[nabs-l] Washington Seminar/Blind Driver Challenge Questions

[Joe Orozco]

Kerri,

I hate to break it to you.  Only people with advanced travel skills are
welcomed at Washington Seminar.  You actually need to be VSBP certified to
take part in the event at Florida.  This is because people at the events
will be too busy communicating within their own groups to really render any
extra assistance to newcomers.  People without the right preparation and
attitude, I'm afraid, just might be getting in over their head, get turned
around and self-destruct!  ...  Clearly, I'm being sarcastic, but I guess I
don't understand why you still feel the need to ask permission to do
anything.  A lot of confidence is based on your willingness to set your mind
to doing something and then going out and doing it.  Easier said then done?
Always, but then, nothing worth achieving is ever easy.  Your post makes me
wonder if you think our organization is condescending and judgmental and
that you need to reach some level of skill before you're accepted.  Remember
the NFB is about the work first and the people second.  We have our fair
share of idiots who frown down on people without the precise attitude
becoming of the very super blind person, but an interesting point I've
observed over time is that these people are far and few between and that
their arrogance is only alive while in the company of other blind people.
So, never mind what we think.  It's about what you feel moved to do with
your time and especially, your money.  Every event the NFB hosts features a
wide range of personalities and skill sets as diverse as the people
contributing to this list.

Best,

Joe

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerri Kosten
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 12:26 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Washington Seminar/Blind Driver Challenge Questions

Hi All:

Considering how well convention ended up going and how successful I've
been with travel recently, I hate to even post these questions but I
figured I better anyway.

I am considering (and as of now I'm just considering, haven't made any
official plans or anything yet) going to Washington Seminar and the
Blind Driver Challenge events at the end of January.

I would like to try to do both but I know the Blind Driver challenge
event ends on Sunday, Jan. 30, and the Washington Seminar begins the
next day on Jan. 31.

First, when is the student seminar?

Are any other students planning on going to both events or are most of
you just picking one or the other to attend?

Do you need to have great travel skills to attend either one or both
of these events or is it like convention where all skill levels are
present?

For Washington seminar, I know there aren't as many people as at
convention but is it a similar atmosphere where there are tons of
people around if assistance is needed or is everyone busy in their own
little group/state delegation?

Before convention I worried that if I needed something or assistance
and everyone was busy doing their own thing there wouldn't be anyone
around, however I quickly found out there were tons of people around,
and if you were lost somebody came up to you pretty quickly and asked
if you needed assistance...will it be similar at these events?

I really really want to attend either both or one of these events, if
I had to pick one over the other I'd like to go to Washington seminar
but if I can squeeze both in I'd like to...however just like for
convention I'm a little unsure/nervous...similarly to convention am I
worrying for nothing or should I wait and attend Washington Seminar
after aquiring better blindness skills?

Hope I am not out of line posting these questions...like I said at
this point I am only considering possibly going, and may not even
go...

I've been told Washington seminar is a great and very powerful
experience but I don't want to get in too far over my head and end up
making a fool out of myself.

Both of these events sound really exciting and I think would be really
fun to go to though...

Thanks,
Kerri

_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
info for nabs-l:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jsorozco
%40gmail.com