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

Wed May 6 22:37:36 UTC 2009

Nathan,
Had you carefully observed the other messages in this thread, you would have
known that the issues you're bringing up have already been addressed. That
said, I believe that most are trying to make this thread along with its
original mood finally die down and continue positive discussion. Messages
such as this only perpetuate negativity and reiterate confusion that has
already been cleared up.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nathan Clark
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 4:14 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] The "state of the student divisions"

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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>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 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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