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

Wed May 6 20:13:42 UTC 2009

Dear Joe
We are learning. You don't know everything.

On 5/6/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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