[nabs-l] Thank you, NABS

[Darian Smith]

Dear Nabs,
  I feel like I’ve started off quite a few e-mails addressed in some similar yet creative fashion to this list and the various folks who have subscribed to it.
 In 2009 I joined the National Association of Blind Students Boar of directors as a board member. to some I was a relative unknown, and really I couldn’t blame them for thinking so.
   in Truth I had come to find out about the Federation via word of mouth (isn’t it always how it starts?) I didn’t think much of it at the time until I attended the summer youth program at the Colorado Center for the blind in 2001. 
 That convention started to get me to re-think what i thought I knew about blindness, but it wasn’t until  Graduating the Independence Training Program in 2004 that I felt like I was equipped  with the tools, but more so the  confidence to take on what challenges i might have desired to  face.
 My involvement in the   Federation tapered off  once I got home. I didn’t have the support system of the Federation I enjoyed in Denver, but what i eventually found was friends who connected with me personally and   invited  me to become a part of my local chapter and student division. 
  One  particular federationest;my  affiliate first-vice president  took me under his wing in the spring of 2008 and told me that I had the ability and the opportunity to help build the movement. He saw that I was invited to the state leadership seminar in the fall, and though I was set to start my AmeriCorps  service term  he encouraged me to stay involved  as soon as I came back.  in 2009, at the national Convention I was approached by a mentor and past-board member of NABS who encouraged me to run for a board position. That year I was Honored and humbled by the membership to be  elected as a board member. From that moment, I worked collaboratively and  enthusiastically, cared deeply,    supported passionately and stayed devoted to our membership, our federation, and my fellow board members. i felt that this was the way that i could show   each person over the years that believed in me that I truly appreciated   them.
 Karen  was one of the first people to make me  feel welcome, while  Arielle was the first to ease some of my  nerves and concerns about joining a board of people I didn’t know.  She came to believe in me, and i hope I  did well in  rewarding that belief. 
 Sean and  i worked on drafting the first (and only) constitutional amendment under Arielle’s administration which had to do with the number of officers elected at one time. it was the first time I had worked on anything like that, and i am still grateful to Sean for allowing me the chance to work with him. 
 I’ve had the opportunity to work with  many wonderful folks on the board  such as Cindy Bennett, Bre Brown,Gabe Cazares, Justin Salisbury, Janice Jang, Nijat Worley, Dominic Lawless, Meghan Whalen, Briley O’conner (Pollard at the time), Cody Bair, Candice Chapmen,Isaiah Wilcox, (if I’m forgetting anyone here I’m  truly sorry).
I’ve had the  opportunity to serve as  a NABS rep at a few conventions and have met many fine folks that I  consider friends, mentors and  family in the Federation, and would not  have the same appreciation and love for what we do   without their influence.
 i’ve stuck with one region (southwest region) of state student divisions with a great  group of leaders and even still a great group of people.  These are folks  that have done great work for our movement, and I know will continue to do so no matter where they land and what they do.
 I’ve had occasion to work with Many National Leaders  in many a capacity who have been great role models, of what leadership is and what the federation is all about, and I am  appreciative to say that i enjoy good working relationships with all of them  and good personal relationships with many of them.
 Sean might say  that I’ve been the man about membership , Arielle might simply say that I’ve chaired our membership committee. That committee has been an absolute joy to work with, but what has made it so is the fantastic cast of folks who have served on it , most of them having gone on to serve on the NABS board. Antonio, Liz,Bre, Candice, Janice, Cody, Cindy, and a cast that might fill out a world cup roster are where the kudos should go to for making that committee happen.
 I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mary Fernandez   and  the great  work she’s done with regards to the mentoring program that has typically fallen under membership . 
 Since Arielle asked me to in  2010, I have coordinated convention  volunteer recruitment. When Sean took over the presidency I continued as the volunteer “guru” for every year but last year, when Cindy took the task and  added the Bennett     seal of  excellence.
Now here I am this year, bugging you guys again.
   Normally you might get  the “vote for me”part of the e-mail, but in this case I want to thank you all for voting for me over the years.  This means so much to  me because it shows that  you believe in me. 
 I’ve reflected upon this a bit and came to realize that for every year I’ve been on the board I’ve either ran for a position or ran to keep  the  position I held.  This speaks powerfully to the confidence you have placed in me    over the years, hopefully I did something right by this membership. over that time.
  To   Everything comes a season, as new leaders come along with the willingness to step up, others  must step aside.
 
 But, i am always in forever a member of nabs in my heart  even if one day the student status isn’t a part of my identity.
 NABs has always been a place for students to connect, gain tips, tricks and insights. But it’s also a proving ground for leadership. I think I’ve done the leadership thing as well as I can, and now I think it’s time for my role within NABS to  evolve, as well as my role  in the Larger movement.
 for one thing, the formation of the community service division of the NFB is something I’ve been working hard on, and I hope that this is yet another  lace where all of you, my friends and family within NABs can find a space just for you. 
 I plan to be of assistance to NABS in whatever Capacity I might be asked  to serve, and I hope that the community service division finds a few ways to connect with NABS.
 So, thank you for giving me a place to be, a way to learn, an opportunity to give  and reasons to challenge myself. Thank you to those I’ve worked with and worked for. Thanks to you I’ve found a home in the federation, and all I can do is work to be sure that we all find the moment where we find the Federation as our home.
  So..  with that said;  let’s go to Orlando! Let’s love each other in the Federation  and live the lives we want!
 Gratefully yours in the movement,
 Darian Smith  
   
 
         


Darian Smith
2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students
(415) 215-9809
dsmithnfb at gmail.com.
twitter: @goldengateace

www.nabslink.org
Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink.
“ A good Head and a good heart are always a formidable combination” 
 - Nelson Mandela.  
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