[nabs-l] Election Statement: Darian Smith for 2nd Vice-President: Nabs.

[Kerri Kosten]

Hi Darian!

Wow, huge congrats!

You deinitely have my vote! You are a great leader and have truly done
a lot for NABS!

Good luck and I'll definitely be voting for you on July 4!

Kerri

On 6/20/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings to all,
>   My Name is Darian Smith, and I am seeking election to the office of
> 2nd Vice-President of The National Association of Blind Students.
> A bit about me academically.  I am a student at city college of San
> Francisco, completing   my general education track, and anticipating a
> transfer to San Francisco State University.  Once there, (and once I
> decide just what I’m ready to zero in on [Sociology, Recreation
> management, or Political science]), I plan on pursuing a Masters in
> Orientation and Mobility, likely from Louisiana Tech.
>  A brief overview of   Related Leadership Experience.  I have Served
> as a board member of the National Association of Blind Students since
> my election to a one-year term in 2009, then was re-elected to a new
> term in 2010.  I also currently serve as 2nd Vice- President of the
> California Association of Blind Students, a position I’ve held since
> my election in 2010.  On the Cabs Board, I have been working on
> social/recreation projects and stepped in to assist the membership
> committee with it’s Membership building efforts.
>  On campus, I served as a  senator on the Associated  Student
> Council, an elected body charged with  representing the over  forty
> thousand students that made up our campus on issues relating to
> health, equity, Retention,  and   campus life (to name a few things).
> Nabs board work.   My first term on the board was spent mainly working
> on rebuilding the membership committee. Working along Side Co chair
> Janice Jeang, and a   committed corps of committee members, we not
> only brought a consistent presence   and steady stream of information
> to all of our student division list serves, but  introduced social
> media, conference calls, and recording, streaming, and archiving
> capabilities as the    tools  that Nabs would use to  inform, connect
> and grow the membership.  As my second term   moved along, the
> committee members changed, the committee co- Chair changed, but the
> commitment to serving the students who supported me, and every other
> person on our board never changed.     We kept  our sights  on the
> task at hand, and  looking back,   We came up with some great calls
> (Training  Centers, Dating and Relationships, Guide dog Vs Cane,
> S.T.E.M.,  Scholarships, philosophy, and quite a bit more), not to
> mention the Student  Hospitality night.  All of these activities and
> opportunities we were proud  to  offer to  our fellow students, while
> providing  chances for  at-large membership to be involved in the
> process of planning and carrying out the projects.
> Some of the projects that I took part in included:
> 1. Coordinating   Volunteer, sign-ups for nabs   events and activities
> at both the 2010, and 2011 conventions (you can still sign up for
> something this year – we appreciate the help you all are to the
> operation of our convention activities!).
> 2. Worked with Sean on the constitutional amendment that brought about
> the staggered five-four split (to take effect in 2012).
> 3. Assisted Arielle in contacting presenters for youth slam panel at
> Washington seminar.
> 4.  Encouraged the collaborative involvement of   National Parent
> Division and National Student Division which resulted in   nabs board
>  presenting at up coming NOPBC events.
> 5. Served as South West Regional Advisor, working with three different
> student divisions in region, and working to build new division in
> region.
> 6. Implemented regional conference calls that, for a time, took place
> monthly.
> 7.  developed  relationship between nabs and  three  nfb training
> centers, as well as assisted in   collaboration  efforts between Nabs
> and  the  National Center to outreach to scholarship winners, college
> leadership program, and other untapped resources.
> 8. Proposed the formation of an outreach committee, that would work to
> collect names and addresses of   blindness agencies, rehab centers,
> blindness professionals, and schools for the blind of each state in
> order to more widely disseminate information to more blind students.
> 9. Assisted in the development of a high school committee, operating
> as a sub committee of membership committee.
> 10 submitted  AmeriCorps experience piece to student slate in spring of
> 2010.
>
>
>  Through all of these things, the betterment of the National
> Association of Blind Students has been, and continues to be my chief
> goal.  I want every student to feel connected to each other as a
> large, yet close and supportive group.  I want to make sure that our
> State Student divisions are as connected to nabs, as the state
> affiliates are to the national body of our organization.   I want us
> to continue to be inclusive of, and work with the parents division,
> and work to create partnerships with affiliates, divisions, and our
> national center.    I want to expand and improve our membership
> building efforts, and solidify our fundraising efforts as best I know
> how. I want to be a part of strengthening the leaders in all of us,
> yet nurture the student in us as well.  I want to be a resource to
> parents, a mentor to younger students, an ally to state student
> divisions, and a go-to person for our National operation at the
> national center.
>  I want to do these things, and I will do these things.  Not just
> because it’s trendy to say, that people think it would be nice to do,
> but because I believe that it should be done.   I want to  make sure
> that  we as nabs board members, and student  division presidents are
> accountable  for doing what we say we ought  to do, that as  leaders
> we realize that we are in these positions of leadership because  the
> leadership trusts us, and we absolutely owe them  the best work as
> leaders we can give.  And finally, to show  those who  look for us to
> be  the next generation of leaders, that we are  going to exceed the
> highest expectation, and  bring the  National Federation  of The Blind
> to a level that  our dreams have yet to imagine.
>    Please know that in everything I do, the organization, the
> division, and the membership is my focus, and I will continue to work
> for and support you.
> I hope, that you believe in me and will support/vote for me On July 4,
> at the National Association of Blind Students business meeting.
>  While there is much more work to be done before than, I wish you all
> the best couple of weeks and safe journeys.
>   Best wishes to the membership and fellow candidates
>    Darian
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Darian Smith
>
> “My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.”
>
> — Shaquille O'Neal
>
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