<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: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 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</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>APRIL 17, 2017<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SELF-DEFENSE CLASS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There will be a self-defense class at the center on Saturday, May 6 from 1:00 until 3:00 with snacks after the class. The charge is only $10 for two hours of self-defense and food refueling. You may make checks payable to Nanci Francis (please note the spelling of her name) along with cash is welcome. You may mail checks to Jennifer Bazer, leave with David at the center with Jennifer’s name on the envelope, or provide cash or a check at the January 12 Columbia chapter meeting. Checks or cash can be sent to: Jennifer Bazer, 155 Derby Drive, West Columbia, SC 29170. Checks are to be made out to Nanci Francis. Please contact Jennifer Bazer if you would like to participate at 803-661-6622 or jhipp25@sc.rr.com. If you need transportation, please contact Tiffiny Mitchell. I look forward to a large participation as we learn how to keep ourselves safe and defend ourselves in various situations!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB ORLANDO 2017 CONVENTION DETAILS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You can now begin to make your hotel reservations to attend the upcoming 2017 Orlando National Convention. The dates for this year’s national convention will be July 10, to July 15, 2017 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The 2017 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 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 2017 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 $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 Thursday, June 1, 2017, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. The schedule of the convention is as follows; Monday, July 10, Seminar Day, Tuesday, July 11, Registration and exhibits, Wednesday, July 12, National Board Meeting and division and committee meetings, Thursday, July 13, Opening General Session, Friday, July 14, General session, Saturday, July 15, Banquet. Convention pre-registration is open mow through May 31.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Bus funds will be distributed equally at the NFB Orlando convention among those registered and attending sessions. The Columbia Chapter van will go to the NFB convention leaving on July 9. The chapter will cover the cost for gas and the cost per person is $75 non-refundable and non-transferrable. We will only take 6 to 10 passengers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB of SC 2017 GREENVILLE CONVENTION SET<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Please do not forget to make your hotel reservations for the 2017 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenville, SC August 18-20. Room rates are very affordable. Rates for this year’s convention are $99 per night for up to four in a room. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at present is 12 percent. There will also be a limited number of rooms available for the $99 rate Thursday, August 17, for those individuals wanting to arrive at the hotel a day prior to the official start of the convention. The deadline to make reservations will be July 27, 2017. You can make your room reservations by calling the Hyatt Regency reservation telephone number 402-592-6434 and inform the reservationist you are reserving a room for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina state convention. The Hyatt Regency hotel has also made available a dedicated website to book your hotel rooms online. Reservations can be made starting immediately at this web address: https://aws.passkey.com/go/natfedblind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>APRIL 13 COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> President Tiffiny Mitchell gaveled the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. Our visitors were Virginia Brown and Lisa. Pray for Wanda Sheck and Victoria Capers who are in the hospital. Ike Nelson and his kitchen crew served a delicious dinner. Our guest speakers were VANDA representatives. Darlene Houck gave the Easter devotional. President Tiffiny Mitchell had a letter read from an Aiken company who donated $441 to the Columbia Chapter. She also had an article read concerning the Friendly Caterer. BBQ canvas night dinner preparers are the Bibles & Coppels on Tuesday, April 18, Tiffiny Mitchell on Thursday, April 20 and Ike Nelson on Monday, April 24. Call David Houck at 254-3777 to turn in your BBQ deliveries. Be sure to breakdown how many dinners are chicken and how many are chopped BBQ. BBQ details were discussed including canvassing and BBQ day volunteers. BBQ day is Thursday, April 27. Canvas nights are Tuesday, April 18, Thursday, April 20 and Monday, April 24. Flyers and posters were also made available. All BBQ funds must be turned in by May 31. Names were taken on who was canvassing Tuesday, Thursday and Monday. Boxes will be constructed on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Kattie Jackson gave the Treasurer’s report and there was $1,454.76 in the treasury. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Hope you had a blessed Easter!<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></div></body></html>