic
planning committee is encouraging all to attend the Saturday, June 2, state
picnic to be held at Saluda Shoals Park in Columbia from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m.  Please join the teleconference Monday evening and let's continue to
plan a great picnic!  If you need transportation or want to bring a side
dish, call Tiffiny at 803-603-2098.  No meetings, just food, fun and
recreation!  A pie throwing contest is being held too.  Vote for your
candidate to get hit with a pie by contacting Steve Cook at 803-254-0222.
Votes are $2 each or three for $5.

 

MAY 10 COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING

              President Tiffiny Mitchell gaveled the meeting to order at
6:15 p.m.  Steve Cook welcomed everyone attending the meeting and monthly
birthdays and visitors were recognized.  Shelley Coppel gave the devotional
on happiness or blessedness as described in the beatitudes in Matthew
Chapter 5.

              Ed Bible spoke of the Columbia Fireflies baseball game on
Saturday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are $5 each.  Brochures will be
distributed and a video presentation will be viewed on the jumbotron three
times during the game.  The Center is working toward a computer training
contract with the Veterans Administration who has many veterans for us to
train.  A braille Embossit has arrived in Columbia and should be delivered
next week.  Training classes will begin soon to be used for brailling
business cards, greeting cards, etc.  

              We are going to Rocky Bottom for Memorial Day weekend, leaving
on Friday, May 25 and returning on Monday, May 28.  If you need a van ride,
contact Tiffiny Mitchell at 803-603-2098.

              Free BINGO is being held at the Federation Center of the Blind
on Thursday, May 17at 6:30 p.m.  Come and play and see if you will win a
BINGO!

              Frank Coppel also encouraged everyone to attend the Fireflies
ball game this Saturday, the June 2 Statewide picnic, the July 3-8 Orlando
National Convention and the NFB of SC August 10-12 state convention at the
Columbia Marriott.  He also thanked Tiffiny for her hard work on the
barbecue.  Due to the current removal of mold in Osterneck Cottage, the
Spring Senior Camp was cancelled.  Those who applied will be given top
priority and will not have to submit another medical form.  He also
explained that Barry Chavis will be joining the Center staff in June.

              Barbecue Business:  Tiffiny thanked everyone for working hard
on the barbecue.  Discussion was made on how we can improve next year's
barbecue.  All remaining barbecue monies are due in by May 31.  Requests for
NFB Orlando Convention assistance must be in by June 1.  

              To get convention assistance you must participate in at least
canvas one night and work the day of the barbecue.  Assistance will be as
follows:  Sell at least 25 tickets and you will receive your
pre-registration for the state convention paid.  Sell at least 50 tickets
and you will receive your pre-registration for the state convention paid
plus $150 for the national NFB Orlando convention.  Sell at least 75 tickets
and you will receive your pre-registration for the state convention paid
plus $300 for the national NFB Orlando convention.  

              The August chapter meeting will be a social event held at the
Marriot Hotel Thursday, August 10 in the lounge and bar area.  If you sold
at least 10 barbecue tickets, the chapter will buy you an appetizer.  

                 The net balance in the checkbook after barbecue expenses
amounts to $5,000.  Gail Nelson won the 50/50 drawing of $46.50.

HAPPY NOTHER'S DAY!

Tiffiny Mitchell, President, Columbia Chapter, NFB of SC

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