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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 – July 12, 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>$5 FUN DAY TICKETS!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> $5 Fun Day tickets were passed out at the July 12 Columbia Chapter meeting. If you did not get your five pack or if you need more, contact David Houck at 254-3777. The drawing is set for Monday, Labor Day, September 3. The winning ticket buyer will receive $500 and the seller will receive $50. The chapter selling the most tickets will receive $300 for their treasury. Let’s sell these tickets and be sure your filled out ticket stubs and money are turned in to David Houck at the Federation Center before the drawing date. Buy some for yourself and you might win $550. Let’s mot let Columbia lose out on the $300 prize for the chapter treasury. Tocky Bottom needs the funding as does our chapter if we work hard enough to sell tickets.<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 are NOW IN EFFECT as 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>JULY 12 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 a visitor named Randy Portee. Jennifer Bazer gave the devotional on stepping stones and new beginnings after marriage. Isaiah Nelson prepared a cool and refreshing summer dinner. Gail Nelson is still in the Baptist Hospital with leg problems. If you want to reach out to her, the number is 296-8096.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Frank Coppel also encouraged everyone to attend the August 10-12 state convention at the Columbia Marriott. 2018. The room block has been sold out but the reservation deadline is July 15. $5 Fun Day tickets were also distributed. Shelley Coppel spoke about the Senior Division and the state convention talent show. Call Shelley at 796-8662 if you have talent to show at the state convention.<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. Several members recounted their National Convention experiences. <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. Tiffiny has 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. Call Tiffiny the week of July 16 to select your appetizer at 603-2098.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Priscilla Alston won the 50/50 drawing of $38 and Catherine Williams won the $5 drawing. The 2019 NFB Convention will be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. NFB of SC President Coppel will see if they can find a group discount to fly next year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HOPE YOUR FOURTH OF JULY WAS A REAL BLAST!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tiffiny Mitchell, President, Columbia Chapter, NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>