[nabs-l] recruiting young people and keeping them involved in the NFB

[Jedi]

I've had it in mind to comment on what should be said to older members 
regarding the recruitment and retention of newer/younger members. Here 
are my thoughts as someone who is a member of what could be called an 
"older" affiliate with few young people in it.

No matter what happens, no matter what events are held and who they are 
designed to target, the real key to recruiting and retaining new/young 
people is to honor them. What does that mean? To honor someone is to 
listen carefully to them and treat them in a manner that says "We value 
what you have to contribute." Each of us has our own perceptions of 
reality; we intuit meaning out of those perceptions and give them 
varying levels of significance and make decisions based on all those 
things. So often, it's easy to assume that young people are 
automatically inexperienced, unrefined, or simply don't know what 
they're talking about. That's not always true. When we honor people, we 
hear them out completely, inquire of them for further elaboration and 
meaning, and add our own experiences and opinions to the mix to come up 
with something collaborative. In the process, we all learn something: 
young or new members learn how to navigate the new culture they're in, 
and older and more seasoned members learn how to incorporate fresh 
ideas into the existing system. New members know when they are valued 
or not valued. Think about those times in any social situation when you 
get the feeling like you're not welcome. It may have been nothing that 
anyone has done or said directly, but you just know. for that reason, 
it's important to pay attention to not only what's said or done, but 
what's not said or done. And on that note, it's important to ask 
ourselves at all times, "Is this an affiliate or chapter I would want 
to belong to?" If the answer is yes, keep doing what you're doing. If 
the answer is no or even maybe, it's time to re-evaluate and see what 
you come up with. As a final thought in this section, be aware of not 
only how your members treat new people, but how they treat each other. 
New members will evaluate their interest in the group if there is an 
atmosphere of mutual respect and honor toward all members no matter who 
or what they are. If that mutual respect doesn't exist, rest assured 
that you won't see those new members again.

Now what about events? It's not exactly true that all young people want 
big parties with no work involved, but a number of people seem to think 
that we do. I venture to say that a more appropriate way to think of 
things is to say that young people want to be a part of whatever's 
going on. Yes, a little social intermixed with work is important for 
all of us regardless of age or standing in the organization, and the 
affiliate or chapter would do some good to take that into account. If 
young people feel passionate about what they're doing in the 
Federation, they'll show up and provide their energy to it. yes, there 
will be young people who won't, but that's true of all people.

I remember one thing that both Joanne and Dr. shroeder have said in the 
past and that is this: first and foremost, be a friend to new people in 
the Federation. Get to know them. Find out what they're dreams, 
passions, worries, and ideas are. In the process, you'll know what 
kinds of projects they might be interested in and put them to work 
right away. Put young people's energy to good use as soon as its 
available, and there's nothing more exciting to a newly blind person or 
a blind person brought up feeling useless that there is something they 
can do and they're expected to do it.

I hope these comments help. Good luck with your elders at your upcoming 
convention.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Listers,
>  Granted, this is to Karri and  Dacia, but  can apply to everybody.
>  another real helpful tool is your  nabs student advisor.  Kerri: I
> believe your advisor is karen Andersen
>  Dacia: I believe your advisor is Megan Whalan (forgive the tuypos if
> any, I'm in a bit of a rush).  Both of  these individuals are  great
> resources in addition to being just great people!
>  Now I'll shut up lol.
>   have a great day   all,
>   Darian

> On 2/2/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Kerri,
>>   I heard about the event you guys had at convention; it sounded like
>> a good time for sure!
>>   If you have three people who are interested in getting something
>> started; you have  three more  than some  and  sometimes it's not the
>> number of people, but the effort those three put into  the efforts.
>>  We'll be  sending out the
>>  info for the next call - yes  fellow listers another one is coming up
>> soon! so  please do  keep  a look out on the list serve for  it. As
>> always, these calls are open to everybody and you are more than
>> welcome to listen or comment as you feel (so long as  it's done with
>> respect in mind).  Kerri, you are more than welcome to-as anybody is
>> to contact me off-list  should you have any questions or wish to
>> chat.
>>  Best,
>>  Darian



>> On 2/1/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hey Darian:

>>> Those are some good ideas.

>>> I am hoping to go to convention this year.

>>> I am in West Virginia. They are sort of a rural little state.
>>> We really don't have a student division right now. Money was raised at
>>> our last state convention to start one. Right now it has like three
>>> members and no officers or anything like that.
>>> So, we are sort of getting one...

>>> I am hoping soon I can get involved with NABS nationally though since
>>> our state doesn't have one. I hope to attend the next conference call.
>>> I would've attended the last one but I am not attending Washington
>>> Seminar and I mistakenly thought you had to be attending that to
>>> participate lol.

>>> Kerri

>>> On 2/1/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Karri and Dacia,

>>>>   The question of how to get youth involved is our  organization's
>>>> version of " what's  the meaning of life"  - a question that  we all
>>>> think we have an answer to but  not just one things seems to work.
>>>> (ok, maybe  not the best thing I could have used, but I'm sure you get
>>>> the point)
>>>>  Affiliate action is always a good direction to go in, as well;   the
>>>> National Association of Blind Student's website "www.nabslink.org" is
>>>> also a good  aveanue.
>>>>   I also  would suggest talking with the President of  the Parents
>>>> Divisionon both state and  national levels to see how to get  in
>>>> contact with parents of blind children and  possibly work out a joint
>>>> meeting between the parent's division and the student division  at a
>>>> state convention or something like that.  This way, you can  saw there
>>>> is something for everyone. and both groups can have   their own little
>>>> focus groups.
>>>>  Another way of doing things is to  try to develope relationships with
>>>>  your school for the  blind and or teachers of the visually impaired;
>>>> invite them to convention, if any of them have  a view of blindness
>>>> that is similar in philosiphy to that of the NFB; have them speak at
>>>> your student meeting- if they know they are going to talk, maybe they
>>>> might bring some students too?
>>>>   Karri- this past year's convention was a great one to be at for
>>>> sure.  There always is  such great energy at these conventions, but
>>>> this last one stood out to me in just  the livelyness of it.  There is
>>>> generally alot of activity  going on- so many places to go to  and
>>>> people to see and not enough time to do it.  if you get the
>>>> oppertunity to go to this year's convention (in Dallas Texas) I would
>>>> very much say "Do it!" :)
>>>>  my question for you Karri is, what state are you in?  are you
>>>> involved with  the student division / chapter in your state?
>>>>   Best,
>>>>  Darian Smith
>>>>  Board member  /membership co-chair
>>>>  National association of blind students


>>>> On 2/1/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi:

>>>>> I am a 22-year-old college student. I really like the NFB and all it
>>>>> stands for including it's philosophy of equality for the bind and
>>>>> making blindness a nuisence with proper training.

>>>>> Have you tried contacting the Aphiliate Action department at the
>>>>> National Center?
>>>>> What about the Jernigan Institute?
>>>>> They may have some good suggestions.

>>>>> As for myself, when I was younger the NFB really tried to get involved
>>>>> in my Mother and I's lives. But, my mother for some reason didn't like
>>>>> them...I guess she thought she could do better with me.
>>>>> I wish so much now that she would've gotten involved...because the NFB
>>>>> seems to have so much for youth...at least youth under 18 or who are
>>>>> still in high school.
>>>>> I also had a lot of misconceptions about the NFB when I got older...I
>>>>> thought they were just a bunch of blind people.
>>>>> I was bored this past July and decided to listen to the convention. I
>>>>> was fascinated and immediately was hooked.

>>>>> I honestly don't know and can't understand why it's hard to keep youth
>>>>> interested in the NFB...I honestly wish I were younger sometimes so I
>>>>> could participate in all the social, and academic programs the NFB has
>>>>> to offer for students under 18.
>>>>> I hope this message does not offend anyone...just my thoughts.
>>>>> But, I would try contacting the Aphiliate Action department and the
>>>>> Jernigan Institute.

>>>>> Kerri

>>>>> On 2/1/10, daisydacia at centurytel.net <daisydacia at centurytel.net> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>> Two weeks from now, the MO state affiliate will be hosting an officers
>>>>>> seminar.  I was asked to present on the topic of recruiting young
>>>>>> people
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> also how to keep them involved.  Any suggestions to include in my
>>>>>> presentation as well as any literature anyone can think of would be
>>>>>> helpful.
>>>>>>  If any literature could be sent as an attachment or if I could have a
>>>>>> website to go to it would be most helpful.  I need the info by the end
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> this week, please.

>>>>>> thank you in advance.

>>>>>> Dacia Luck


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>>>> --
>>>> Darian Smith
>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
>>>> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
>>>> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
>>>> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
>>>> www.TeachBlindStudents.org

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>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
>> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
>> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
>> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
>> www.TeachBlindStudents.org



> --
> Darian Smith
> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
> www.TeachBlindStudents.org

> _______________________________________________
> 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/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net

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