[il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September 30

Wed Nov 20 03:14:32 UTC 2013

Welcome back David Meyer.

RH

On 11/19/2013 3:56 PM, David Meyer wrote:
> IL-talk at nfb.org		Amen.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Denise Avant
> Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 7:03 AM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September
> 30
>
> Good morning all,
>
> I have not traveled to other states and been involved in other NFB related
> events. But I can say without a doubt, there is definitely a need for the
> National Federation Of The Blind. We have not arrived yet. Most people don't
> think we live full lives and when you get right down to it, really don't
> believe we have something significant to contribute to society.
>
> I was traveling to church last Sunday, and a woman I was riding with said
> she was talking to someone, and saying how intelligent she thought I was
> etc, even though I was blind. Well actually she said visually impaired
> because you see she does not use the word blind. I expressed that there is
> nothing wrong with saying I am blind because I am. She said, "No I don't
> like to use that word." The driver responded I just say visually impaired.
> Most of us who are comfortable in our skins have no problem with people
> noting that we are blind. And in fact, I as the blind person should be able
> to say whether the term is offensive.
> On another day, I went to a store, and asked for help. So the young lady
> called on the radio to her manager and said, I have a blind customer who
> needs my assistance, can you send someone to cover. Her manager told her,
> don't use that term. I  said to her that you are perfectly fine to say
> blind. There was no derogatory  tone, and nothing politically incorrect
> about it.
> I have gone into an Apple store, and been stopped, obviously knowing right
> where I am going up the stairs, and the person says hey, "don't you want to
> take the elevator." No, I say, the stairs are just fine. But they insist on
> getting on the elevator.
>
> I had this very thing happen while Debbie, Steve and myself were looking for
> the escalator at O'Hare airport. When an attendant saw us, she asked "don't
> you want the elevator." We told her no, on at least three occasions.
> finally, someone did come over and offered some assistance without being
> intrusive or insulting.
>
> The individual is critical of the NFB for engaging in fund raising. But he
> fails to answer the questions. How do we do the many programs we do if there
> is no money? Does he think a program like BELL is important? How do we
> litigate a case of discrimination if there is no money? Does he feel that
> discrimination against blind people exist?
>
> Well, misunderstanding , disrespect and discrimination as it relates to
> blind people remains.
> The federation has work to do.
>
> Denise Avant
> dravant at ameritech.net
>
> P.S.  Please give to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois Annual
> Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to NFBI c/o Glenn Moore III,
> Treasurer P.O. Box 1065 Elgin, IL 60121.
>
> On Oct 1, 2013, at 11:53 PM, "Cathy Randall" <chr47 at mchsi.com> wrote:
>
>> I agree with Patti's comment in a later message.
>>
>>
>> Cathy Please donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
> (NFBI) Annual Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to Treasurer
> Glenn Moore, PO Box 1065,  Elgin, IL 60121.  Thank you.
>> Cathy Randall
>> 217-243-3529
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Syed Yousufuddin"
>> <syedy2003 at hotmail.com>
>> To: <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 1:16 PM
>> Subject: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition
>> September 30
>>
>>
>>> Below, please find a submission from the reader's forum in this week's
> Ziegler magazine.
>>> I, being a NFB member, find it intrusive, and yet thought provoking.
>>>
>>> Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> Disclaimer: this content does not reflect my views, this is the opinion
> of Dave, a Ziegler reader.
>>>
>>>
>>> The second response to the reader's forum is about Bob Branco's input on
> blindness organizations like ACB and NFB. I agree with him that they are
> having trouble getting younger members. It's because of a few reasons, such
> as long term office and board positions. Many people in both groups think
> they are the only ones who can do anything concerning the blind. With the
> economy being in the state it is in, things are pretty tight. I have had
> many people tell me they are turned off by the NFB because it seems the NFB
> wants and craves money, money, money. My local chapter is just that way,
> it's like a social status: if you don't have fund raising skills or money
> you don't fit in. The biggest problem with the NFB as far as getting younger
> members is I think is they don't feel needed or appreciated when they do
> join. I've seen many members in my local chapter come and join and attend a
> couple of meetings then drop out, it's not for them, like Bob said, many
> younger blind people really don't feel the need for membership in either the
> ACB or the NFB because they are mainstreaming into the sighted world, the
> ones who stay in the ACB or NFB have been there a long time to keep things
> going, but what are we going to do when our current today's leaders die off
> or drop out? The reason why blind people aren't joining is they can't take
> over because of the ones that are in the ACB or NFB those leaders are afraid
> to let newer younger people in. It is a power issue, there is a lot of
> insecure blind people in the ACB and NFB who really don't know how to let go
> and move on and let others learn and grow. I may drop out at the end of this
> year because of the way the local chapter president treats some of us. I
> don't need the stress, aggravation, criticizing and judgmental attitude
> towards me or anyone else. I've put with it for 30 plus years. That's a lot
> of why both groups are having trouble getting new and younger members.
>>>
>>>
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>>
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