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

Mon Jun 20 10:31:23 UTC 2011

Darian:
You certainly have my support.

On Jun 20, 2011, at 4:35 AM, Kerri Kosten wrote:

> 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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> 
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