<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">hello all,<div> </div><div><br></div><div> in light of requests for more information as to the purpose and activities of the community service group, I wanted to take the time this sunday afternoon to share with those whom seem most interested in the subject answers on the matter.</div><div> I suspect that this would do just as well as organizing a call, and would allow for anyone to ask questions that others might have and get them answered for all to see.</div><div> </div><div> the purpose of the community service group (CSG or CS group) is to educate the blind in how to become involved in service activities and projects, educate the sighted as to the rue abilities of the blind via involvement in community service projects and encourage such involvement in members, chapters and affiliates. </div><div> We believe that service is not only a path to employment, a way to educate, but a way to learn about one’s self, and the issues faced in one’s community and country. </div><div> Put simply, the sighted tend not to believe we can engage in service projects and often the blind don’t think they can either. with exposure to the positive philosophy of the federation and it’s members serving as positive role models, these attitudes we aim to change.</div><div> It is our belief that in order to do this, we must challenge ourselves by re-thinking what service-related activities the blind “can” do. an example might be organizing a park beautification project. Maybe it is thought that we can’t pull up non-native plans and plant native plants and trees, that we can’t build planter boxes, fill them with the dirt before planting what’s needed. maybe we are told we are not to paint where the paint is needed? Maybe such things are possible with the proper basic training and understanding of the project, and the proper non-visual techniques?</div><div> we feel that taking on projects that get us to look beyond blindness are educational for both ourselves and the community. To this end, the group plans a seminar each year at our national convention to motivate, provoke and engage. We are in the works of planning a service project at this year’s convention and are looking into ways to fund future service projects and informational trips to service conferences where we might share information about the group and the work the federation does, as well as learn of partnerships and practices we may leverage to further the blind in the service field.</div><div> If you only volunteer once and a while, want to do more of it, or do plenty of it already, we want to be a support if you run into trouble or need some ideas.</div><div> in addition to our fundraising committee, we have a teleconference seminar chair who plans teleconference seminars that will get you to think, ask questions and get questions answered by like -minded blind folks. </div><div> We have a resources committee that is working on compiling a list of agencies and resources members can use as well. We have a service project committee that is charged with finding our project this year. </div><div> eventually a division will form, but we hope that it will form and thrive with the collective efforts of all who believe in service, the federation, and the power that comes with collective action and the believe that we can address our country’s most pressing problems along side our sighted friends, family and neighbors(all of you on this list). </div><div> If one has a question, we all help to find the answer, if one has an idea, we rally to support the person in implementing it, if one needs encouraging, we all help to do so. In short we all pitch in where we can.</div><div> should you have any further questions, please feel free to ask them.</div><div> If you feel the need to dialog further please contact me via the information in my signature.</div><div> In the meantime, all of our committee chairs our also on this list serve and are willing to answer questions related to their committee as well. </div><div> Best,</div><div> Darian </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><br><br><div apple-content-edited="true">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Darian Smith</div><div>Chairperson, Community Service Group -National Federation of The Blind.</div><div><a href="mailto:dsmithnfb@gmail.com">dsmithnfb@gmail.com</a></div><div> (415) 215-9809</div><div><blockquote type="cite"><br>Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further <br>Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today!<br>For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org/">www.carshelpingtheblind.org</a> or call 1-855-659-9314<br></blockquote></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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