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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Federation Family & Friends!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Happy New Year from Steve Cook, President of the Columbia Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC! We will be having our first meeting of 2021 on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 6:15 PM Eastern. We will be meeting in person at the Federation Center of the Blind located at 119 S Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205 and on Zoom for people who do not wish to attend in person. The Zoom information will be sent out at a later date. If you are planning to attend in person, please call or text Secretary Tracy Spittle at 803 447 7609 before January 12, 2021. We need to know how many people will be attending in order to prepare a meal. Speaking of a meal, their will be a small charge of $6 per person. Also, social distancing will be in place and masked will be required if attending in person. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have not already paid your $10 state dues, there is a link before my signature to pay them. Also, just a friendly reminder to pay your chapter dues of $5 to Thom Spittle before January 31, 2021. If Thom has not received your $5 chapter dues before January 31, 2021, your dues will be considered late. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://nfbofsc.org/?p=1985"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Click here to access the membership form for the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1<sup>st</sup> Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center. Below is a link to read more about Rocky Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rockybottomofsc.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any of the below links!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-SC-343263089815304/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Scabs1944/?refid=46&__xts__%5B0%5D=12.%7B%22unit_id_click_type%22%3A%22graph_search_results_item_tapped%22%2C%22click_type%22%3A%22result%22%2C%22module_id%22%3A1%2C%22result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22session_id%22%3A%22dde06b014c19c1fa49889d82a62edcda%22%2C%22module_role%22%3A%22ENTITY_PAGES%22%2C%22unit_id%22%3A%22browse_rl%3Aaed5eb18-5eed-4148-8ec7-5150ce26bf7b%22%2C%22browse_result_type%22%3A%22browse_type_page%22%2C%22unit_id_result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22module_result_position%22%3A0%7D"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Association of Blind Students</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind welcomes all blind people, parents of blind children, blind students, those losing vision, and more. We are a family of members and friends that knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>How to Join<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Federation of the Blind is to attend a chapter or division meeting in your local area. You can find your nearest chapter or division meeting by reaching out to your state affiliate president. Membership in a chapter or division will automatically grant you membership in your state affiliate and the national organization.</span><span lang=EN> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/join-us"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Come join us!</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>