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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>Midlands’ Gives is around the corner and will be here before we know it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You don’t have to wait until Tuesday, May 4 to give. You may call a friend in the Federation, David Houck at the Center or others to assist you in completing the online web form. You may give to the National Federation of the Blind of SC or Rocky Bottom. The minimum is $10. The National Federation of the Blind of SC would greatly appreciate your generous donation!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below is a little about Midlands’ Gives.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Midlands’ Gives<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;background:#FBFBFB'><b><span style='font-size:31.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#A67593'>On May 4, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:#FBFBFB'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#666666'>Our nonprofits support our whole community by providing vital services that make the Midlands more livable and vibrant. Give today, or join us virtually on May 4 for Midlands Gives Day when your gift may be amplified by matching funds and prizes. Embrace your inner philanthropist, and give generously!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#FBFBFB'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#666666'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;background:#00828C'><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Midland</span><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:white'>s</span><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>’</span><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:white'> </span><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Gives </span><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:white'>is presented by<br>Central Carolina Community Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#00828C'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:white'>Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands' local center for philanthropy, is a nonprofit organization that links charitable people and businesses with areas of need in our community. Our mission is to promote, facilitate, and increase philanthropy to create a sustainable impact within our community<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#00828C'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#00828C'><span style='color:black'>We hope you will consider sharing the below links with your networks to raise money for NFB of SC and Rocky Bottom. We will continue our contest among districts and divisions. Who will receive the plaque this year at our state convention in North Charleston? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#00828C'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#00828C'><span style='color:black'>If you need assistance giving on May 4, you may call David Houck at the center at 803-254-3777 to process your card through the midlands’ Gives website. You may also reach out to others in the NFB of SC to help process your payment. On this Thursday’s Palmetto Connects, we will have more information and others who can assist with payment processing online.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.midlandsgives.org/NFBOFSC">https://www.midlandsgives.org/NFBOFSC</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.midlandsgives.org/rockybottom">https://www.midlandsgives.org/rockybottom</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina now has our own podcast. Using any of the below platforms and more to come! Just search or ask play National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina podcast. We currently have the Leadership Seminar from April 10, 2021 loaded and ready for listening. We will soon have episodes, about gardening, JAWS, Zoom Text, apps for Apple and Android platforms, ETC. If you have suggestions for the podcast, please send Steve Cook a message at <a href="mailto:cookcafe@sc.rr.com"><span style='color:blue'>cookcafe@sc.rr.com</span></a> or call/Text at 803 260 1292. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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:blue'>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:blue'>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:blue'>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:blue'>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:blue'>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:blue'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>