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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>March 4, 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1751<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> It has been brought to my attention by the state office, there continues to be a handful of chapters and divisions who have not submitted their state dues or member contact information for 2020. For an individual to be considered as a “ member in good standing”, the NFB of SC constitution clearly states that state dues in the amount of $10 must be paid at the beginning of each ear. Let’s do all we can to complete this process as soon as possible as state dues definitely helps our state treasury and updated contact information can assist the state office by keeping everyone informed of announcements and activities of the NFB of SC.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We have an announcement from the President’s notebook. “The Braille Monitor is our flagship publication and contains critical content as we continue to build the Federation. It reflects many of our traditions, but it also must evolve enough to clearly be relevant in this decade and those to come. Please help us by telling us what you want, what you need, and what you will read. Please complete the quick, five-minute Braille Monitor survey. Your participation is greatly appreciated.” You can fill out the survey online or you can call (667-888-2454and have the survey read to you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take place in Houston, Texas, July 14 to July 19, at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010. Make your room reservation as soon as possible with the Hilton Americas-Houston. Call 1-800-236-2905 to reserve your room in the main hotel. If you wish to stay in our overflow hotel, the Marriott Marquis Houston, the number to call is 1-877-688-4323.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The 2020 room rate at our main hotel is $105 per night and applies to singles and doubles as well as triples and quads. Hotel and sales taxes in Houston are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent, respectively. The rate for the overflow Marriott Marquis is slightly higher at $119. As with our main hotel, hotel and sales taxes are additional, and the nightly rate covers up to four in a room. Both hotels 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, 2020, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made. Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations may be made before June 1, 2020, assuming that rooms are still available. After that time the hotels will not hold our room block for the convention. In other words, you should get your reservation in soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Both hotels offer complimentary in-room wireless internet (though the Marriott requires a free-to-establish Marriott Bonvoy account) and fitness center access for all guests. All rooms are furnished with mini refrigerators along with many of the usual amenities such as in-room safes, irons and ironing boards, and hair dryers. After the day's events, you can get your swim on at either hotel. The Hilton has an indoor pool on the 23rd floor, while the Marriott features an outdoor pool adjacent to its Texas-shaped lazy river pool. Both hotels have several on premise dining outlets with a broad range of additional options within a short walk from the front door.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The schedule for the 2020 convention is: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tuesday, July 14 Seminar Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wednesday, July 15, Registration, exhibits and Resolutions Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thursday, July 16Board Meeting and Division Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Friday, July 17Opening General Session<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Saturday, July 18Business Session<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sunday, July 19Banquet Day and Adjournment<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> March 1 is the opening for the 2020 National Convention online registration (The link, , will be nfb.org/registration.) As usual, online preregistration for the national convention will end on May 31. The cost for registration is $25 and the cost for a banquet ticket is $70 prior to May 31. After May 31, registration will cost $30 and a banquet ticket will cost $75. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Congratulations to Paula Payne, a long time federation member, as she and her family contributed $100 to the Rocky Bottom refrigerator/freezer fund. This brings our total in cash and pledges to $3,770. Thanks, and let’s keep it going!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want: blindness is not what holds you back. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Transforming dreams into reality: The Scriptures say that faith is like a mustard seed; it is one of the smallest but grows into a large plant that the birds can nest in. Say to yourself, “I’ve got a mustard seed and I’m not afraid to use it!”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>