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

[pattichang at att.net]

I think whoever wrote this might wish to attend an Illinois convention. Over one third of our attendees last year for young people. The perception is just not the reality that I see around the country.


Patti S. Gregory-Chang
NFBI President
NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 30, 2013, at 1:16 PM, Syed Yousufuddin <syedy2003 at hotmail.com> wrote:

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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