[nabs-l] Appreciating our roots

[Jewel S.]

Hi,

You make some very valid points. I find that the best ways to learn
about the past of the NFB (which is anything before 2008 for me) is by
reading previous Braille Monitor articles, as you said. Specifically,
there was an article within the last year...I'm not sure when exactly,
but it was republished from an edition of the Slate and Style. It was
basically a speech given by Mrs. Jernigan to a group of writers, about
the beginning of the Braille Monitor. It was very interesting. I also
find the Kernel books to be a great reminder of the past, and I have a
few books I got from Bookshare about Dr. Ten-Brooks and Dr. Jernigan
(please excuse any bad spelling of names), both of whom I am sure we
can all say the NFB would not truly be here without. If you haven't
read the Kernel books yet, go to the Independenc Market and order
some! They are free, and available in large print, tape (2 or 4 track)
or Braille. I have a number of them in  Braille, which I will
certainly pass on when I'm finished...well, maybe, or maybe I'll just
keep them to read over and over.

Sometime, I'll do some work and make a list of the top 20 most
important topics of the NFB since its beginning...or something like
that. I'll list it here when I get to it.

~Jewel

On 5/3/10, Briley Pollard <brileyp at gmail.com> wrote:
> You make fair points, and much to think about. Though, to be fair, I did say
> that I think our current board is doing a great job, and full of people who
> want to work to change things.
> On May 3, 2010, at 9:01 AM, Joe Orozco wrote:
>
>> The trend toward intense fundraising began well before the economic
>> crisis.
>> And, I don't blame a nonprofit for engaging in fundraising.  Yet between
>> 2001 and 2007, to me, there is almost a dramatic shift from grassroots
>> advocacy to a consumer provider.  Perhaps this was owed to the immense
>> ticket price of the building expansion, whose benefits I still do not see
>> outweighing the costs.  It is just one more item the future leadership
>> will
>> need to administer with little direction as to what it is actually
>> supposed
>> to accomplish.  There is a very fine line between living for the money and
>> living for your purpose.
>>
>> My belief that the organization will fade is based on the general state of
>> the affiliates.  We cannot assume the organization is doing well based on
>> the Braille Monitor and yearly banquet addresses.  The decline of
>> affiliate
>> activity has also been observed well before the economic crisis.  You can
>> teach a chapter how to organize itself, but if there are no funds to fuel
>> those strategies, where exactly is that chapter expected to turn?  There
>> is
>> persistent pressure to raise money for what has now become an annual
>> fundraising drive at the national convention.  I do not much care for
>> these
>> so-called friendly competitions among states to get the most pledges for
>> this Race for Independence.  How about a race for the states who can bring
>> the most people, to, convention?  The economy has only increased the rate
>> at
>> which affiliates are not capable of proper recruitment and education at
>> the
>> local level.
>>
>> Fighting for an increase in social security caps?  That legislative item
>> has
>> been around for years.  Social security is a third rail issue that will
>> not
>> make progress in a climate where health care reform, financial reform and
>> immigration reform already dominate the headlines.  Cars that the blind
>> can
>> drive?  How about giving blind people a destination to go with those cars.
>> Without jobs, blind people won't be able to move them, let alone afford
>> them, or do we honestly feel we will see a reasonable rate for the
>> technology that will navigate them.
>>
>> I don't know that I agree young people are not willing to assume roles of
>> responsibility.  I think last summer's election is indicative of an eager
>> group that is willing to do what they can to help their peers.  I think
>> the
>> bigger issue is attempting to carve out success while attempting to
>> satisfy
>> Baltimore, often work with uncooperative state affiliates and energize a
>> new
>> generation of young people who quite frankly do not necessarily see the
>> benefits of coming around the NFB unless it is for the festivities of the
>> annual convention.  There are always exceptions, but the older generation
>> is
>> too reluctant to let go of the reins, and young people are not prepared
>> enough to take them over even if they had access.  I appreciate the
>> benefits
>> of the STEM program the NFB has locked on to help youth explore careers in
>> math and science, but here's a reminder, not all youth, blind or sighted,
>> want to go to work for NASA.  To me, this too is another reminder of a
>> loyal
>> finance base the NFB has worked up into a so-called innovative program.
>>
>> Don't get me wrong.  Believe it or not, I have immense respect for the
>> NFB.
>> It never fails to inspire me to aim higher when I come around NFB events.
>> Yet I fear that over the past several years my respect has mostly turned
>> from inspiration to admiration of the way it has so seamlessly transformed
>> itself without blatantly calling attention to itself.  This isn't civil
>> rights anymore.  This is a shrewd combination of public relations and
>> business practice.
>>
>> Knowledge of the past is immensely important.  But, is it the young people
>> that need to be reminded most, or the older generation?
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
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