[Community-service] Service: support, dream, reality

[Darian Smith]

Interesting points from all, and I appreciate those thoughts being presented.
 where do we  start though?     I believe that if you talk to many
people on this list, at our organizing meeting and at our conventions
in general, you will find that many of them agree that community
service is a good idea and that we ought to get  more involved in our
communities.  But at what point does it  become  more  than just a
"good idea"?  when do we decide that we ought to  really get involved
in our communities doing the things in the  world of community service
that will benifit ourselves and others?
 Indeed the possibilities are many in number and wide-reaching in
impact.  If you look at the  state of  our country, a place where
homelessness, hunger, a lack of positive role models,  health care and
education, and ignorance to  the sustaainability movement are  huge
consideration, yet the pieces are there to solve some of if not all of
these issues, do we  not have something to focusur  energy on? what
does  the state of things and  the state of  humanity tell us?  I like
to think that  there is actually a great  amount of good in the world
and as we are a part of that world, a great  amount of good in the
blindness community.
 I think the trick is getting that  good in one place, getting them
excited about the good they can do, and keeping  them motivated to do
it.
  the other part is reminding many in the organization that service
work outside of what we do in the NFbis actually just as helpful in
the NFB.  when students, guide dogs users, parents, families, teachers
and other professionals get involved in service, and do it oftin; this
sends a tremendus messageto the outside community and society about
the real  capabilities of the blind.  We indeed will gainmany allies
and open oppertunities for ourselves and others.
  just some thoughts.
  Best,
  Darian

On 10/24/11, Jessica <cloudedleopard2010 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
> I agree with all that chris and julie have said on this topic. I personally
> have loved particpating in community service in the past and hope to do so
> in the future. Putting together a  Group project for convention 2012 would
> be a great way to give back to the people of dallas for allowing us to have
> such a large convention in their city.
> jessica
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Juliet Salih <julietsalih at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 5:40 PM
> To: Community Service Discussion List <community-service at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] Service: support, dream, reality
>
> Hi, Darian,
>
> This is quite a bit to think about.
>
> As a division, the main thing I want to see is that we are rutinely involved
> in Community Service. I would like to see us actuallly be able to do a
> service project for Convention 2012.
>
> I would like to see good communication between all involved. This is
> something we have struggled with quite a bit in the past, and I fault no one
> particular person for that. I don't really have an answer eas to how to go
> about solving this problem. I just know that somehow, if we are to become a
> division, it needs to happen.
>
> As far as support is concerned, I would love to see mutual support for all
> involved. I don't mean to imply that we do not have this now.  I think we
> have great philosophical discussions about the importance of Community
> Service and the fears and challenges we have that come along with
> participating as blind people. As we get more involved with CS in practice,
> I'd love to see more discussions about challenges and how we have handled
> them as the relate to certain blindness skills and types of community
> service. I'd love the group to be one where in we can eventually bounce
> ideas and suggestions off of others.
>
> In short, I would love for all of us to come to a call and report that
> through this group, we have realized things about both ourselves and others
> that we did not know. I would love to see each of us reach new levels of
> confidence while also gaining a feeling of pride because we know we have
> made the life of one person just a little easier.
>
> I hope this sort of answers your question.
>
> Julie
>
>
> --- On Sun, 10/23/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Community-service] Service: support, dream, reality
> To: "Community Service Discussion List" <community-service at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Sunday, October 23, 2011, 8:43 PM
>
>
> Hello all,
>   when we think about  the challange of plunging  into the unknown or
> venturing into  a place that others may not believe it possible for us
> as blind  people  to do we  find ourselves needing support, looking
> for answers and  dreaming of possibilities.
>   What are the things you  see in a community service division?
>   what is the support you would like to see? the  answers you would
> like to  find and  the dreams you have for   such a presence and
> possibilities you imagine spring from it?
>
> in service,
>   Darian Smith
>
> --
> Darian Smith
>
> "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
> - Martin Luther King, Jr.
>
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-- 
Darian Smith

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.