[nabs-l] young professionals division?

Fri Jun 14 03:05:30 UTC 2013

Hi ,

It sounds like there is lots of interest in organizing something for
young professionals, and several ways to go about it. I think a formal
division may not be necessary or appropriate, but a group may be. One
option is for young professionals to get together, form a group and
plan programming for national convention. Another option is for NABS
to appoint a committee for graduate students, young professionals and
non-traditional students, and have it chaired by a grad student/young
professional/nontrad (perhaps someone on the board, but wouldn't have
to be). This committee could then plan programming such as conference
calls, happy hours or other get-togethers just for "mature" students
and those who have recently graduated to network and discuss common
issues. I think NABS still has a high school committee and this would
be like the other side of that coin. It wouldn't detract from regular
NABS programming, but just develop some supplementary programming for
mature students. When I was NABS president I was open to the formation
of almost any committee as long as there was at least one individual
willing to head it up. I was approached by a few folks about starting
a nontrad committee, but it hasn't happened yet. If one or two
individuals are willing to take the lead on this, and the NABS board
would be comfortable with the idea of adding a NABS committee to focus
on the young professional/grad student/nontrad population, it could be
a great thing.

Arielle

On 6/13/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> greg,
> I agree. Young professionals have different challenges and interests than
> students.
> Inclusion in the workplace, access to technology and securing accomodations
>
> are just some issues that come to mind.
> So I think a separate division would be better for this purpose than
> expanding nabs.
> Mentoring is a great idea  and the groups can work together on some stuff,
> but yet I believe you need a separate division to meet and attract young
> professionals.
>
> I won't be at convention, but those of you expressing interest, I hope you
> gather and further discuss it.
>
> Ashley
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg Aikens
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 10:29 PM
> To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students mailing
> list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>
> I agree that young professionals have different challenges and interests
> than most of your student population.  That doesn't mean we can't still act
>
> as mentors and have a good relationship with NABS, I just think there is
> enough of a difference in need and purpose to make a separate group better
> for all involved.
>
> I'm also not sure that a full blown division would really be necessary, but
>
> maybe so.  I like the idea of opportunities to network and mentor one
> another.  I really like the sense of camaraderie I see in older generations
>
> of NFBers who have worked together for decades.
>
> Anybody interested in doing a brown bag lunch at convention this year to
> brainstorm and talk about what this might look like?  I know convention time
>
> is busy, so if lunch doesn't work, maybe another format would be better.
>
> I really like this idea and if others do too, I would love to keep the
> conversation going.  Those of you who are interested and will be at
> convention, let's get together.
>
> -Greg
>
>
> On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:36 PM, "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I see the rationale for expanding NABS, but one, it would make the scope
>> of
>> the organization that much broader than it already is, and two, NABS
>> still
>> has to get in the weeds of the philosophy fundamentals: training centers,
>> disability offices, the importance of self-advocacy, etc. When I think of
>>
>> a
>> professional organization, I'm thinking concrete items like accessibility
>>
>> in
>> the workplace, a measure of mentorship for people working in similar
>> fields
>> such as federal employees, and yes, a means of enabling otherwise busy
>> professionals to lend a hand with advocacy. I'm a busy guy but still like
>> signing petitions and calling up congress people in favor of or in
>> protest
>> to some measure or another. Having opened this can of worms, I want to be
>> clear that I'm not saying the NFB should dramatically change itself to
>> meet
>> every unique need of a young professional, but to an extend there needs
>> to
>> be a cool factor that overrides a person's sense of apathy. I get up at
>> 4:00
>> in the morning to be at my office by 6:00. I get home more or less around
>> 5:00, and I need something to make me want to go to a chapter meeting.
>> Yes,
>> it's only once a month, but you active chapter members know there is a
>> lot
>> more activity than just the one gathering. Yes, there are dozens of
>> divisions that cater to specific interests, hence my opposition to most
>> divisions in general, but having too many choices makes people like me
>> not
>> want to participate in any of it. If I don't make it to the national
>> convention and can't make Washington Seminar, where does that leave
>> people
>> like me? Perhaps an alternative organization, but being burned out on the
>> Federation does not mean I think the organization is a bad one. Anyway,
>> enough babble from me. If I express these sentiments at all, it is because
>>
>> I
>> think NABS could be in the position to generate some possibilities. Maybe
>>
>> a
>> happy hour for professionals next year in Washington? It'd be a start.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wasif,
>> Zunaira
>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 2:37 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>
>> Maybe NABS should simply be extended to  include young professionals as
>> well
>> as students.  We can all be in the same division.  That way mentoring can
>> take place with ease.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Greg Aikens
>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 1:08 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>
>> I would also be interested in having a place to network with other young
>> professionals.
>>
>>
>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 10:13 AM, "Stephanie H. DeLuca" <sjhhirst at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, I was reading through the NABS digest, and someone had mentioned
>>> an NFB young professionals division ..... that it doesn't exist lol Is
>>> this something people would be interested in?  Perhaps we can put it
>>> on the agenda for the NABS meeting at National Convention. ~ Stephanie
>>>
>>> In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
>>>   ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854
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