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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Greetings listmembers and Maryse.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I wholeheartedly agree with Susan Tabor's insights
into the 2010 national convention experience, but I'll add my oown perspective
by addressing each question as presented.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>1- What did going to the convention mean to you</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I first joined NFB in 1985 after defecting
from ACB, I did not know the importance of having a positive philosophy of
blindness until I began reading the vast reserve of NFB literature which I
acquired at my first convention in Louisville that year. Although it is
essential to communicate the NFB philosophy at the state affiliate and local
chapter levels, I am persuaded without reservation that participation at our
national convention is of paramount importance in moving the NFB philosophy
across the 18 inch road from head to heart. This I believe is the driving
force that brought about the creation by our national board of directors of
the Journigan fund, a scholarship fund to help Federationists on SSI and
similar low and fixed income sources to come and to be involved in our
national convention and with the aid of excellent veteran Federationists as
mentors who help new convention delegates deal with the frequently
overwhelming effects of large crowds, megalithic hotels and convention
centers, busy schedules, etc. A declaration by our colleague Parnell Diggs is
spot on in his assertion that the best reason for raising funds is to bring
new members to national convention. In case Mr. Diggs monitors this list I
apologize if I've misquoted him.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>2-What did you learn?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>It will take more time to process the subtle aspects of lessons I have
learned from the 2010 convention. I suggest that a helpful way to assimilate
lessons learned is to apply a sine qua non test. In other words, we may ask
ourselves what we know in retrospect that we would not have known had we
elected to stay home or to go elsewhere during convention week. With this in
mind, I have come to recognize that the growth in membership, assets, projects
and programs, and influnce of our organization are directly attributable to
the outstanding leadership of Dr. Maurer and his executive leadership team and
board. Dr. Maurer's leadership has evolved to this point in a two fold manner.
First, he has grown tremendously in his leadership and management style and
approach, then he has grown the organization itself. To offer but one example,
the strategic initiative projects were launched and continue to experience
remarkable growth on his watch. Last but not least, we have made positive
strides in our collective ability to offer support without judgment and in
some ways I think we are reclaiming the grass roots energy and robust spirit
that marked the early days of our social movement.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>3-Was it a life changing experieence?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To address this question honestly, I must say the
jury is out as lasting change often comes about so gradually and in such
subtle and incremental fashion that others notice change before we are
cognizant of it. However, I sincerely hope the real answer turns out to be an
unmitigated Y E S. As this question is linked to the last one below, one, I
will endeavor to develop my response by addressing it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>4-what are you bringing back to apply to your life and to help change
another's?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The NFB 2010 convention has rekindled my all
ready strong desire to strive to do my best at whatever I endeavor to do and
to make dilligent and conscious efforts to improve in areas where my best is
not good enough. I recently told a colleague in Federationism that my bonds to
NFB are permanently sealed by its inspiration to excellence and its disdain
for mediocrity and absolute contempt for poverty of effort. Part and parcel is
my renewed desire to extend my knowledge and experience to assist my blind
colleagues, Federationist and otherwise, on the journey toward first class
citizenship and interdependence equal to that of our sighted peers. But such
commitments are not a one and done proposition. They are like a battery that
must be periodically recharged and National Convention does exactly
that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Should the mighty and unseen forces be willing, I
look forward to seeing all of oyou in Orlando in 2011.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best to all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob Tabor and White Cane Raśl</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>DID DEEP.</DIV>
<DIV> Thus, I sart with me. Going to Dallas to
attend my first NFB convention was a life changing experience at many
levels.Let me explain. I am legally blind and fall in the category
described, at the banquet ,by Dr. Maurer as a middle-of-the-road blind. I then
realized I never really deep down accepted this new challenge of 6 yrs.
ago. Therefore I desperately tried to function as a sighted person,only to
experience but mediocre results,impatience and frustration.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> The convention taught me that I can function as a bi-visual
person.(no other connotation meant!) Yes, I am a bi-vsual person.
In other words,when I need some sight it is there and when I need blindness
skills,they are there. This in essence makes me a confident and
competent individual better able to serve my NFB family and enter a new career
with knowledge and poise.</DIV>
<DIV>Thank you Kansas Federationists for having adopted this new American
citizen</DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely</DIV>
<DIV>Maryse</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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