[Community-service] Discussion starter

[Maurice Peret]

My two cents are as follows. 

I tend to view this discussion in the broader sense of "giving back." While I do believe there can be a distinction, e.g. participating in local fund raising events or activities that largely draw members of the blind consumer community together, chapters and individuals can engage the broader community in ways that both contribute to the overall betterment of society as well as increase the visibility of blind people in a contributing role. Another way that I view this is in how a positive blindness philosophy easily translates into virtually all other sectors of society. Some of our Maryland chapters participate in collecting various kits for disadvantaged families, personal care items, emergency safety and wellness kits, etc. Whether we do this as individuals or in organized groups, we send positive messages to the public about blindness that may not have been considered before. The advantage of contributing as a subsect of an organized movement simply increases the possibility of reaching other blind people who may well face other disadvantaging factors such as homelessness, extreme poverty, hunger, parenthood, or any combination of these factors. Without connection to other blind people with whom to solve these often life threatening problems, the otherwise perceived hopeless and dangerously dependent condition of blindness may prevail, not only to the affected blind person, but to the entire sphere of influence surrounding them. This is one way in which misperceptions are perpetuated from generation to generation. 

Maurice Peret
-----Original Message-----
From: Community-Service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett via Community-Service
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2017 2:36 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List
Cc: Ashley Bramlett
Subject: Re: [Community-service] Discussion starter

Darian,

I agree. When I think of doing community service, I think of helping the community, something that benefits society; of course volunteering one on one benefits the individual directly, but because we improve his/her well being, we improve society.

I volunteer now for a senior center once a month where I put on music appreciation presentations.
If I help just within the blind sphere or in NFB, its important, and its volunteering, but somehow I don't see that as community service.
There is so much else to me than legal blindness.
I don't put affiliation or volunteer service for NFB or anything blindness related on my resume or cover letters. I do, however, put my other service work down. I want people to see me as a person who can benefit society, not someone just receiving charity or handouts. I want to show case my skills and talents not my eye condition. So, blindness stuff is not put on resumes, applications whether for school, employment or other volunteer service.

You are so right in saying that society believes the only good we can perform is within our own sphere, helping others who are blind. I hear that all the time from my family.
I  do not agree and feel I can compete and do work within the larger community who is not disabled.

Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Darian Smith, President,National Federation of the Blind Community Service Division viaCommunity-Service
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2017 2:08 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List
Cc: Darian Smith, President,National Federation of the Blind Community Service Division
Subject: [Community-service] Discussion starter

Hi all,
Just figured I would put this out there to get  some debate going.
In a general  sense, the definition of community service can basically be boiled down to doing something for the benefit of a group of persons.
In the NFB, we might consider community service  as anything we can do for the benefit of blind people, both within our membership and outside of it.
In the Community Service Division, we tend to look at community service as a thing that a blind person might do that would benefit the larger community, not just other blind folks.
We believe this distinction is important to make because often society believes that the only way that a blind person  can do good  is  if they are doing that  good within the bounds of blindness and the blind community.
Do you agree with this assertion? Disagree? why or why not?
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