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

Joshua Lester jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu
Fri Jun 24 18:09:11 UTC 2011


It is well written.
I just commented, that I had gotten the same message twice, in my endbox.
I'm glad we straightened that out.
Blessings, Joshua

On 6/24/11, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Good morning All,
> Isaiah, this is extremely well written, and very well thought out.
> Thank you very much!
> Sincerely,
> Mary
>
> On 6/23/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>> 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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>>
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>
>
> --
> Mary Fernandez
> President: Georgia Association of Blind Students
> Emory University 2012
> P.O. Box 123056
> Atlanta Ga.
> 30322
> Phone: 732-857-7004
>
> "It's not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much
> rather you weren't doing it."
> Terry Pratchett
>
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