[nabs-l] Appreciating our roots

[Jorge Paez]

Joe:
You make perfectly good points.
I was fortunate enough to attend the NF ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM In Washington DC earlier last month, and I saw the progress that we're heading for.
However, I was in the HQ, so of course there were things going on.
But I do get many complaints from blind people I know similar to yours regarding local-level programs.
One person asked me "So what's the Progress? Whats the quote on quote changing what it menas to be blind all about lately? We got to a point where we're good and now what?"

I do not share your philosophy that we will some how fade away, but I know blind citizens do doubt our usefulness in today's rapid world. I think part of it is the instant-news-channel, but I think its partly a fault of the affiliates not concentrating on giving out their message.

My affiliate for example, is filled with great people who do their best, however, they don't reach out, and that's a problem.

Our problem isn't projects, its outreach. I saw the Governmental Affairs and Education team do great jobs at the conference, and I have no problem with giving a dollar here and there--money does matter, but if we don't reach out to the youth and inform them of what we're doing, we'll start to lose support amongst the young generation.

NABS is good, but who knew about it? I myself proposed to create a youth division of the NFB cause I never knew about the NABS until this year when I got in contact with Marry Jo, the director of education to propose my idea when she told me that there was such a thing already.

Its not that we don't exist, its that we need to reach out and bring more people into our camp--to believe what we believe and to understand what we do and who we are--and that depends on history, and on right-now-project information.

Do that, reach out and trust me the new generation will be up and ready to start their role in no time.

Jorge