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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>July 15, 2016<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>COVERED DISH DINNER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There will be a covered dish dinner at the Center on Friday, August 19 between 2:00 and 7:-00 p.m. with music and card games. Place this event on your calendar and plan to bring a covered dish!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TASTE OF COLUMBIA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> On Saturday, September 24 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the Columbia Chapter will host the Taste of Columbia. Bring your best recipe and enter it for $25. We will have judges and a first, second and third prize. Those attending and wishing to taste of these culinary delights will be charged $10. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>OCTOBER 8 MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Watch for details on time and location!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>UPCOMING SURVEY ON COLUMBIA HOUSING FOR THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We should have a speaker at our September 8 chapter meeting to inform us on this opportunity and to get your input.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Adult Rehabilitation and Employment Survey<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We want to know about the experiences of blind and visually impaired persons in the areas of education, employment, training and vocational rehabilitation. If you complete this brief survey you may win a $100 VISA gift card. There are three ways to participate: www.pdrib.com/ares, pdrib2016@gmail.com or 318-257-2029. Thank you. Edward Bell, PI, 318-257-4554, ebell@latech.edu<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>OCTOBER 28-30 NFB of SC CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You should have received your convention letters and pre-registration letters. Pre-registration is $70 until September 23 and then it becomes $85.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You can make your hotel reservation for the 2016 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Sands Resorts/Ocean Dunes hotel in North Myrtle Beach October 28-30. To make your room reservations call the Sands Resort Central Reservations at 1-800-599-9872 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> All reservations must be guaranteed by check or credit card and received within 5 days of reservation date. Advance deposits will be credited to the last night's stay as indicated by individual reservation request. Room rates for this year’s convention are very affordable. The price of rooms including taxes are $87 per night for ocean view and $99 per night ocean front and can accommodate up to four in a room. These room rates will be available three days before or three days after the convention. Amenities include in-room safes, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, electronic door locks, wireless Internet connections, and telephones with voice mail in all sleeping rooms. We are expecting a large turnout of our members to attend the 2016 state convention, so I would encourage you to make your reservations early. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Those needing van transportation to the state convention should pay $40 in advance to the Columbia Chapter to get your name on the van list. The van will leave the Federation Center at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 28.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ROCKY BOTTOM FUN DAY WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 2-5<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Labor Day Fun Day weekend is coming up and you will not want to miss it! If you want room accommodations, call David Houck at 254-3777. Enclosed you will find five $5 Fun Day tickets to buy or sell. The drawing during Fun Day weekend will result in the winning ticket providing $50 to the seller, $500 to the buyer or $550 if you bought your own ticket. If the Columbia Chapter sells the most tickets, the treasury will receive $300. If you need more tickets or want to turn in sold ticket stubs and money, please see David Houck. The meal cost over the weekend is $40 which includes 3 meals on Saturday and Sunday and Monday breakfast. We will have an auction, great Southern cooking, T-shirt sales, yard sale, an old country store and Saturday afternoon will feature jazz and blues musician Rickey Godfrey giving a $10 benefit concert in Lawton Hall. Need more information, call the Federation Center.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JULY 14 COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The meeting was gaveled to order by Tiffiny Mitchell at 6:15 p.m. July birthdays were recognized and there were several visitors present and two were voted in as members. Frank and Shelley Coppel gave the devotional on setting a good example before others. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Convention assistance will be as follows: Sell at least 25 tickets and get your state convention registration paid. Sell at least 50 tickets and get your state registration paid plus $150 for the national convention. Sell at least 75 tickets and get your state registration paid and $300 for the national convention or one night free at the state convention. Members spoke concerning their NFB Orlando national convention experience. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to thank Ernest Gallman and Gail Nelson for setting up for the meeting and Jim Jackson, John Nelson and Mary Peters for taking down the tables and chairs after the chapter meeting. Great job!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The treasurer’s report showed a balance of $4,865.72. The 50-50 drawing winner was won by Priscilla Alston who received $35. Maggie Floyd held a drawing for 6 rolls of paper towels and air freshener and $70 was raised and Shelley Coppel won!<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></div></body></html>