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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some affiliates run mentoring programs. We talked about doing one in Connecticut a while back, but we didn’t hold the discussion in a forum as broad as this one. I’m curious about the possibilities, but I only want to go down the road of
exploring details if people in our affiliate are actually interested.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know I am where I am today because of the great mentors I’ve had in the National Federation of the Blind, some of whom are on this email list. Most of those experiences happened organically for me, but I wonder about how powerful it could
be to run a mentoring program like the NFB affiliates in Illinois, Utah, Georgia, Texas, etc.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are a few details of other programs so far as I understand them. Certainly, we could take consultation from other programs, but I wouldn’t want to guide the program to the point of bypassing the ingenuity that I’m proud to consider
a characteristic of Connecticut citizens. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Programs divide participants into two groups: one with more experience (mentors) and the other with less experience (mentees). Then, pairs are made with one person from each group. Activities are held a few times per year, usually at existing
NFB events, where mentors and mentees get together and help each other be stronger. Sometimes, trips and other events are planned just for people in the programs. Of course, mentors and mentees communicate outside of events, too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What does everyone think? Is this something we’d like to investigate? Would anyone here want to be a part of something like that?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Take care,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Justin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Graduate Student<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Email: <a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu">
President@Alumni.ECU.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Twitter: @SalisburyJustin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Because I was not a Socialist. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Because I was not a Trade Unionist. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— <o:p>
</o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Because I was not a Jew. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Martin Niemöller<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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