[nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB PS

Fri Apr 4 15:52:40 UTC 2014

Hi Sandra,

I feel you on the library issue; I know a girl from the UK who is
about my age, and she's told me stories about things that have
happened to her RNIB books.  However, as Darian says, I do wish we had
some of the transportation options that Europeans have.  It would be
so nice to use a train to get from point A to point B, and though we
do have them in the U.S, we don't have many of them.  Kind of
something silly, but I tend to travel a lot in the summers.

Funny story though.  Our music section of the Library of Congress
isn't as big as I would have hoped it would be.  There aren't that
many books for my instrument.  I tried to get an etude book in braille
music, and first was told that it didn't exist.  Then I asked about
the second book in the series, even though I wasn't working on it yet,
and I was told that it had been brailled, but it would have to be
borrowed from RNIB and then shipped to me, a process which could take
a really long time to sort out between the two libraries.  I wonder
why the two libraries can't interact more for the sharing of
materials?

Do you guys have a counterpart to bookshare?  Honestly, I prefer using
it to Web Braille, because I think the books are higher quality.  I
also never use BARD so it's kind of pointless to even deal with it
when Bookshare is available.

On 4/4/14, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Sandra,
>   I'm sure that  we have an appreciation for what we have. Many of us here
> have contributed in one way or another to what the NFB is today.
>  I think this concern comes from a place where people care about what's
> going on and want to make a change, and hopefully this is what comes of it.
>
>  Besides I'm sure that there are things people in   Europe complain about
> that americans would roll their eyes at *smile*.
>   Darian
> On Apr 4, 2014, at 12:41 AM, Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello again,
>> While I'm ranting about privaleges In America, you guys have web
>> Braille while we still have to put up with Braille books being bent in
>> half and sometimes ripped by members of our loving postal service.
>>
>> I'm sorry I'm coming across as a grumpy old woman before my time, hee
>> hee! I'm just saying, be greatful for what you have and if you don't
>> like having what the rest of us can only fantasize about, change what
>> you can. If that doesn't work, build your own organisation whereyou
>> can implement your ideas for change. I'm sure that's how The NFB
>> started; someone had a dream about how they could make the world a
>> better place for visually impaired people. From where I'm sitting,
>> they're not doing a bad job!
>>
>> Very best wishes,
>> Sandra.
>>
>> On 4/4/14, Sandra Gayer <sandragayer7 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hello everyone,
>>> It's hard for me to sit here and listen to all this. I'm in Europe and
>>> we don't have any of the opportunities you're complaining about;
>>> conventions, visually impaired leaders, independence  philosophy etc.
>>> You could always live in England where there's disability specific
>>> hate crime! You wouldn't have any 'Youth Slams' to organise or
>>> complain about here, trust me! You certainly wouldn't have the luxury
>>> of criticising how a visually impaired national gathering is run
>>> because they are very rare here. As for visually impaired people at
>>> the top of an organisation, don't make me laugh!
>>>
>>> Very best wishes,
>>> Sandra.
>>>
>>> On 4/3/14, Antonio Guimaraes <freethaught at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Jedi,
>>>>
>>>> Extremely well said. Your ease with words, and adeptedness when writing
>>>> on
>>>> a
>>>> mobile device both deserve my public acknowledgement for a job well
>>>> done.
>>>>
>>>> May I say, tongue in cheek, that you inspire me. Smiles.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Antonio M Guimaraes Jr.
>>>>
>>>>> On Apr 2, 2014, at 10:32 PM, Jedi Moerke <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh my goodness! I have so many thoughts in my mind and have no idea
>>>>> where
>>>>> to start!
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't want to get into the details here, but I can honestly say that
>>>>> I
>>>>> have had my experience of disillusionment with the organization. I can
>>>>> say
>>>>> that I felt an outsider, judged, not welcome, isolated, and like I had
>>>>> nothing to contribute that anyone wants in this organization. In
>>>>> short,
>>>>> I
>>>>> felt completely worthless and that I didn't belong. Were  there  some
>>>>> people and experiences in the organization that helped me to feel this
>>>>> way? Yes. But I also came to find that my expectations for life in the
>>>>> federation were also to blame.
>>>>>
>>>>> My membership in the Nfb has radically changed my life for the better.
>>>>> I
>>>>> honestly don't think I would be the person I am  without the knowledge
>>>>> and
>>>>> experience I have gained by my membership in it. Like many newcomers
>>>>> to
>>>>> organizations like the Nfb, I immediately became enamored with every
>>>>> aspect of the organization and initially felt that the organization
>>>>> and
>>>>> its members could not do wrong. Unfortunately, a few experiences
>>>>> radically
>>>>> shifted my opinion in the opposite direction and I felt completely
>>>>> disoriented. Self reflection caused me to recognize a few things that
>>>>> might be relevant to this discussion.
>>>>>
>>>>> First, there is a difference between the ideals of the organization
>>>>> and
>>>>> the members of the organization. I believe the ideals of the
>>>>> Federation
>>>>> our sound. I believe that the Federation philosophy strives to support
>>>>> all
>>>>> blind people no matter the circumstance. Dr. Jernigan used to say
>>>>> that,
>>>>> in
>>>>> everything that matters, we are one. I really believe that is the
>>>>> attitude we all strive for. The reality is that we fall short
>>>>> sometimes
>>>>> for one reason or another. But that is no reason to quit. I really
>>>>> believe
>>>>> that it is better to stay and encourage members around us to strive
>>>>> toward
>>>>> our stated ideals rather than to leave with bitterness in  our hearts
>>>>> and
>>>>> a bad attitude. And that is not to say that encouraging others toward
>>>>> our
>>>>> organizational ideals isn't challenging. I myself have faced that
>>>>> challenge and have come out better for it. To tell you the truth, I
>>>>> believe the membership I impacted also came out better as well. I also
>>>>> believe that we managed to build a stronger relationship as a result.
>>>>>
>>>>> I also found that I had to look at the expectations I had for myself
>>>>> within the organization. I perceived a set of rules for perfection as
>>>>> a
>>>>> member of the organization. It took me a long time and quite a lot of
>>>>> personal agonizing to realize that my worth as a blind person and a
>>>>> member
>>>>> is not determined by how well I follow these rules. In fact, I decided
>>>>> to
>>>>> do away with these rules altogether. I am honestly much happier for
>>>>> it.
>>>>> In
>>>>> the process of my personal reflection, I learned that many other
>>>>> people
>>>>> in
>>>>> the organization decided to throw away whatever rules they perceived
>>>>> for
>>>>> being a perfect Nfb member. And strangely, I started to recognize
>>>>> overtime
>>>>> that there really were no rules for Nfb perfection to begin with and
>>>>> that
>>>>> it was all in our heads. Are there judgmental people in the
>>>>> organization?
>>>>> Absolutely. However, I bet that they are probably judgmental in other
>>>>> areas of their life as well. Not just in there Nfb membership. I say
>>>>> to
>>>>> hell with them. I can think of better things to do than worry about
>>>>> them.
>>>>> That said, I do believe that the ideas we call Nfb philosophy make
>>>>> some
>>>>> good points and recommendations for what blind people can do to better
>>>>> themselves. I am living proof that many of these recommendations truly
>>>>> do
>>>>> make a difference. It's up to you whether or not you are willing to
>>>>> assess
>>>>> your own life to determine what recommendations will help you improve.
>>>>> Everyone has room to grow, so I encourage all of you too take down
>>>>> whatever defenses you  may have and have a listen. You never know, you
>>>>> might find something helpful somewhere. And the stuff that isn't
>>>>> helpful
>>>>> to you and your situation? Don't worry about it. In fact, feel free to
>>>>> offer your own ideas. There are those who will not listen, but there
>>>>> are
>>>>> also plenty who will. You never know, your perspective may someday be
>>>>> added to our common philosophy. At the very least, your willingness to
>>>>> speak your ideas may make room for some other member of the
>>>>> Federation.
>>>>> But that can't happen if you decide to leave.
>>>>>
>>>>> I want to say a few words about the shift our organization seems to be
>>>>> undergoing. I think that Steve had a point when he said that our
>>>>> organization is not the same organization from the 80s and 90s. The
>>>>> field
>>>>> of blindness has changed dramatically since then. More agencies are
>>>>> willing to work with us and many are wanting to learn from us. We have
>>>>> learned a lot about our capabilities in  the last 20 or 30 years. We
>>>>> now
>>>>> know that we can drive a car or practice arts in the STEM  fields.
>>>>> Technology has changed our lives in a number of ways making some
>>>>> things
>>>>> easier and some things more difficult. Lastly, the way we advocate for
>>>>> ourselves  has changed a great deal as well. So naturally, the way we
>>>>> express ourselves is going to change. But that does not mean that our
>>>>> mission has changed. And yes, we have taken on a few initiatives that
>>>>> cost
>>>>> a lot of money. In the current budgetary climate, we do need to work
>>>>> harder at raising some funds in order to keep these initiatives
>>>>> afloat.
>>>>> That said, I believe the national organization recognizes that not
>>>>> everyone is as enthusiastic about fundraising as others. I think the
>>>>> national organizations goals for us as members is for each of us to
>>>>> participate in fundraising in whatever way we can even if our
>>>>> participation is quiet. Some of us take part via our own personal
>>>>> contributions. Others are able to persuade people outside of the
>>>>> organization to donate various sums of money. Some of us prefer to
>>>>> sell
>>>>> things for our chapters during convention or Deering meet the blind
>>>>> campaigns. Whatever it takes. I think the important thing is for you
>>>>> to
>>>>> do
>>>>> what you can. Every little bit helps. It is likely that you may have
>>>>> more
>>>>> enthusiasm for some other part of our mission such as advocacy or
>>>>> public
>>>>> education. So spend your time on those efforts rather than moaning
>>>>> about
>>>>> our fundraising efforts. Trust me when I tell you that there are
>>>>> members
>>>>> who moan about our public education efforts. So it goes both ways
>>>>> really.
>>>>>
>>>>> As a cane travel instructor, I was particularly struck by someone's
>>>>> comment regarding their suppose it inability to do structured
>>>>> discovery
>>>>> perfectly. I hate to disappoint you and all, but there is no perfect
>>>>> way
>>>>> to do structure discovery. Structure discovery is about teaching
>>>>> people
>>>>> the skills they need to make sense of the world and to act in  it
>>>>> given
>>>>> their abilities and challenges. A teacher who is not sensitive to a
>>>>> person's challenges is no teacher at all. Likewise, a teacher who does
>>>>> not
>>>>> push a student out of their comfort zone is no teacher at all. And it
>>>>> doesn't really matter if that teacher is a travel instructor or a
>>>>> mentor
>>>>> at convention. The best teachers keep students in a sweet spot where
>>>>> they
>>>>> are definitely challenged, but not so challenged as to make the
>>>>> experience
>>>>> a total wash. If you are the student so to speak and find yourself
>>>>> with
>>>>> a
>>>>> teacher who either doesn't push you or who pushes you beyond your
>>>>> ability,
>>>>> then it is your responsibility to find somebody who can keep you in
>>>>> that
>>>>> sweet spot. It is also up to you to recognize the difference between
>>>>> your
>>>>> actual challenges and those that are self-imposed. As a final thought,
>>>>> if
>>>>> you do structure discovery perfectly, then you are probably doing it
>>>>> wrong
>>>>> anyway as structured discovery is never perfect, and that is true no
>>>>> matter what kind of blind person you are.
>>>>>
>>>>> At the risk of babbling, let me finish my commentary by saying that
>>>>> those
>>>>> of you who have felt displaced as members of our organization are not
>>>>> alone. Many of us have had that experience and I think it comes with
>>>>> the
>>>>> territory of being one member among many within a vast organization
>>>>> whose
>>>>> membership succumbs to human failings. I suggest you keep talking to
>>>>> people about your experience as you will likely find someone who has
>>>>> been
>>>>> there and who can be both a support system and an advisor to you as to
>>>>> what you might do to find your place among us once again. Like I said,
>>>>> I
>>>>> have been there before and I am still working on finding my place. I'm
>>>>> not
>>>>> really sure when or how I will get there, but I am still confident
>>>>> that
>>>>> I
>>>>> will nonetheless.
>>>>>
>>>>> Respectfully,
>>>>> Jedi
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Apr 1, 2014, at 6:28 PM, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>> There has been some wonderful discussion here, and I'm sorry if I
>>>>>> somehow
>>>>>> repeat something that has been said, as i have not been able to get
>>>>>> quite
>>>>>> caught up on every message.  nonetheless,  Joe once again has
>>>>>> brought
>>>>>> up a host  of great points, an I feel compelled to jump in here.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It has been mentioned  that the organization seems to focus on two
>>>>>> things
>>>>>> primarily; 1. fundraising, and 2. recruiting  new members.
>>>>>> I think both things are very important, but they should go hand   in
>>>>>> hand
>>>>>> with being exemplary stewards of our funds and a true effort towards
>>>>>> accepting /retaining our current membership. different people take
>>>>>> different things from the organization.  Some love what we do and
>>>>>> want
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> be a part of it,  others can't give time but can give money, some not
>>>>>> money but time, some want to be leaders and nothing more, some want
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> members with no responsibility  in the  organization.
>>>>>> Honestly, I think it's very important that we  continue to make an
>>>>>> effort
>>>>>> to accept people where they are in their blindness and meet their
>>>>>> needs/answer questions where appropriate.  doing these things over
>>>>>> time
>>>>>> will allow for us to be able to come to know our fellow members as
>>>>>> people, as friends and this is what keeps people around.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Some of us feel  like we don't have a real  connection with people in
>>>>>> our
>>>>>> chapter, or affiliate and this is truly  disheartening. Sometimes we
>>>>>> need
>>>>>> to reach out to the right person, sometimes there is more that we can
>>>>>> do
>>>>>> and simply giving up won't  solve the problem. It of course is
>>>>>> totally
>>>>>> possible that for  whatever reason the leadership isn't very
>>>>>> receptive
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> new people or new ideas.  If you believe  in what the federation
>>>>>> stands
>>>>>> for and believe what we do is worth the time you are willing to give,
>>>>>> then finding the right outlet in some part of the organization is
>>>>>> very
>>>>>> important, and I hope that everyone here does this.
>>>>>> it is my opinion that we each has something unique to offer the
>>>>>> movement.
>>>>>> some of us are fundraisers, some of us are natural leaders, some of
>>>>>> us
>>>>>> know how to network, and in the grass-roots community work that we do
>>>>>> all
>>>>>> of these things are important.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Darian
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mar 30, 2014, at 11:00 AM, Arielle Silverman
>>>>>>> <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Joe,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have not been following the
>>>>>>> Braille Monitor that closely but I can understand what you are
>>>>>>> saying
>>>>>>> about the increased emphasis on fund-raising. I have also felt like
>>>>>>> the national convention is turning into more of a carnival with all
>>>>>>> the exhibitors and prizes being given away, and much of banquet that
>>>>>>> used to focus on philosophy and NFB spirit is now taken up with
>>>>>>> prize
>>>>>>> drawings and the like.
>>>>>>> To be fair, NFB was stronger financially when we joined than it is
>>>>>>> now, and I understand that some national programs have been cut due
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> a decrease in revenue from what used to be steady reliable income
>>>>>>> sources. So NFB may be pushing fund-raising more, but the
>>>>>>> alternative
>>>>>>> could be a loss of programs and resources.
>>>>>>> I have not heard of anyone being blatantly turned away or refused
>>>>>>> membership in an NFB chapter. If that ever happens it is truly
>>>>>>> shameful. I do think that sometimes prospective members choose not
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> join because they perceive hostility from the organization or
>>>>>>> judgment
>>>>>>> of their lifestyle choices. I think part of that is perception only,
>>>>>>> and part of it is reality. The NFB is stereotyped as a radical
>>>>>>> one-size-fits-all organization, and new members expecting to find
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> could be especially sensitive to cues of hostility. However, there
>>>>>>> probably is some real lack of acceptance among certain segments of
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> organization, which, again, is unfortunate. I will say that I am not
>>>>>>> the most graceful blind person and was relatively unskilled when I
>>>>>>> first joined, and I still felt completely accepted. But I know not
>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>> of us are so lucky. I would encourage prospective members who have a
>>>>>>> negative experience to try again in a different chapter or division
>>>>>>> and perhaps they will find acceptance there. But at the same time,
>>>>>>> this is something we need to be sensitive to in the organization.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Arielle
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 3/30/14, Michael Capelle <michael.capelle at frontier.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hello all.
>>>>>>>> This is why I am not apart of any "blind movement."  I live my own
>>>>>>>> life,
>>>>>>>> live my own philosophy, ETC.  I do not believe in a one size fits
>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>> mentality, which is unfurtunately what the NFB does.
>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: RJ Sandefur
>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 11:51 AM
>>>>>>>> To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students
>>>>>>>> mailing
>>>>>>>> list
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Joe, I agree with you. I had to attend both college, and Seminary
>>>>>>>> without
>>>>>>>> the NFB's help, although it would have been nice to have a mentoor.
>>>>>>>> RJ
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 12:25 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 2006 was the last year I attended a national convention. While
>>>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>> caught up in the ra ra of the movement and felt glad to be in the
>>>>>>>>> company
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> so many people who could relate to the challenges that awaited me
>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> recent college graduate. I left convention, finished up my summer
>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> counselor in Iowa, and set off for DC to begin my business with
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> real
>>>>>>>>> world. I would never take away someone's enthusiasm from attending
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> national convention or Washington Seminar or one of the weekend
>>>>>>>>> leadership
>>>>>>>>> seminars in Baltimore. They are very well-suited to boost a
>>>>>>>>> person's
>>>>>>>>> spirit,
>>>>>>>>> but I believe too many people fall through the cracks when faced
>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>> reality outside of those infrequent gatherings.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> To be fair, the organization is no different from any other
>>>>>>>>> nonprofit
>>>>>>>>> business. It needs money to sustain itself, and in turn it needs
>>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>> members to help raise the money. Still, I found it rather
>>>>>>>>> disappointing
>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>> so much of the board meeting I tuned into listen to last summer
>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>> dominated by calls to raise money for this fund or that effort. I
>>>>>>>>> found
>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>> even sadder that a recent issue of the Braille Monitor, our
>>>>>>>>> monthly
>>>>>>>>> dose
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> inspiration, featured several articles just to the focus of
>>>>>>>>> generating
>>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>> ways to drum up more financial support, but perhaps the most
>>>>>>>>> frustrating
>>>>>>>>> byproduct of this new NFB are the e-mails from so-called friends
>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>> whom
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> have not heard in years but boldly ask me to contribute to their
>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>> fundraising campaigns.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> In short, at some point the NFB embraced enterprise and forgot
>>>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> movement. Between 2006 and 2012 I went on to help lead development
>>>>>>>>> efforts
>>>>>>>>> for other nonprofits outside of the blindness field, also national
>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>> scope.
>>>>>>>>> They too made fundraising a priority, but it never felt like the
>>>>>>>>> top,
>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> only, priority. It gets tiresome when we focus on recruiting new
>>>>>>>>> blood
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> raising new money and forget about strengthening the members and
>>>>>>>>> resources
>>>>>>>>> we've already had.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Nowadays I have the privilege of knowing some excellent blind
>>>>>>>>> professionals.
>>>>>>>>> I think they would do well in the NFB. They are smarter than I
>>>>>>>>> ever
>>>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>> and have accomplished more than I may ever achieve, but they shun
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> organization because they were turned away or because they were
>>>>>>>>> never
>>>>>>>>> welcomed in the first place. It's something I should have kept in
>>>>>>>>> mind
>>>>>>>>> when
>>>>>>>>> I had my brief taste of leadership in the organization. I had too
>>>>>>>>> much
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> mouth on me to ever be anyone's golden child, but I was reliable
>>>>>>>>> enough
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> get the job done. But, getting the job done should have really
>>>>>>>>> meant
>>>>>>>>> attracting and pulling in these men and women who could have made
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>> lots better, listening to new ideas, and most important, remaining
>>>>>>>>> true
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> the cause and not some multi-million-dollar institute we find
>>>>>>>>> ourselves
>>>>>>>>> incapable of sustaining.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> So, what does any of this have to do with the original post? I
>>>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>> to ever be said I was a hypocrite. The leadership may as well know
>>>>>>>>> what I
>>>>>>>>> think of them, but more importantly, to the college kids on the
>>>>>>>>> verge
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> spreading their own wings, I want you to know the NFB banner will
>>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>>> guide
>>>>>>>>> your way so far. Take what's great about the organization and
>>>>>>>>> leave
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> political drama and marketing ploys behind. In the end it will be
>>>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>>>> own
>>>>>>>>> wits and talents that will earn your pay check. The NFB will never
>>>>>>>>> give
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>> anything new. The philosophy merely helps you uncover what you
>>>>>>>>> always
>>>>>>>>> had
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> be successful. Anything could happen with the new NFB president,
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>>>> be the first to retract my words if he is brave enough to reverse
>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>> downward spiral. You see, we no longer live in a world where the
>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>> necessary for collective momentum. Technology has seen to that.
>>>>>>>>> Whether
>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>> not the movement sticks around largely depends on how badly we
>>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> exist.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is the ACB doing it any better? That's debatable, but you know
>>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>>> I've
>>>>>>>>> found from the people I've met on that side of the house? They
>>>>>>>>> seem
>>>>>>>>> happier,
>>>>>>>>> and that's something we can't seem to figure out in our camp. The
>>>>>>>>> few
>>>>>>>>> victories they celebrate they do with even less money. Let that be
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> lesson
>>>>>>>>> in financial management to you.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I don't know what the hell I'm doing back here. I told myself I
>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>> never
>>>>>>>>> become one of those bitter former NFB members. My only goal was to
>>>>>>>>> provide
>>>>>>>>> different perspectives to the new generation of leaders coming up
>>>>>>>>> through
>>>>>>>>> the ranks. After all, if you never taste the real world, you have
>>>>>>>>> no
>>>>>>>>> business leading. That's like the teacher who teaches because they
>>>>>>>>> couldn't
>>>>>>>>> cut it, and believe it or not, I want to see more and more of you
>>>>>>>>> excel
>>>>>>>>> at
>>>>>>>>> whatever it is you want to do. The more of you there are, the
>>>>>>>>> greater
>>>>>>>>> our
>>>>>>>>> strength.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Moving forward I reckon I'll keep my opinions to myself here lest
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> rotten apple that spoils the bunch, but in some lame attempt to
>>>>>>>>> answer
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> original question, my answer would be this:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The characteristics of a successful blind person are humility to
>>>>>>>>> consume
>>>>>>>>> what they need to be successful, fortitude to turn away what will
>>>>>>>>> not,
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> wisdom to recognize the difference.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Joe
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Visit my blog:
>>>>>>>>> http://joeorozco.com/blog
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Soprano Singer
>>> www.sandragayer.com
>>>
>>> Broadcast Presenter
>>>
>>> www.insightradio.co.uk/music-box.html
>>>
>>> Voiceover Artist
>>>
>>> www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Soprano Singer
>> www.sandragayer.com
>>
>> Broadcast Presenter
>>
>> www.insightradio.co.uk/music-box.html
>>
>> Voiceover Artist
>>
>> www.archangelvoices.co.uk/content/sandra-gayer
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
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-- 
Kaiti