[Community-service] great meeting

Fri Jul 15 00:46:22 UTC 2011

Hello,
 the minutes have yet to be seen by the rest of the group Leadership.
Until this is the case, it would not make sense for the   Minutes to
be posted.
 a brief summery of the meeting  was recently posted to the community
service list about a day ago- I hope all  saw it.
 If you would wish to be further involved with the  on going efforts
of this group, you  are more than welcome to do either of the
following two things:
1. E-mail me @dsmithnfb at gmail.com.
or
2. Pay attention to the list for  updates about calls and
oppertunities as they become available.
 Also, if you have any ideas please feel free to bring them up too.
  Thank you for your ideas and interest!
  Best,
  Darian

On 7/14/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> MessageYasmin,
> Yes it would be good to have the minutes, but maybe they are only given to
> group members.
>
> A familiar  story. Many college grads couldn’t find a job. I graduated in
> 2009 from Marymount university with a BA in liberal studies, mainly a mix of
> social science classes. When did you graduate?
>
> Yes its good you volunteered and thereby impressed employers. What did you
> do for Smithsonian  and library of congress? You are fortunate to volunteer
> for not one but two large government institutions.
> Actually I work temporarily for LOC in NLS but that ends in september.
>
> I’ve faced barriers to volunteering because it seems like the staff aren’t
> willing to find work I can do or train me to do it; might take a little
> longer with  a screen reader since I got to tab through stuff rather than
> skimming.  I have to explore line by line to familiarize myself with a new
> website or database.
> I’m sure they train other volunteers; everyone starts at the beginning.
>
> I wanted to volunteer at well known places such as Red cross and
> Smithsonian. Red cross gave me the run around, unfortunately. I have good
> writing skills and a pleasant voice.  Red Cross could have used my
> communications skills in their development and communications team.
>
> I did all the volunteer background steps: the criminal background check,
> filling out paperwork, attending a volunteer orientation, interviews etc.
> But once jaws was installed at a computer there, the head of development
> just kind of ingnored me when I came to work even though in the meeting he
> said the right stuff. Another volunteer showed me the database sort of but I
> needed training and assignments to do and all I did was help stuff envelopes
> wich needed no vision and prior training.
>
> You are fortunate to volunteer with Smithsonian. I also wanted to volunteer
> there. Again, I did the process: the application, interview, the check, and
> even got a badge. They told me I’d work in the Accessibility office at the
> National american history museum and I’d work on editing/transcribing
> documents into braille; that would be my  main task. Well when I interviewed
> with the accessibility department they were noncommital and could not tell
> me a start date, could not even load the demo of jaws because they didn’t
> have admin rights,
> could not tell me what assignments I’d have, etc.  They failed to follow up
> with me or return emails, so it didn’t work out; I called the program
> coordinator requesting another volunteer placement, but she had none because
> it was summer and they had interns.
>
> Later I wanted to volunteer again and when I contacted her, she said they
> didn’t have a position.  So that makes me wonder what you did for them? I
> wanted to use my writing, research, and personal skills for them; I wanted
> to assist them in the office doing tasks like answering phones, copying,
> maybe delivering mail and other projects. I felt SI was a good place as it
> is well known and I figured the government would find a placement for
> someone like me to diversify their volunteer pool. Not the case.
>
> That said, I’m looking to volunteering
> with the park service; so we’ll see. First I’m finishing my job.
> As for coming to the meeting, ah that is quite a treck; I’m in the DC area,
> not exactly in DC and that is a very long metro ride down there.
> Thanks though.
>
> Ashley
>
> From: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
> Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 8:23 AM
> To: Community Service Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] great meeting
>
> Hi Ashley and others,
> It will be a great idea if we have the minutes of the organizing meeting
> posted on the list.
> Ashley You live in D.C. you can come to our chapter meeting this Saturday at
> the Silver Spring Library. The meeting will be from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. I
> have some ideas for a service project for our chapter and we may discuss
> them.
> When I finished school, I could not find a job. I volunteered at some well
> known places such as Library of Congress and Smithsonian. That is how I got
> the job in Montgomery county. My employers were impressed that I could
> volunteer my time and to get to places.
> Now I want to do more than just volunteer. I want to give back as we are
> having a tough economic time.
> Also there are legally blind or blind veterans who are in need of services.
>
> Yasmin Reyazuddin
> Aging & Disability Services
> Montgomery County Government
> Department of Health & Human Services
> 401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)
> Rockville MD 20850
> 240-777-0311 (MC311)
> 240-777-1556 (personal)
> 240-777-1495 (fax)
> office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm
> Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille
>
> This message may contain protected health information or other information
> that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
> please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
> material.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> bookwormahb at earthlink.net
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 7:03 PM
> To: Community Service Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] great meeting
>
>
> Yasmin,
> I am glad you had a good time. I may not make it to conventions due to
> expense and other obligations at home not to mention the fear of the new
> invasive TSA security measures when flying. Anyway, I too, hope this list is
> more active.
> What do you do for community service?
> I’m going to make the next call, when you all have one.
> I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and after my temporary four month job ends,
> I’ll do more. I’m a young adult who needs a job but I don’t have much
> experience. I see volunteering as a way to show my skills, try new ones,
> network, and possibly get a job since volunteering can turn into a job.
>
> I’ve volunteered for political candidates, at my talking book library,
> served food at a shelter with my church and did a few projects with campus
> ministry such as stuffing backpacks after Huricane Catrina.
> Actually I’m in the DC area not far from Rockville where you work.
> Your name sounds very familiar; were'n’t you in a press release for NFB?
> I could actually get to rockville via metro. If your agency has openings for
> someone doing clerical or communications work, let me know. We can chat off
> list further, perhaps.
> I have a general BA from Marymount university in communications/psychology.
>
> Ashley
>
> From: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 10:01 AM
> To: community-service at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Community-service] great meeting
>
> Hi Everyone,
> What a great meeting we had last weekend at the convention.
> Yesterday, I signed up for the list and thought about some service projects.
> I hope that there will be some activity on this list.
>
>
>
> Yasmin Reyazuddin
> Aging & Disability Services
> Montgomery County Government
> Department of Health & Human Services
> 401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)
> Rockville MD 20850
> 240-777-0311 (MC311)
> 240-777-1556 (personal)
> 240-777-1495 (fax)
> office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm
> Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille
>
> This message may contain protected health information or other information
> that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
> please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
> material.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Darian Smith

“My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.”

— Shaquille O'Neal