[nabs-l] Developing an Organization Designed to Take on the Future

[Joshua Lester]

Oh no!
Not another Alexander!
LOL!
This is the second time, this message has come to us.
Blessings, Joshua

On 6/23/11, Isaiah Wilcox <iwilcox2011 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings Fellow Members of NABS,
>
> As you all know, I am running for the presidency of NABS.  I would like to
> present some of my accomplishments within NABS and the NFB, and then I would
> like to lay out my vision for the future of this fine organization.
>
> Two years ago I was honored when you all graciously elected me to the NABS
> Board.  I promised all of you then that I would do my utmost to serve you in
> the highest capacity, and I have kept that promise.  During my tour as a
> board member, I have served on the fundraising committee, and in 2010 the
> fundraising committee and I successfully worked to implement a fundraiser
> that would bring in thousands of dollars of crucial funding for NABS.  This
> year’s fundraisers are projected to successfully bring in even more funding
> than prior years.  As a NABS board member I have also served in key
> positions on the board at national and state conventions and seminars where
> I acted in versatile roles that included educating attendees and partners
> about NABS and its initiatives, networking with NABS members from all over
> the US, general event planning and execution, and volunteer and participant
> assistance in general.
>
> Over the past two years I feel that my experience on the state and local
> levels have prepared me to step out onto the national stage as the President
> of NABS.
>
> The majority of my leadership experience has been in Georgia where I
> formerly and currently serve in a number of capacities: former president of
> the Georgia Association of Blind Students (GABS); IT Administrator for the
> NFB of Georgia, Atlanta Metro Chapter Board Member; and, since 2010,
> treasurer of the state affiliate. In each of these roles, I have helped grow
> the success and impact of each entity.
>
> As president of GABS, I worked in concert with an excellent group of board
> members to accomplish some truly important achievements.  Within my first
> year as GABS president, the board and I grew membership from ten to fifty
> students; organized and executed the first GABS student convention; created
> and maintained the Connecting the Dotz quarterly newsletter; and Georgia was
> the first state to host a regional "U Improving U" seminar for the
> southeastern region.
>
> I am currently a board member for the Atlanta Metro Chapter where I actively
> educate community members about the work and mission of the NFB; I
> participate in outreach programming; and I work to create partnerships
> between the NFBGA and other organizations and groups.  My second role within
> the NFBGA is as the IT Administrator.  In this role I maintain the website,
> ensure continuity of information, and develop new and innovative ways to use
> technology to aid in the completion of our goals. In 2010 during a pivotal
> leadership change where Anil Lewis stepped down and Garrick Scott was
> elected, I was honored with a third role within the affiliate when I was
> elected Treasurer. I am happy to say that we successfully and smoothly
> completed the transition, and we continue to grow as a whole at an
> astounding pace as we add more members, initiatives, and goals.
>
> These successful leadership and team roles have been incredible learning and
> flourishing experiences for me, and they have groomed me to be a leader
> within the NFB. Since my initial involvement with the NFB in 2007, I have
> grown tremendously.  NFB has taught me that it is possible to do anything
> and everything despite being blind.  Networking with my fellow organization
> and board members on state and national scales has enabled me to hear and
> see the individual micro and larger macro needs and interests of the NFB,
> its members, and its affiliated groups, and as NABS President I will
> continue to listen and respond.  My leadership roles have also taught me an
> invaluable lesson: leadership is a two-way street.  You share what you know
> as you learn from those who you are teaching; for every one thing that you
> teach, your in turn to learn ten more.  I have unquestionably grown
> personally, professionally, and spiritually, and I will continue to do so
> alongside the organization and its members.
>
> The future of NABS is bright.  It has made tremendous strides over the past
> two years to change minds, do active work in the wider community, and to
> encourage all to not be afraid of what others may think or believe to be
> true. In line with these initiatives, as NABS President I will continue to
> encourage the further education of NABS members as I put a strong focus on
> intrapersonal growth, stronger members and a stronger organization, and
> preparing for the workplace.  Specifically, as president I will to address
> the following key areas:
> 1.     Development of State Student Divisions for Sustainability,
> 2.     Increased familiarity with and use of social media, teleconferences,
> and web for student outreach,
> 3.     Increased amount and effective use of fundraising, and
> 4.     Increased networking opportunities for student members.
>
> Development of State Student Division for Sustainability
> One major issue within the organization is that we have a high turnover
> ratio among leadership roles.  With the board's assistance I wish to develop
> a plan to build student divisions and helps them sustain their continued
> growth. The key components of this plan are to foster student leadership,
> heavily recruit nationwide, and develop a fundamentals kit to create and
> maintain a state student division.
>
> Use social media, teleconferences, and the web for student outreach
>
> Social media and the web have become one of the primary means for reaching
> out to millions of people.  This inexpensive means of communication is a
> great opportunity for NABS to do numerous important tasks: notify members of
> meetings; become a stronger and more unified division; retain old members
> while recruiting new ones; keep track of contact information; target
> specific students by region, state, education, and age through e-mail
> marketing tools; and, most importantly, networking.
>
> Fundraising
> As a nonprofit organization we must constantly and actively work to raise
> funds to support our programs and seminars and to build and strengthen the
> organization.  As President, I will consistently work to raise funds while
> putting into place cost-saving measures to ensure that we as an organization
> are intelligently using our existing and future funds with a minimum of
> waste and over-spending.
>
> Networking
> Networking is an extremely powerful and essential tool for members.  I will
> work with the board to help connect students with the valuable resources,
> divisions and committees of the NFB, and each other.  Through these networks
> students will become stronger as individuals while bringing them into other
> aspects of the organization.
>
> In closing, on July 4th there are many people who will vote for me for NABS
> President because they have a firm belief in my abilities as a leader, as an
> innovator, and as someone committed to growing and building an organization
> designed to take on the future.  But I know that there are also those who
> still have questions and who question my ability to take on this pivotal
> leadership role, and that is okay.  I appreciate these members who are as
> yet uncertain, as they challenge me to become a better me, personally and
> professionally. If you are one of these members who still have doubts, I
> encourage you to go through previous communications and posts, review the
> facts, and make your choice for NABS President based on who you
> conscientiously and morally believe to be the right choice for President.
>
> I encourage you to ask questions, to look deeper, and to really think about
> what you believe is best for NABS as a whole.  I firmly believe that I am
> the right choice for NABS President, and I encourage you to contact me
> through email at iwilcox2011 at gmail.com or through a Facebook message:
> facebook.com/isaiahwilcox
>
> Thank you for your time and your interest. I look forward to serving you as
> the potential future NABS President.
> Isaiah G. Wilcox
>
>
>
> --
> Isaiah G. Wilcox
> President, Georgia Association of Blind Students
> Board Member, National Association of Blind Students
>
> Morehouse College C '11
> 830 Westvew Dr. SW
> Box 140940
> Atlanta, GA 30314
>
> Cell: (404) 291-7791
> E-mail: iwlcox2011 at gmail.com
>
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem
> is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exist. If a blind
> person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a
> physical nuisance."
>
>
>
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