[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFBNJ Comments And Thoughts Re: [Chapter-presidents] At Large Chapters

[David Andrews]

>From: "joe ruffalo" <nfbnj1 at verizon.net>
>To: "David Andrews" 
><dandrews at visi.com>,        <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>,
>         <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: "joe ruffalo" <nfbnj1 at verizon.net>
>Subject: NFBNJ Comments And Thoughts Re: [Chapter-presidents] At 
>Large Chapters
>Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 08:08:01 -0400
>
>Greetings to all!
>
>It is great to witness the growth of the at large chapters 
>throughout our affiliates.
>After serving as the national representative in West Virginia, I 
>brought the outline that I learned at that state convention and 
>developed an at large chapter in New Jersey in April, 2009.
>Thanks to West Virginia for planting the seed.
>
>The at large chapter is under the umbrella of the state affiliate 
>and the state affiliate officers also serve on the at large chapter 
>board.  This has been working in New Jersey however, it doesn't need 
>to follow this arrangement in other affiliates.  It is important to 
>have the leader/president of the at large chapter familiar with all 
>programs, projects of the NFB and the NFB in your state.
>We have invited national leaders to the call, probably three times a 
>year, to highlight the national, state, local involvement needed to 
>make a difference.
>I highlight that an important piece to grow as an individual and as 
>an organization are our members!
>
>We conduct the at large chapter call on the last Thursday of each 
>month at 8:00 pm.  WE combine July/August and November/December's 
>meetings and therefore, conduct ten at large chapter conference 
>calls each year.
>The purpose of the at large chapter is to introduce and or 
>re-introduce the Federation to those that don't know us or have been 
>away for various reasons.
>By inviting all to the call each month with the distribution of 
>minutes and agenda ten days prior to the scheduled call and then two 
>days before the scheduled call as a reminder assists with good 
>numbers on the call.  In addition, several don't have emails and we 
>have a member of the state board make the reminder calls and a 
>friendly voice makes a difference.
>If needed, several members three way others on the call.
>
>The call usually is an hour and we provide time at the end of the 
>meeting to go around the phone to allow anyone to provide any 
>information that they need to share.  We try to keep each person to 
>somewhat of a time limit since we average between 18 and 30 on each call.
>We highlight all first timers to the call and ask them how they 
>found out about the call.  As you can predict, nearly all state that 
>they were invited to the call.  with this in mind, I ask each person 
>on the call to invite at least one other person to the call and we 
>will double in size.
>Prior to the roll call, I highlight the star 6 feature and that they 
>need to say their name in order to provide them the floor.
>
>In the past, the at large chapter hosted our state convention.  this 
>worked well as 17 members from the chapter attended the state 
>convention and were able to learn  throughout the weekend.  The goal 
>of the at large chapter is to lose members.  Let me clarify.  The 
>goal is to establish chapters in areas where we don't have 
>chapters.  We have established two chapters and three divisions with 
>members of the at large chapter and both chapters and divisions are 
>growing in membership and involvement.
>
>To all, introducing the Federation to others that are newly blind, 
>haven't accepted their vision loss and to have the opportunity to 
>introduce to them that blindness is not the characteristic that 
>defines them or their future, to raise the expectations of blind 
>people because low expectations create obstacles between blind 
>people and their dreams, to teach that you can live the life you 
>want and blindness is not what holds you back is the objective of 
>all members to share the gift of the Federation.
>Together with love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.
>Good luck to all!
>If you need, I am available to assist with your at large chapters.
>
>Template Agenda:
>1. Roll Call
>2. minutes
>3. Treasurer's Report
>4. Dues procedure
>5. Presidential Release
>6. Updates:
>a. washington Seminar, the next steps
>b. submission of articles to the state publication, The Sounding Board
>c. KJ First Timers Scholarships
>7. National Convention
>8: State Convention
>9. old Business
>10. New Business
>12. Round The Phone:
>
>Agenda submitted by:
>Joe Ruffalo, President
>At Large Chapter/NFBNJ
>
>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference
>Joe Ruffalo, President
>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
>973 743 0075
>nfbnj1 at verizon.net
>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.
>Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
>www.carshelpingtheblind.org
>or call 855 659 9314
>-----Original Message----- From: David Andrews via Chapter-presidents
>Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 10:39 PM
>To: chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org ; state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [Chapter-presidents] At Large Chapters
>
>Hi everybody:
>
>Our state, like many, has started an At-Large Chapter.
>  We meet monthly by conference telephone calls.  We are still quite
>young and small, and are discussing what we want to happen at  our meetings.
>
>We would be interested to know what other states do, what works on
>the phone, and what doesn't
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>David Andrews, Vice-President MN At-Large Chapter
>
>
>         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
>E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org