[nabs-l] Lack of Communication

Fri Sep 9 17:40:27 UTC 2011

Joshua, 

I apologize for the wait. In order to maintain a balance of all my  obligations  I only check my NABS email a couple of times a week. I understand that there are times to be frustrated but I honestly don't feel that this is one of them. I've sent you a reply email, but in the future the best time for you to send an email and get a same day reply would be to try sending it early in the morning rather than late at night. 
Regards, 
Candice Chapman

> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 10:19:28 -0600
> From: arielle71 at gmail.com
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Lack of Communication
> 
> Hi all,
> With all respect, I think it important to remember that student
> division building, while dear to our hearts, is not a life-or-death
> emergency. Good organizing is a process that happens over months, not
> days. So a little patience is in order here. Also, while state
> presidents and regional reps can offer helpful advice, the best way to
> organize a division is to find other students. A division can be
> formed with only three students: a president, VP, and
> secretary/treasurer. Do you know other blind students at your school?
> If not, why not go to all the local chapter meetings around your state
> and make announcements about your student division? Further, student
> divisions can include youth and young adults, not just currently
> enrolled students. Perhaps there are a couple young adults in one of
> your state's local chapters who would be interested in joining up.
> Best,
> Arielle
> 
> On 9/9/11, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Hi Peter,
> > I got frustrated with lack of responses within my student division and that
> > is why I really do not see NFB as much of a family. Great for overall
> > national advocacy but when you have an individual problem at school due to a
> > professor's attitude or you just need to have a technology question
> > answered, you need the support of another blind individual who went through
> > it. Yes it’s a
> > chronic problem all over the country. But come on, he asked the individual
> > two days ago. Do you really feel that is enough time considering the student
> > rep is also a student, family member, may sit on other student
> > organizations, may have work, or may be studying for a test.
> > I don't feel we should be frustrated unless it has happened before or we
> > have given it a few weeks.  Your suggestion of setting asside time to
> > receive calls is a good one though.
> >
> > I feel we need to balance our commitment to the NFB with our other life. I
> > wonder just what some federationists do who belong to multiple chapters and
> > take on so much? Do they have  a life outside NFB? I never saw you talk
> > about work or family here.
> > Its important to live the philosophy which means doing what other sighted
> > people do and educating the public while being involved in NFB.
> > If your  whole life is just blindness events, are you really educating the
> > public and participating on terms of equality with your fellow peers?
> >
> > It’s a problem of communication, but  I do not like the tone of be a loyal
> > federationist
> > or else. Your right that the state president could assign other individuals
> > to help him/her respond to questions/concerns.
> > However, I do not think naming names on a public archived list is right. It
> > makes a bad situation worse. He could have just said he did not hear from
> > his regional rep and asked what to do about it.
> >
> > It’s a problem throughout the country and yes I hope its addressed because
> > otherwise NFB will not be as strong. The key to effective organizations is
> > good communication and with communication comes a plan of action and
> > activities based on plans.
> >
> > Ashley
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Peter Donahue
> > Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 11:42 AM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Subject: [nabs-l] Lack of Communication
> >
> > Good morning everyone,
> >
> > This is a chronic problem all over the country so I don't blame him for
> > being frustrated. The best way for affiliate board members to avoid being
> > called out publically is to respond to member issues and concerns in a
> > timely manner. The fact that individuals were called out on this list is a
> > symptom of a serious problem in this organization. If the problem is fixed
> > this wouldn't happen and activities and federation business would be delt
> > with in a more timely manner.
> >
> >     The excuse that these are busy people with other commitments beyond the
> > NFB is a sorry one indeed. What happened to task assignment, and designated
> > calling hours. If someone knows they're going to be busy they can ask
> > another chapter or board member to handle inquiries from affiliate members.
> > They could also designate specific times during the day for those wanting to
> > reach a human being rather than a voicemail box to do so. Likewise if
> > there's a project to be done such as organizing a student division, planning
> > to broadcast a state convention, etc, the chapter or state president can
> > assign another person to work with the individual or group carrying out the
> > project so they can attend to other affiliate matters and their non-NFB
> > life. E-mail and voicemail are great but not when your messages go
> > unanswered. There is too much of this going on in this organization around
> > the country and it needs to stop!
> >
> > Peter Donahue
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> > To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-
> > l at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 9:42 AM
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Arkansas Association of Blind Students update
> >
> >
> > Communication problems calling out specific names probably shouldn't be
> > posted here. But general
> > questions about getting and building student associations would be alright.
> > I had a similar issue in Virginia. I'd call or email board members with no
> > response. The virginia association of blind students still has meetings at
> > state convention with a board. But I got disappointed in the group. A group
> > should do things and communicate with each other; a group meeting once a
> > year with no other plans was not useful to me. So I went through college and
> > advocated for myself and did what I could to succeed. This list was helpful
> > and still is, but the students in Virginia were not so helpful.
> > So I know what you mean about communication challenges; but you might want
> > to work that out with your state board members and/or regional rep.
> >
> > Ashley
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joshua Lester
> > Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 4:43 AM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Subject: [nabs-l] Arkansas Association of Blind Students update
> >
> > Hi, it's Joshua Lester.
> > I still haven't heard from Candice Chapman, (my new regional
> > representative.)
> > I E-mailed her, 2 days ago.
> > I've asked my state president, but she hasn't responded either.
> > I don't know what else to do.
> > I've noticed that our other Arkansan isn't posting, anymore.
> > What's going on?
> > If anyone would be interested, he would be.
> > Thanks for your help.
> > Blessings, Joshua
> >
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