[Blindtlk] the value of banquet speeches

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

They never lose their value, and either teach us something new, or remind us of why we do what we do. For those who are old, and for those who aren't, I invite you to read two of my favorites, well alright, three.  
Of Visions and Vultures, 1976. For me, it crystallized my thinking about the movement
That's How It Is at the Top of the Stairs (1979. Anyone who doesn't stop and reflect on Edgar Salmon's letter just isn't human. It made me understand the part that emotion plays in what we do.
Finally, the Nature of Independence, (I think it was 1994. It proved to me that there are a lot of right answers. I used it a lot in teaching. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kathleen Millhoff
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 4:21 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List; NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] the value of banquet speeches

Good Morning,
It's been quite a long time since I've had the opportunity to write to an NFB list. Circumstances alter the ways in which time and resources can be spent.  I have been able to keep up with things somewhat via reading "The Braille Monitor" and occasionally reading posts from NFB members.
Additionally, I have great memories of the one national convention I was able to attend, and look forward to reading convention information each year.
By some quirk of fate, or the mail service, or other factors too numous to consider, I only now read Dr. Maurer's speech to the 2009 convention banquet. I realize the speech has been on the internet for some time, but I'm one of those who still gets the most pleasure from reading a braille copy of just about anything.
At any rate, it is a good thing no one had come into work yet, as I read about the vibrating vest and the games about blind people created by UNESCO (an organization I have supported in many ways until now.) Even has I tried to recover from the laughter that sent me into a coughing fit, to continue reading, I realized the seriousness behind the words and the implications of what was being said.
I have, over the years, used both Dr. Maurer's speeches, along with Robert Leslie Newman's "Thought Provokers" in teaching about blindness to teens, adults, and parents of blind children.  I always cite the quoted or read or summarized information.  I use the excuse that I'm not able to reinvent a wheel already so perfectly crafted. But more to the point, my own thoughts and considerations are sharpened, crystalized even, by reading the contributions of NFB leaders.
I know that by this time of year, the 2009 convention and its inspiring speeches are a distant memory for participants and that people are looking ahead to 2010. But I wonder if there isn't a really appropriate way to rekindle the fire for many by making speeches such as the one I've noted here, available in a quck, easy manner, so that at any given time, a quick tap would open up the words from a banquet of last year or decades ago: Facebook, Twitter, Google, educational resources such as ERIC?
And, in case they want to try out that vibrating vest, I'll help. I'm done laughing about it now and am inordinately curious.
Seriously, I'm now on my way to talk with a mother of a baby who is newly blind due to bacterial meningitis. I have every good intention of guiding her to the belief that her son is not a broken human being, devastating as this illness is.
Thank you all sincerely.

warmest,
kathy millhoff
--
Kathleen A. Millhoff

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