[humanser] Paying to Join the Federation

Tue Jun 30 02:37:30 UTC 2015

Hi, Paul,

Glad to hear that someone has personally delivered the message.  This
thread is great, but it certainly can't beat a person-to-person
conversation on the topic.

In case anyone was interested in a breakdown of sorts to see what the
"average" student Federationist might pay a year, I did the math based
on my own Federation expenses for dues only.  I'm not counting
donations to chapter or student division projects or fees I pay for
fundraisers here, or convention registrations and banquet ticket
costs.
$5 dues for NABS, X2 for state student division.
$10 dues for Human Services.
$5 for Performing Arts Division.
$5 Ohio NAPUB.
$5 Cincinnati chapter dues.

That's only 35 dollars a year for an entire network of mentors,
friends, and professionals I can turn to, and it spans everything from
human services, to the performing arts, to braille literacy and more.
My professional organization, even at the student rate, charges
significantly more than that.  Even bookshare is more expensive at the
standard non-student rate.

Fun fact: Dr. and Mrs. Maurer are dues-paid members of the Ohio
Association of Blind Students this year and then some.  They were our
representatives at our convention last November and I believe Dr.
Maurer paid dues to several Ohio divisions.  He paid into OABS because
all the divisions of the NFB, large or small, are connected and any
success for them, or any chapter or affiliate, is success for the
movement.  It's not much to pay $5 or $10 here or there whenever
you're in a division or chapter collecting them because it's all going
towards success.

On 6/29/15, Paul Martinez via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> This inquiry has been requested previously by this individual, and has
> been answered by several proud members of the National Federation of
> the Blind. As the President of the Florida Association of Blind
> Students, I personally took the time to speak to this individual about
> this situation. I offered to pay her 5 dollars membership dues for
> FABS, as long as she was an active member of the division. However,
> since the conversation there has been no interest in becoming a
> Federationist. So, I once again will extend this offer to pay for her
> membership as long as the desire and interest is there to become a
> part of the NFB family. Also, I would like to thank everyone who
> replied to this email and showed how great it is to be in the
> federation.
>
>
> Let's continue to build the federation!!
>
> Warm regards,
>
> Paul Martinez
> FABS President
>
> 2nd Vice President, Board of Directors of Florida
>
> Vice president,
> Florida State Wide Chapter
>
> On 6/29/15, Kaiti Shelton via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi, Roana and all,
>>
>> I may be just another person in the choir singing the same tune here,
>> but to add to what Justin and Alex said particularly I have a few
>> thoughts.  I'm president of my state student division and in that case
>> we have mostly non-working, full-time students as members.  We collect
>> $5 dues annually.  We recently had a high school kid who is in his
>> freshman year join and it wasn't long at all before a long-time member
>> stepped up and paid his dues for him when he really didn't have money
>> of his own yet.  A gesture like that can sometimes be what it takes to
>> make a new member feel welcomed and a part of the movement, and I know
>> he appreciates it.  That is how the NFB is; we step up when we can and
>> step up for others when they cannot, but if you have the means to do
>> it you should contribute along with everyone else in the movement and
>> get more out of it.  It really is a small price to pay, even when you
>> add up several annual due costs for those of us who are active in a
>> variety of things.  I'd venture to say that is a lot of us, though,
>> and we're all willing to feed into the movement so we can get the most
>> out of it for all.
>>
>> You only get out of something what you put into it.  If no one paid
>> dues the NFB wouldn't have money to work with and do all the wonderful
>> things it does.  This also goes for state affiliates and divisions at
>> the national and state levels.
>>
>> On 6/29/15, Serena Cucco via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hi Roanna,
>>>
>>> As Alex said earlier, if someone cannot afford to pay for membership,
>>> the division could probably think of a solution.  Also, since all the
>>> NFB divisions operate the same way with paying dues without any
>>> problem, I'm not sure that having membership be free would increase
>>> membership.  The number of members we have has to do with the number
>>> of human services professionals or interested Federationists there
>>> are.
>>>
>>> Serena
>>>
>>> On 6/29/15, Roanna Bacchus via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Hi Serena I think if membership was free more people would join
>>>> our organization.  Many people cannot afford to pay for
>>>> membership each year.
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> humanser:
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>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Paul M. Martinez
> President,  Florida Association of Blind Students
> Second Vice President, NFBFL Board of Directors
> Vice President, Florida State Wide Chapter
> Paul09ms at gmail.com
> Ph: 813-390-5720
> The national Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life
> you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> humanser:
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>

-- 
Kaiti