[nabs-l] Thoughts?

Mon Jun 27 05:00:39 UTC 2011

Yes, being at a center counts as being in school.
Arielle

On 6/26/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Cindy,
>  If you are seeking election for an office on the nabs board and you
> are a student at a training center, you  in fact qualify to hold an
> elected office on the board of directors of the national  association
> of blind students.  Mainly, you need to be in school for the year
> following your election.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6/26/11, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi, Cindy,
>>
>>          It sounds like you are trying to defend your status, as
>> someone going to an NFB center. Does that count as school? Of course it
>> does!
>>
>> At the center Don't they refer to you as "students"?At 08:53 PM
>> 6/26/2011, you wrote:
>>>How does attending an NFB training center fit into that? Does that
>>>count as being a student? I fully plan to enter grad school the year
>>>after I go to BLIND, Inc.
>>>
>>>Cindy
>>>
>>>On 6/21/11, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > did I not write P R O ceeding not P R E ceeding?
>>> > M
>>> >
>>> > On 6/20/11, Arielle Silverman <nabs.president at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >> Hi Mary and all,
>>> >> Just to clarify: Anyone running for a NABS board position (including
>>> >> president or vice-president) must be a student during the year
>>> >> following election, not the year preceding election.
>>> >> Arielle
>>> >>
>>> >> On 6/20/11, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>> Hello All,
>>> >>> Arielle thank you so much for your informative and clear post; it
>>> >>> really got to the heart of what I was trying to get at.
>>> >>> The Constitution of any organized body, if well written, allows for
>>> >>> clear specifications while being flexible enough for interpretation
>>> >>> by
>>> >>> the body of that organization. If a Constitution is to specific and
>>> >>> constricting it might limit the potential of the organization,
>>> >>> however
>>> >>> by allowing for interpretation, it insures a structure that can be
>>> >>> molded to fit the interests and needs of the organization. It is the
>>> >>> duty of the membership of that body to uphold the Constitution. As
>>> >>> elections draw closer I think that it is important for those who are
>>> >>> voting to be familiar with at least the very basic requirements that
>>> >>> we have written out in the NABS Constitution. And after doing so,
>>> >>> that
>>> >>> those we elect fit those Constitutional requirements. This brief
>>> >>> excerpt for example, clearly states that anyone running for the
>>> >>> positions of President and vice President must be students for a year
>>> >>> proceeding their election. Personally, this is important to me. If we
>>> >>> are an organization of Blind Students, then it follows logically,
>>> >>> that
>>> >>> I would want a Blind Student heading this organization. Well, what is
>>> >>> a student? How strictly or ambiguously should we interpret that
>>> >>> definition?
>>> >>> To me, a student is someone who is,  in some way furthering their
>>> >>> education. Whether it is in a training center, in graduate school, or
>>> >>> in a part time capacity, or even planning to go abroad to do
>>> >>> research,
>>> >>> they are furthering their education. I have a harder time being
>>> >>> convinced that someone who has a full time job and isn't enrolled in
>>> >>> any academic classes, truly qualifies as a student. But there are
>>> >>> many
>>> >>> who disagree and have valid arguments for doing so. The point of this
>>> >>> post for me, was to have all of us think about what we want in a
>>> >>> leader, and to encourage us to ask questions of those who have
>>> >>> stepped
>>> >>> up and declared their intention to run for a NABS office.
>>> >>> The point of a constitution is to provide structure to a body. It is
>>> >>> a
>>> >>> document that directly reflects what the majority of the membership
>>> >>> thinks is important in the governing of their organization. If we
>>> >>> consciously believe that there should be an amendment to a
>>> >>> Constitution, then we should speak up and make that conscious
>>> >>> decision. However, a Constitutional clause should not just be ignored
>>> >>> because we are not responsible in the upholding of that document. If
>>> >>> we begin to ignore what we at one point believed was important, we
>>> >>> are
>>> >>> letting the structure of our organization collapse. And without a
>>> >>> structure what will be left?
>>> >>> I'm not saying that we should not change and grow as our needs,
>>> >>> thoughts and priorities change, but we should do so consciously and
>>> >>> not because we do not know and do not care about our Constitution.
>>> >>> Sincerely,
>>> >>> Mary Fernandez
>>> >>>
>>> >>> On 6/18/11, Arielle Silverman <nabs.president at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>>> Hi all,
>>> >>>> I agree that  this constitutional clause is a bit ambiguous and
>>> >>>> could
>>> >>>> be made more concrete in its application. The way I have seen it
>>> >>>> interpreted is that candidates may run for the board if they intend
>>> >>>> to
>>> >>>> be a student in either the fall term, spring term, or both in the
>>> >>>> year
>>> >>>> following their election. So, someone who is not enrolled in fall,
>>> >>>> but
>>> >>>> who is enrolled in spring is technically eligible under this
>>> >>>> interpretation. The constitution also allows for people to finish
>>> >>>> out
>>> >>>> their elected terms if they graduate mid-term, which happens
>>> >>>> frequently. However, after graduation, the candidate is not eligible
>>> >>>> to run for a second term, unless they plan to enroll in a different
>>> >>>> educational program at that time.
>>> >>>> The phrase "in school" has been interpreted quite loosely so that
>>> >>>> part-time students or students at NFB training centers are eligible
>>> >>>> for election.
>>> >>>> I would support a discussion of how the membership wants to define
>>> >>>> student status, and what they feel is necessary to be an appropriate
>>> >>>> elected representative for the student division. For instance, I
>>> >>>> might
>>> >>>> be willing to entertain the argument that people who have recently
>>> >>>> graduated can still be appropriate representatives for NABS, since
>>> >>>> much of the material we cover in NABS is relevant to young
>>> >>>> professionals as well.
>>> >>>> The other problem, though, is that this constitutional clause has
>>> >>>> not
>>> >>>> been strictly enforced, and more than once, individuals have been
>>> >>>> elected to the board despite having no intention to be in school
>>> >>>> during the year following election. It is up to the membership to
>>> >>>> challenge the eligibility of candidates they believe do not meet the
>>> >>>> criteria, either because  they are not blind or because they are not
>>> >>>> students. If someone is nominated for a position and a NABS member
>>> >>>> challenges that candidate's eligibility, the membership can discuss
>>> >>>> and vote on whether or not that particular candidate is eligible to
>>> >>>> run. As far as I know, this is the only way to enforce
>>> >>>> constitutional
>>> >>>> rules on eligibility, since the NABS president, as a non-voting
>>> >>>> chair
>>> >>>> of the election, cannot do so. If we as an organization believe it
>>> >>>> is
>>> >>>> important to have our leadership be made up only of students, then
>>> >>>> it
>>> >>>> is our responsibility to ensure this happens-by not seeking election
>>> >>>> to the board unless we will be students and by challenging  the
>>> >>>> eligibility of those who attempt to run despite not being students.
>>> >>>> If, on the other hand, we as a membership are not particularly
>>> >>>> concerned about the student status of our board, then we can always
>>> >>>> amend the constitution to drop that clause.
>>> >>>> Arielle
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> On 6/17/11, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>>>> Hi Elizabeth,
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> By her subject line, I think Mary was trying to ask our opinions
>>> >>>>> on this part of the NABS constitution.  Hope this helps!
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>  Chris
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>>> >>>>> To learn more about Camp Abilities and find a local camp near
>>> >>>>> you, just click on this link to their national Web site:
>>> >>>>> www.campabilities.org.
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in
>>> >>>>> Maryland have the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click
>>> >>>>> on this link to learn more and to contribute:
>>> >>>>> www.icanfoundation.info.
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>  Sent from my BrailleNote
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >>>>> From: "Elizabeth" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com
>>> >>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> >>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> >>>>> Date sent: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:00:47 -0400
>>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Thoughts?
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> Hello Marry,
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> Thanks for reminding all of us the duties associated with being
>>> >>>>> elected to
>>> >>>>> the NABS board.  Since the subject line of your message seems to
>>> >>>>> imply a
>>> >>>>> question of some kind, do you have any particular questions about
>>> >>>>> this
>>> >>>>> specific section of the constitution? I am simply asking because
>>> >>>>> I am not
>>> >>>>> quite sure what your purpose was for posting this to the list.
>>> >>>>> Was it simply
>>> >>>>> a reminder for those who may be seeking election this year, or
>>> >>>>> did you have
>>> >>>>> some questions about it?
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> Thanks,
>>> >>>>> Elizabeth
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> >>>>> From: "Mary Fernandez" <trillian551 at gmail.com
>>> >>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 9:20 AM
>>> >>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> >>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> >>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Thoughts?
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>  ARTICLE IV--Officers and Their Duties
>>> >>>>>  "The President and Vice Presidents of this organization must be
>>> >>>>> blind.
>>> >>>>>  ...  All officers and board members must be in school for one
>>> >>>>> year
>>> >>>>>  following
>>> >>>>>  their election.  "
>>> >>>>>  for the complete NABS Constitution visit www.nabslink.org
>>> >>>>>  -- Sincerely,
>>> >>>>>  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
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>  _______________________________________________
>>> >>>>>  nabs-l mailing list
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>>> >>>>> info for
>>> >>>>>  nabs-l:
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/lizmohnke
>>> >>>>> %40hotmail.com
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> >>>>>
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>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> --
>>> >>>> Arielle Silverman
>>> >>>> President, National Association of Blind Students
>>> >>>> Phone:  602-502-2255
>>> >>>> Email:
>>> >>>> nabs.president at gmail.com
>>> >>>> Website:
>>> >>>> www.nabslink.org
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> >>>> nabs-l:
>>> >>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/trillian551%40gmail.com
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> --
>>> >>> 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
>>> >>>
>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> Arielle Silverman
>>> >> President, National Association of Blind Students
>>> >> Phone:  602-502-2255
>>> >> Email:
>>> >> nabs.president at gmail.com
>>> >> Website:
>>> >> www.nabslink.org
>>> >>
>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>> >> nabs-l mailing list
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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
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > nabs-l mailing list
>>> > nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> > nabs-l:
>>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/clb5590%40gmail.com
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Cindy Bennett
>>>B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>>>
>>>clb5590 at gmail.com
>>>828.989.5383
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Darian Smith
>
> “My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.”
>
> — Shaquille O'Neal
>
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-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org