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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>COLUMBIA CHAPTER NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 14, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>NFB LAS VEGAS CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> You can now begin to make your reservations for the upcoming 2019 Las Vegas National Convention. The date of this year’s national convention will be July 7, to July 12, 2019 and will be held at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Unlike in years past, the same enviable rate of $99 per night applies to singles and doubles as well as triples and quads. Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent, respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived for NFB convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and toll-free calls, and fitness center access may apply. To make reservations for the 2019 convention, you can call the hotel at 877-632-9001. The hotel will take a deposit of the first night’s room rate for each room and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> The Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship committee is now accepting applications for the 2019 National convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Jernigan scholarship program is sponsored by the NFB and is designed to financially assist first time attendees to attend the NFB National convention. To apply, you must complete the necessary paperwork with a letter of recommendation from your state president and submit this information to the Jernigan Scholarship committee by April 15, 2019. If you are selected, you will be notified by the committee by May 15, 2019. For more information, please read the article in the December issue of the Braille Monitor which describes the process in more detail. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>NFB OF SC 75TH ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> You can now begin to make your hotel reservations for the 2019 NFB of SC State Convention which will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Columbia August 9-11. Room rates are very affordable. Rates for this year’s convention are $112 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, 2019. There will also be a limited number of rooms available for the $112 rate on Thursday, August 8, 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. At this year’s state convention, we will be celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of our organization. We are planning activities throughout the weekend to commemorate this wonderful milestone. We are expecting a large turnout for this convention so you may want to make your hotel reservations early. This will be a very special and historic convention you do not want to miss! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>FEBRUARY 14 VALENTINE’S DAY COLUMBIA CHAPTER MEETING<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> President Tiffiny Mitchell gaveled the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. She welcomed the visitors and guests and birthdays were recognized. With Leanna Hall’s passing a few weeks ago, several members attended her funeral service last Sunday. She was a dedicated Columbia Chapter member and everyone will miss her. Although the devotional was not given, several individuals recited poetry, played the piano and sang in honor of Black History Month. Isaiah Nelson and his kitchen crew prepared and served a delicious Valentine’s Day steak dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> Saturday, February 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. is the NFB of SC’s fourth annual Sweetheart Dance. The cost is $25 per person and the Columbia Chapter sponsored Lenora Cooper and Lakisha Walker for the Sweetheart Dance.We will have a free BINGOI on Thursday, February 21. There will be a breakfast at Fatz to be announced at a later date. A workday at the Federation Center is scheduled for Saturday, February 23. Dress in clothes you can get dirty in. The NFB of SC Leadership Seminar is scheduled for March 16 from 9 a.m. to4 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'> Dorothy Barksdale read the roll. The freewill offering was $30. A detailed Treasurer’s report was given by Thom Spittle. There was a 50-50 drawing. $25 was won by Pat Cheatham and $5 was won by Shannon Cook. President Tiffiny Mitchell encouraged everyone to express their feelings about events during the chapter meeting or in person to the President and not to each other outside the meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>Tiffiny Mitchell, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>Columbia Chapter, NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>