[nabs-l] Transparency: the Value, the Quality, the Methods

[Sarah Patnaude]

Justin,

First, I appreciate the discussions you have and continue to seek and initiate. I have certainly seen the love you have for the Organization and the people and your passion for what we do. These discussions demonstrate your desire for an open line of communication (both between the board and the members and NABS and the National Board), something I would argue is essential to being an united Organization and progressing our movement. 

Transparency has 3 common definitions that I like to view more as components: the ability to be seen through; easily understood or noticeable; and being honest and open. Each component interlocks with the others, creating a firm foundation for building the Organization. By laying down the facts (good or bad), by sharing where the Board and Organization stand at any given moment, and by being honest with the members of the Organization, we can continue to build transparency. With transparency, we can continue to build trust, we can continue to build an open line of communication, and we can continue to build an united Organization. 

I'd like to think that we know everything that our board is up to, everything that our board decided on, and everything that happens within the Organization. However, I don't know if we do or don't. I'm not currently on the board, so I do not know how honest and open the board is. What I do know is that we need to put our trust in our board. We need to believe and support our board. I also know that there is always room for improvement. In everything we do, we can and should always strive for improvement.

Transparency is important. Being able to trust our board is important. Being able to communicate with our board and have the board communicate openly with us is important. Again, I am not saying that our board is or is not open, is or is not honest, or is or is not transparent, because honestly, I do not know. What I do know is that we should strive to become more transparent. We should continue to build trust within our Organization, continue to unite our Organization. 

Sarah Patnaude


On Sunday, June 22, 2014 12:23 AM, Justin Salisbury via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
 


Fellow Federationists:

I like the response I got the last time I polled the membership, so I'm here to do it again. I am a big believer in targeted introspection. I like to look within myself for my own thoughts on matters, and I hope to stimulate NABS to look within ourselves in a similar way.

Before I joined the board, I knew some things about how the board functioned, but I didn't know nearly as much as I do now. In working with student divisions across the country, I have found that I have often been the first one to bring information about the inner workings of the NABS board and about national student initiatives. I have always been proud to do it, but I wonder if we could be a more powerful movement if more members could know more about what was happening inside the board. If we are not performing as well as we can, I accept as much responsibility for it as anybody else. If we are doing it right, I'd also hope that we might receive the encouragement to continue.

How important is transparency? What type of transparency do our members want from us?  How well have we been doing with it?

Whether or not I am honored with the election to the presidency, I will value this feedback and use it to the best of my ability to build the Federation.

Yours,

Justin Salisbury
Board Member
National Association of Blind Students
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