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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 – June 14, 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBOF SC 2018 CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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. Rooms are going fast!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NEW FEDERATION CENTER RENTAL FEES<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JUNE 14 COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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 including Tifina Taylor and her son Steven. Ernest Gallman gave the devotional on Father’s Day. We were entertained by music from Doug Hudson and Jean Sutton for the evening. Isaiah Nelson prepared a dinner plate featuring hot dogs and hamburgers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Frank Coppel also encouraged everyone to attend the July 3-8 Orlando National Convention and the NFB of SC August 10-12 state convention at the Columbia Marriott. The Fireflies game went well and President Coppel thanked all who participated. Many brochures were distributed and the PSA videos were well received. Mr. Coppel also thanked Tiffiny Mitchell for the successful June 2 Saluda Shoals statewide picnic where 135 federationists attended. Tiffiny headed up the project and there were many others who volunteered. The NFB Orlando Convention agenda is available at nfb.org. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Barbecue Business: Kattie Jackson gave the treasurer’s report. There was $9,463.43 in the checkbook. Total barbecue proceeds were $21,426.95 and total expenses were $13,400.00, leaving a net profit of $8,026.95. The top ten barbecue sellers were:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 Donald Capps – 562 tickets and $918 in donations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 Katherine Zeigler - 215<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3 Maggie Floyd - 148<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4 Dale Wolthoff - 101<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5 Catherine Williams - 94<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>6 Isaiah Nelson - 79<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7 Pat Wolthoff - 77<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8 Gail Nelson - 75<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>9 Patricia Alston - 66<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>10 Donna O’Neal – 61<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to all who participated and volunteered, no matter how well you did! You are all part of our success this year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The August chapter meeting will be a social event held at the Marriot Hotel Thursday, August 10 in the lounge and bar area. At the July 12 chapter meeting, Tiffiny will have a list of 12 appetizers to select from for the August 10 Marriott chapter meeting fellowship. If you sold at least 10 barbecue tickets, the chapter will buy you an appetizer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Isaiah Nelson won the 50/50 drawing of $47.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tiffiny Mitchell, President, Columbia Chapter, NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>