[nabs-l] Cindy Bennett for NABS Secretary

[Cindy Bennett]

I am Cindy Bennett, and in May, I graduated from University of North
Carolina Wilmington with my Bachelor's degree in psychology with
minors in African American Studies and Women's Studies. I am currently
working at a summer camp for blind youth as the office manager and
learning how to write grants for our nonprofit organization. In the
fall, I will attend BLIND, Inc.'s comprehensive training program. I
also will be applying for Master's and Ph.D. programs in clinical
psychology.

My background in the federation began in 2007 when a few other North
Carolina high school students and I revamped the NC Association of
Blind Students. I served as president for 2 years, and as 1st Vice
President for 1 year. I did not serve on the NCABS board this year to
allow for new leadership and to pursue endeavors with my state
affiliate, such as orchestrating all of our congressional appointments
for the 2011 Washington Seminar.

My involvement with NCABS has included the following.

1. Drafting an NCABS constitution.
2. Orchestrating monthly conference calls.
3. Planning annual business meetings.
4. Planning day-long annual student seminars beginning in 2009 and
increasing in size each year.
5. Being a liaison between blind students and the NFB for the purposes
of networking, and informing them of their rights as students.
6. Acting as a legislative committee chair by teaching NCABS members
how to contact congressmen and keeping constituents informed of
blindness related legislation.

None of my accomplishments on behalf of NCABS would have been
successful without the assistance and dedication of the other members
and my state affiliate. Working with the NCABS board has been a
privilege, and I have learned many leadership skills that I plan to
incorporate into future positions.

I have also assisted our national student board with things such as
finding articles for The Student Slate, and have participated in many
of the membership calls, and have acted as a spokesperson for one of
them.

Outside the federation, I am involved with several organizations. I am
a member of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology,
and I was the membership coordinator during my senior year of college.
I was responsible for processing all new inductees, about 60 members,
which helped to develop my organizational skills. I have been involved
in numerous other on campus organizations, and have volunteered in my
community in many capacities whether it was at local soup kitchens or
with campus fundraisers for various charities. I feel that my
experience has given me sufficient skills to be the NABS secretary.

I have some goals for my position if I am elected secretary, and I
have listed them below.

1. Complete the assigned duties of the secretary and especially
concentrate on maintaining up-to-date and organized records and
documents including a current contact database to display the
evolution of state student division boards.
2. Work to maximize and expand communication between state divisions and NABS.
3. be available to blind students across the country and connect them
with an appropriate board member or the committee chair.
4. Continue to assist with the growth and development of the Student Slate.
5. Support efforts to perpetuate a cohesive organization whose board
is responsive to the needs and feelings of the membership.
6. Work with the membership committee, specifically in the areas of on
campus student involvement and community service.
7. Assist state divisions either remotely or by attending state
student seminars with division growth, board cohesion, fundraising,
grant writing, and much more.

I have learned much from NABS and would love to step up my involvement
with the organization. If elected, I am committed to collaborating
with my fellow board members and am dedicated to represent blind
students in a positive, progressive manner. I welcome any questions
via the list, email, or in person at convention.

I wish all candidates the best and trust that the next NABS board will
act on last year's concerns and bring NABS forward to new endeavors.

-- 
Cindy Bennett
B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington

clb5590 at gmail.com
828.989.5383