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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>COLUMBIA CHAPTER NEWSLETTER<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FEBRUARY 12, 2016<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CHAPTER AND STATE DUES<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Remember that we need to have your name, address, phone number and email address if you have one. These things do change and if we do not have updated information, we cannot keep you up to date on what’s going on. The deadline for dues was January 31 and if you did not pay your $15 dues by January 31, $3 will be added to your dues payment. If you do not pay your dues you will not be able to ride the chapter van.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB ORLANDO 23016 CONVENTION DETAILS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> At the State Board meeting, which was held during the two hour lunch break, the Board voted unanimously to charge $100 for a seat on the charter bus going to the National Convention in Orlando, Florida. The date of this year’s national convention will be June 30, to July 5, 2016 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The 2016 room rates are singles and doubles, $83; and triples and quads, $89. 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 their parents as long as no extra bed is requested. Please note that the hotel is a no-smoking facility.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> For 2016 convention room reservations you can call the hotel at (866) 996-6338 after January 1. You may also write directly to the Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. The hotel will want a deposit of $95 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 $95 check. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday May, 27, 2016, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. The charter bus will leave Columbia at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, June 30. The bus will leave Orlando at 8:00 a.m. and return to Columbia Wednesday, July 6. We are now accepting your reservation fee of $100 to ride the charter bus to Orlando. Remember, this reservation fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JANUARY 25 FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Our second BBQ Committee meeting will be held on Monday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. by teleconference. Call 862-902-0241 and use access code 358-8716. BBQ (FUNDRAISING) COMMITTEE - CHAIR Tiffiny Mitchell Isiah Nelson Dorothy Barksdale Jennifer Bazar Katie Jackson Steve Cooke David Bundy, Frank and Shelly Coppel Ed and Julie Bible David Houck Katherine Ziegler Maggie Floyd Donald Capps Katherine Williams Mary Peters, Gail Nelson, Pat and Dale Wolthoff. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BINGO FEBRUARY 18<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Telephone Pioneers will be sponsoring a free BINGO on Thursday, February 18. See you at BINGO!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SANTEE FISHING TRIP APRIL 1& 2<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Enclosed you will find an application for the April 1 & 2 Santee fishing trip for the blind. However, seeing that it is much closer than in years past, we will need your applications turned in to the state office by no later than March 1. Blind applicants who never went before get first pick, then those who did not go last year and then those who did go last year by date of the application received. We will need one or two van drivers depending upon whether we can get one or two vans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BREAKFAST CHAPTER FUNDRAISER FEBRUARY 20<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Columbia Chapter will be holding a fundraising breakfast on Saturday, February 20 between 7:00 and 11:00 a.m. at a cost of $12 per person. Come out, enjoy a good breakfast and help the Columbia Chapter! Anyone donating items for the breakfast should have them delivered to the Center by Friday, February 19.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ITEMS FOR SALE!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The Columbia Chapter is selling T-shirts for $15 for sizes small through 1X and $17 for sizes 2X and 3X. These bear the new federation logo, Columbia Chapter on the sleeve and the quote “Live the life you want.” See Tiffiny Mitchell to get yours!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The NFB of SC is selling 16 ounce coffee thermoses for $15 each. See Frank Coppel to get one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FEBRUARY 11 COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> President Tiffiny Mitchell gaveled the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Remember: Beginning with the May chapter meeting, we will begin Columbia Chapter meetings at 6:15 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. so that we can finish earlier and more members can utilize DART to get home. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Dr. Capps introduced our guest speaker, federation attorney Gene Rogers who spoke on the history behind Black History Month. It was good to see Nancy and Billy Irwin at the meeting and they thanked the chapter for their support following the flood last Fall. Also, Eric Halton visited the meeting last night. The Lee County Chapter of the NFB of SC is holding a Black and White Banquet at the Cotton Museum in Bishopville at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Tickets are $12 and you can get them by contacting Tiffiny Mitchell. The state convention of the NFB of SC will be held October 21-23 in Myrtle Beach. While the hotel we will use has not yet been selected, reservation rates will apply to three days before and after the convention if you desire to make a vacation before or after the convention activities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tiffiny Mitchell, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Columbia Chapter, NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>