[Home-on-the-range] Why this Forum?

[Cindy Ray]

Before I begin this, I will say that I make no apology for writing it. I am not a member of the Kansas Affiliate, but I love you people. I would be if I could be a member of the affiliate. I came to Iowa (back to Iowa) because of marrying Bob Ray. He did not want to live in Lawrence. I can't imagine that. Anyway, here's the deal. I think that what you have here is a gem. Your affiliate president has to request this forum before it can happen, so apparently there was sometime when you all thought it would be a valuable asset to  you to have it. I wanted such a forum for our affiliate and asked our state president to help me get it. He said he would; he hasn't. I wonder if he should bother.

Dianne Hemphill has posted some thought provoking discussions here. No one responds to them. Do you all read your Braille Monitor? If so, what do you think? Do you listen to your Presidential Releases? If so, what do you think? Did you know in December there was a demonstration at Amazon concerning the Kindle? What do you think? Was it worth it? Should we have done it? In February, there is a Washington Seminar? Is anyone going? You participated in the information picket at Good Will, but the changes still need made. What do you think? Workshops are still shamelessly exploiting their employees with disabilities.

Do you know people who are losing their sight and are in the depths of despair about it? Are you being role models to them? What are they going through? Is one of you going through it? There is an article by Bob Deaton in the January Braille Monitor about his journey to total blindness and, more important, his journey to a resurrected human being who is alive and well even though he is now totally blind. He had some life-changing events in his life and is now on the right path as assistant director at the Nebraska Commission, I think it is.

James Omvig is a wonderful, dedicated person who has been celebrated both by Anil Lewis and others as he has finished his term on that Enable One Commission, I think it is called. Dianne will probably hope I never post again. People, there is so much to celebrate in the NFB, but if we don't celebrate, if we don't participate, we are not going to keep the Federation successful. Talk here about the Federation and what we are gaining; then let's go out and find more people.

Love,
Cindy