[nabs-l] The "state of the student divisions"

Wed May 6 17:27:31 UTC 2009

They do.  It was private enough that I hadn't noticed it.  *grin*

Joseph

On Mon, May 04, 2009 at 10:48:22PM -0700, Bill wrote:
>Might it be helpful for the nabs state presidents to have a private list
>like the state affiliate presidents do.  This would make it easier for
>things like this to be sent to the people who really want to see it.
>Bill VP
>Oregon Association of Blind Students
>503-768-8982
>cassonw at gmail.com
>
>On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 10:07 PM, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I cannot agree with Arielle more. Blind students are a minority, and
>> as such we should strive to help and support each other rather than
>> argue and accuse each other. It is true that this grant came out, and
>> some took advantage, some did not. It was mis-information, or lost
>> information. But that's not what really matters: now we know that
>> vital information can be lost in the list-serve, so instead of making
>> such a big deal out of it, lets figure out a better way of
>> disseminating important announcements, and there already have been
>> suggestions, and get on with it. This is not the last grant for which
>> we'll have an opportunity to apply. Next year, we will be more aware
>> of what is going on, and take full advantage of it, if it is a
>> reasonable goal for our individual state divisions. so lets work
>> together, and learn to learn from our mistakes, take constructive
>> criticism, and add it all up, so that our individual states become
>> stronger and better organized, thus making our national presence also
>> stronger.
>> Mary
>>
>> On 5/4/09, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > Having watched this thread unfold over the past few days, I don’t feel
>> > it is necessary or appropriate for us to be sending emails back and
>> > forth with such an accusatory tone. The grant opportunity did go out
>> > on the list, but as others have pointed out, many of us simply missed
>> > it. This isn’t anybody’s fault but just something that happens on
>> > high-traffic email lists. In the future we may want to set up a page
>> > within the NABS website to post such grant opportunities, and/or
>> > repost it a few times.
>> >
>> > I also don’t feel it appropriate for us to be putting down student
>> > divisions who knew about the grant but who didn’t follow up on it.
>> > This should be seen as a learning opportunity for the future rather
>> > than a chance to tear each other down.
>> >
>> > Our student divisions are all in existence because of the motivation
>> > and drive of their leaders, but as we’ve discussed frequently here and
>> > at NABS events, many of our state divisions are small, young, and/or
>> > struggling to establish or maintain basic structure. Again, much of
>> > this is just a result of being part of a small community, and being
>> > students. There simply aren’t a huge number of blind students in any
>> > state, and student organizations in general tend to be transient at
>> > times. For these reasons, it can be difficult for many state divisions
>> > to get organized quickly enough to decide what kind of project they
>> > would want to do with grant funding, let alone writing a proposal and
>> > being  able to commit to pulling it off. For example, when I was
>> > president of  the Arizona student division we wanted to organize a
>> > camping/hiking trip, but we simply couldn’t get enough students to
>> > make a commitment to participate to go forward with planning the
>> > logistics. In this kind of situation a grant may or may not have
>> > helped to bring more students into the event—money is nice, but isn’t
>> > everything.
>> >
>> > That’s not to say that we should just accept inactivity from our
>> > student divisions, however. Let’s see Joe’s message as a challenge
>> > rather than an attack, and all go back to our states to decide what
>> > new projects we’d like to initiate, and make a real commitment to
>> > spearhead these projects. It doesn’t have to be anything big, or even
>> > anything that requires outside funding, but just something new to get
>> > more students in or at least to motivate and inspire our existing
>> > members.
>> >
>> > Remember that the NABS board members are all here to offer support and
>> > guidance, and feel free to email any of us if you have questions, or
>> > even if you’d just like one of us to sit in on your next division
>> > conference call.
>> >
>> > Respectfully,
>> > Arielle Silverman
>> > First Vice-President, NABS
>> >
>> >
>> > On 5/5/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> Jim,
>> >>
>> >> I think it's a fair concern.  There are lots of reasons why students
>> >> divisions may not be doing well, but if they are not, we need to know
>> >> about it.  Certainly, Joe cannot be expected to do more--and we all
>> >> have our own circumstances that may reduce what time we can give to
>> >> the organization.
>> >>
>> >> Even so, if more is needed, need to be honest with ourselves about
>> >> the nature of the problem or else we cannot solve it.  I don't know
>> >> if Joe's concern is founded or not, since I can speak only for
>> >> Oregon.
>> >>
>> >> Joseph
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, May 04, 2009 at 01:22:48PM -0700, Jim Reed wrote:
>> >>>Joe,
>> >>>I am somewhat offended by you questioning the state of the state student
>> >>> divisions, simply based on the poor turnout for your grant.
>> >>>
>> >>>I will tell you what the state of the state divisions is:
>> >>>
>> >>>As students we are all still learning.
>> >>>
>> >>>As students, we are all busy.
>> >>>
>> >>>We are all hear as volunteers because we want to be. We are hoping to
>> make
>> >>> a better life for ourselves and others; but, as vollenteeers, we are
>> not
>> >>> obligated to do anyuthing.
>> >>>
>> >>>As volunteers, not all of us will have the all the requisite skills
>> needed
>> >>> to serve our organizations, thus serving in a state division is also a
>> >>> learning oppertunity. It is incumbent upon national and state
>> leadership
>> >>> to make sure we have the oppertunity to learn the  requisite skills.
>> >>>
>> >>>So Joe, next time, instead of threatening to call people out for being
>> >>> lazy
>> >>> if they don't fill out your grant application, offer to teach us the
>> >>> grant
>> >>> writing process. If you truely think we are incapable to manage a
>> grant,
>> >>> then do something to fix that situation.  Otherwise, please keep your
>> >>> judgemental comments to yourself.
>> >>>
>> >>>The state of the state divisions is not one of appathy; given the right
>> >>> conditions and oppertunities, it is one of desire, energy, and
>> >>> willingness
>> >>> to learn.
>> >>>
>> >>>Respectfully,
>> >>>Jim Reed
>> >>>President, Montana Association of Blind Students
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>"Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed."
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
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>> >>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Mary Fernandez
>> Emory University 2012
>> P.O. Box 123056
>> Atlanta Ga.
>> 30322
>> Phone: 732-857-7004
>> In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that
>> greatness is never a given. It must be earned.
>> President Barack Obama
>>
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