[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

First, having church services during convention is not the same, persay,
as a division that.  The faith groups are providing a service (of sorts)
for the duration of the convention.

Also, I do not mean to offend, but many do not choose, for various
reasons, to participate in faith-based activities.  No, this is not a
reason to eliminate faith groups, but it may not be an activity that all
are interested in.  Just like not all are interested in the Writers
Division or the automobile division.

I agree with Joe-- we are beginning to create "havens" where blind
people feel secure, but they have the potential to become safety nets.
I know too many NFB members who are uber involved in the Federation, but
they are not out in their communities living the way we claim we are
fighting for-- as equals that can participate in the same things as our
sighted peers.

Having divisions, groups and committees is not a bad thing, but it does
have the potential to turn us into the very thing we are against.  We
must find balance in all things.

And many of the interest-based groups do nothing to accomplish the
over-all goals of the Federation.  The purpose of the NFB was to develop
a collective voice that demanded equality and a better life for blind
people.  When it comes down to it, many interest groups were not created
for this reason, and many do not focus on this concept.  They do little,
or nothing, to further the goals of the NFB.

Bridgit

Message: 9
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 10:09:39 -0600
From: Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, 	National Association of Blind Students
	mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of
the NFB
Message-ID:
	<AANLkTik7Jxv8H0UfDxW9nH0kRSWfQOfkk1OvDAmXZRfD at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

It would be ridiculous to eliminate the divisions! What about the
Communities of Faith? Do you not think that faith is important? We go to
convention, (many of us miss church,) so the devotions will be the only
church we get while at convention. There are some divisions that may
need to be fixed, (or eliminated,) but some need to stay. The
performance division, the musicians division, and others are a great
means to connect blind performers, and musicians, and people in general.
The friendships made during those meetings last a lifetime. I hate
calling people out, but Sarah, and Julie have been constant friends,
since we met in Dallas. I know that if I have a question, I can go to
one of them, and they will help me. That's the same with this student
division. I was having problems with a certain thing, but I was able to
obtain help from this list. I appreciate what certain divisions do, so
it's a ludicris thing to say, that we need to eliminate these divisions,
they just make us stronger. My 100 dollars worth, Joshua Lester.