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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>AUGUST 11, 2016<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FREE BINGO<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There will be a free BINGO sponsored by the Telephone Pioneers on Thursday, August 18 beginning at 6:30 p.mn. See you there!<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 AREA 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 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 28. We have 12 signed up to ride the van with a maximum occupancy of 18.<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>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. Please sell and turn in your $5 Fun Day tickets and filled out stubs to David Houck. 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 Neal McJunkin who is replacing Rickey Godfrey (who is having surgery) giving a $10 benefit concert in Lawton Hall. Get your tickets at the Federation Center.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>AUGUST 11 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. Jennifer Bazer gave the devotional on never giving up. Shannon Cook is recovering from foot surgery and Juanita Jeffers in the hospital being diagnosed for her illness. It was good to see Fred Key and Randy Hazelwinkle at the meeting. Ike Nelson made a delicious barbecue dinner. 100 Fun Day tickets were passed out during the meeting. Get them into the state office by September 2.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Shannon Cook (254-0222) reported on a Hadley online program on senior centers on August 18. Sarah Massengale will sing the National Anthem at Spirit Park on September 2. A volunteer “give a hand, get a hand” service is being set up. Contact Shannon for details. Frank Coppel spoke on the state convention. Dr. Capps introduced Richland County Sherriff’s Deputies who spoke on personal safety which was very lively.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> President Mitchell restated who rides the van, and others within DART can ride for $6 each way. Call Kattie Jackson if you have questions regarding the Treasury (719-1718). Ike Nelson reported on the School for the Blind alumni meeting the weekend of October 15. Reserve your room at the Quality Inn in Spartanburg at 864-642-0333. The treasurer’s report showed a balance of $4,666.82. The 50-50 drawing winner was Laura Thompson who received $58. <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>