[nabs-l] Joining local chapters

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Sun Sep 20 23:15:32 UTC 2015


I would urge people to not make generalizations.  Because one chapter 
does something a certain way, it doesn't necessarily mean that this 
is the "NFB way."

Dave

At 04:54 PM 9/20/2015, you wrote:
>Hello Kaiti,
>
>I am sorry to hear you are having so much trouble connecting with a local
>chapter. The all or nothing approach to being involved with the NFB is one
>of the things I do not like about the organization. In this second email,
>you state this is not the NFB you know because you believe it is important
>for other members and chapter leaders to show other people they care about
>them as people in all situations of their lives as members of the
>organization. Perhaps this is not the NFB you know, but it is definitely the
>NFB I know, so it really does not surprise me to hear you have been treated
>this way.
>
>I think others have already given you some great suggestions as to how to go
>about handling this situation. I agree with what has already been said, so I
>will not repeat it. However, I do have some other suggestions for you.
>
>If you are not able to attend the chapter meetings on a regular basis, is
>there any way you could get involved in the chapter by serving on a
>committee that meets at a different time? I know for our chapter, we usually
>have a committee who help plan and organize the chapter summer picnic and
>the holiday Christmas party. Perhaps you could serve on such a committee
>even if you are not able to attend the event, or perhaps serving on such a
>committee would make the chapter President more open to changing the time
>and date of the event so you could attend it.
>
>Also, I have heard of some chapters holding Braille club meetings that take
>place at a different date and time than the regular chapter meetings.
>Perhaps you could start something like this to compliment the regular
>chapter meetings providing your schedule and other time commitments would
>allow you to do something like this. Our chapter meetings are more
>businesslike, so lately we have been thinking of things we could do as a
>chapter in a more relaxed environment to get to know each other better. So
>perhaps you could organize something fun like a game night where chapter
>members could play various card games and board games. Or you could organize
>something more like a Braille club meeting, book club meeting, or NFB
>philosophy discussions if you are more interested in having a more tailored
>discussion about blindness or the NFB.
>
>I hope this email provides you with some more options regarding how you
>might be able to get involved with a local chapter even if you are not able
>to attend chapter meetings on a regular basis. However, I think it is
>perfectly fine for you not to be involved with a local chapter if it does
>not fit into your schedule. Other members of the chapter may encourage you
>to become more involved with the chapter, but whether or not they make you
>feel guilty about the fact that you are not able to be involved because of
>your schedule is up to you and not them. It is not selfish to put yourself
>first because we are not able to be there for others if we do not look after
>ourselves first.
>
>Warm regards,
>Elizabeth
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti Shelton
>via nabs-l
>Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2015 4:07 PM
>To: jsoro620 at gmail.com; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
><nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Joining local chapters
>
>Thanks all for your comments.  I've hung back since my initial post to see
>what would come from this thread, and it has been well-worth it.
>
>I do recognize that the chapter president has tried to be as accommodating
>as he can for the current chapter members, and especially as I would be the
>new person coming in I can't expect them to shift meetings around to suit my
>individual schedule, but I do think the current time could be problematic.
>The president keeps saying, "You should join because we want more students
>like you in the chapter," but if that is the case most of the people he'd be
>looking at are pretty busy with extracurriculars on the weekends.
>
>I remember last December durring my finals week I got a call around
>9:00 in the morning from one of the chapter board members asking if I would
>be attending the spaghetti dinner I mentioned before.  I told her it
>coincided with an exam I had that night starting at 5:00 (it was a night
>class).  She said, "But we have a board position up for grabs," like she was
>trying to entice me to coming in even though I had a *final exam* in a class
>that I couldn't miss.  That's the kind of thing that happens; they want me
>to drop everything for the chapter, and while the chapter is important I am
>not prepared or willing to do that.  The same happens when I tell the
>president that I can't attend October's meeting, or the January meetings,
>because I will be home in Cincinnati with my family.  I'm not going to go
>home and have my family drive me back to Dayton for the meeting because we
>wouldn't be able to go back home again, and I'd like to take my midterm
>breaks like every other student does.  That situation is a bit different
>because in theory I could stay at my house on campus for the rest of break,
>but I'd be giving up at least 2 days that I could spend with family when I
>don't go home much over the semester to begin with.
>This is precisely why I can't attend October's meeting this year; it falls
>on the Saturday that is durring our fall break.
>
>There are a ton of blind students who attend the other university in the
>area, but I don't know who they are.  I've tried reaching out to disability
>services staff to circulate information on the student division and have
>been unsuccessful in reaching anyone from the school.  I know a grand total
>of 3 other blind people in their twenties in the area; 2 are already in
>contact with the chapter president, and the other is affiliated with ACB.
>Furthermore on the other college issue, the chapter president has said
>before that he wanted to collaborate with me to put on some information
>session at the other college to see if the blind students would come out to
>hear about the chapter, the student division, and have free pizza or
>something.  I started by trying to contact people who could help set that up
>at the school, but I haven't heard anything more from him on it.  It makes
>telling whether or not he wants students in the chapter very confusing.
>
>I know personally week nights would work better for me, or Saturdays earlier
>in the day.  I'm also able to do almost anything on Sundays, though that
>could be problematic with people who want to go to church.
>I'd much rather get up early and go to a 9:00 AM chapter meeting because A
>it's free in my schedule, and B it's earlier in the day so I can still get
>things done like grocery runs and things of that nature.
>There really isn't a good way to pole what would work better for students as
>a collective, though.
>
>
>
>I'm very interested in the deeper issue Arielle singled out in her message,
>because that really is the route of the problem.  Perhaps it has to do a
>little bit with the tone of the ways I have been asked to come to chapter
>meetings and how I feel there is a disregard for student life going on
>(someone else mentioned that disconnect between the older and younger
>generations as well), but I feel from the chapter that I am being pressured
>to choose between student life, which is limitted at this point, and joining
>the NFB.  In frustration I've said no to the chapter to this point because
>with the student division in Ohio and affiliate projects I feel like I'm
>getting the best of both worlds.  I don't feel like using a board position
>to try to entice a student to the meetings when they are upfront about
>having to take a final exam is very good, nor is the backlash I have been
>getting when I say, "This happens on the same weekend as fall break, "
>or "My fraternity is initiating new members today and attendance is
>mandatory by all chapter members/I'm a part of the ritual."  Or, "It's
>Christmas break and I'm not in Dayton right now."
>
>The one thing that does puzzle me is along the lines of what Darian was
>saying.  It is possible that the chapter president has gotten excuses from
>students before, but if you hear the same "excuses" over and over again I
>would think that, especially if they come from different people including
>those who already support the Federation, they might be legitimate conflicts
>with chapter meetings that I would examine further to allow for the younger
>generation to better attend.
>If he were to ask more questions to get a better answer he might not be so
>disconnected.  Right now it just seems like he's only concerned for the
>chapter, not the potential members who would be joining.
>That's not the NFB I know at all.  Without members we do not have chapters,
>so it is important to show that we care about each other as people in
>different life situations in order to foster a sense of community within the
>chapter organizations.
>
>I might mention this to my state president, but at this point it's not my
>top priority.  Now that I have a better sense of how to handle it I don't
>feel a rush to do so.  I can't attend at least the October and the December
>meetings anyway, so this semester is pretty much a wash to begin with.
>
>On 9/18/15, Joe via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > Kaiti,
> >
> > I experienced something similar. Now as a working professional, my
> > time is very limited, but I wanted to get back into the Federation on
> > a limited basis, at least to start. I was hoping to write grants or do
> > marketing for my affiliate. Unfortunately the president's larger
> > priority was me organizing a chapter in my local area, and flattered
> > though I was to be considered for the task, I knew I did not have the
> > time to commit to get the job done right. Could I gather a group of
> > prospective members? Yes. Could I whip them into a self-sustained
> > group that would last beyond the first two or three meetings? Not
> > likely. Like others have pointed out, finding the perfect meeting time
> > for a chapter meeting is a difficult task, but a good leader at any
> > level of the organization would maximize the assistance anyone could
> > contribute, whether it be in person or remotely, once a week or once a
> > month. I'm going to sound like my own former state affiliate president
> > here, but another option worth considering is organizing a student
> > group on campus that would give you the flexibility to set a time that
> > is both convenient and a location that is accessible for you guys.
> > Alternatively, perhaps there is a chapter at-large in your affiliate
> > that would allow you to remain connected and involved in some
> > capacity. Either way, I think it commendable of you to be concerned
> > enough to want to know how to stay active in the organization. My
> > final thought is that you could be at a season in your life where NABS
> > is sufficient given your current schedule. It would be great if
> > everyone could sacrifice time and energy for the NFB, but then, we'd
> > be sacrificing the opportunities of accomplishment we're advocating
> > for. If pressed to choose between attending a meeting or being a
> > productive contributor to my community at-large, I'd choose the
> > second. That seems a bit blunt, but that's part of the ongoing
> > disconnect between the older generation and the younger membership.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > --
> > Musings of a Work in Progress:
> > www.JoeOrozco.com/
> >
> > Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> > Shelton via nabs-l
> > Sent: Friday, September 18, 2015 3:41 AM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Cc: Kaiti Shelton
> > Subject: [nabs-l] Joining local chapters
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I realize this thread may very well spark some debate, but I'm
> > prepared for that.  For the past two years I've had a dilemma and I'm
> > trying to explain it to a chapter president in my affiliate.  I live
> > in one city and attend school in another, so there off the bat is no
> > way I'd be able to attend either chapter's meetings on a monthly basis as
>I would like to do.
> > Chapter
> > presidents in both cities at different times have told me I should
> > join and even consider running for a board position, which I will not
> > do because of my inability to faithfully attend the meetings.  One of
> > the two chapters gets this a little better than the other now, and has
> > pretty much given me a "come when you can, we'd love to have you when
> > we can get you here,"
> > reception.
> > The other chapter is near where I go to school, but the chapter
> > president doesn't seem to get the student thing.  I try to go to
> > things when I can, but I partially dread it because every time I
> > attend some social function the floodgates for this conversation are
> > opened again.  I'm told again that I am needed in the chapter, that I
> > can really make a difference, and if I join more students will join
> > and the chapter is not by any means comprised of young people.
> >
> > This has been happening for two years at least, and I feel a little
> > confused and pressured to join.  I know he is doing his job as a
> > chapter president, especially because he knows I'm active and
> > dedicated to the student division, the affiliate, and other projects
> > in the NFB, but being in that older crowd I don't think he understands
> > what it is like for students anymore.  In my sophomore year I had
> > difficulty attending chapter meetings for a few reasons.  One was that
> > they are on the first Saturday or the month, which conflicts with
> > nearly every break from school I have including the two midterm breaks
> > and the Christmas break.  The Christmas spaghetti dinner is also
> > something the chapter tries to get me to come to, but it is always
> > scheduled durring my finals week.  When I worked on Saturdays at a
> > part time job my sophomore year they wanted me to take off work to
> > attend chapter meetings.  At the time that was my grocery money, so
> > giving work wasn't something I was willing to do; I wanted to pick up
> > extra hours, not throw them away.  I also have been in a professional
> > music fraternity since the spring semester of my Freshman year, and a
> > lot of our major events (recruitment events, initiations and pledging
> > ceremonies, etc) happen on Saturdays.  With the chapter meetings
> > scheduled from 1:00-3:00 PM, not to mention the location is subject to
> > change from place to place so students can't plan for consistency, I have
>had difficulty in getting there.
> >
> > I've emailed the chapter president a few times about how there is a
> > double-standard here.  He wants new blood in the chapter, but when I
> > tell him it is very difficult to add in chapter meetings when the time
> > isn't very accessible to me he thumbs his nose and tells me I should
> > cancel work or do what it takes to come to chapter meetings because it
> > would benefit the chapter.  I try to explain to him that while I do
> > understand personal sacrifices can and should be made to an extent,
> > students do not have as much flexibility as working people to move
> > classes around in the week, and there are only so many hours in the
> > weekend.  Not to mention extracurriculars are a good thing for blind
> > students to be involved in because it shows peers that we can be
> > engaged and active in the same ways as they are.  It also creates
> > networking opportunities and even job prospects after graduation as
> > long as the extracurriculars are not merely social in nature, which
> > mine are not.  I want to join the local chapter nearby, but I also
> > want to experience life as a student too in the year or so I have left
> > of undergrad.
> >
> > I don't think this makes me a lazy Federationist as I have found ways
> > to be active in divisions and in the affiliate outside of chapters,
> > and I would venture to guess that 1:00-3:00 PM on a Saturday probably
> > isn't great for most students since it's right in the middle of the
> > day.  I did not send the email I drafted, but I feel like if the
> > chapter needs and wants students to join as badly as they say they do,
> > they need to make the meeting time more accessible to that group of
> > people.  Right now I know it is not for me, and I think that is also
> > the case for other highly-involved and motivated students who the
> > president would like to see join the chapter.
> >
> > Thoughts?  I personally don't think I'm fully in the wrong here, but I
> > am open to anything at this point. I really would join the local
> > chapter if it were held at times that I could consistently attend.
> > Right now I'm able to make it to a scattered couple of social events
> > outside of the regular meeting times, but that's about it.  I've
> > prooven to be involved in the affiliate on committees and in other
> > projects including BELL, but right now I feel like joining either of
> > these chapters isn't a possibility for me and I'm not appreciating the
> > push-back for my reasons why.  It's not that I'm making excuses or
> > because I don't want to go; I think work conflicts and required
> > fraternity events which I will only be able to have for a year longer
> > tops are acceptable reasons to be absent, not to mention that when I'm
> > home traveling an hour to the meeting and then another hour back home
> > 2 hours later is a bit much to ask.  I suppose my logic is that I am
> > already a Federationist and I can join a chapter when the time is
> > right for me to do so, and by that I mean when I can actively
> > contribute in a stable and dedicated way.  That will most likely come
> > when I have a 40 hour work week like the rest of the current chapter
> > if they don't take their desire for student members and what is
> > accessible to them into consideration.
> > --
> > Kaiti Shelton
> > University of Dayton-Music Therapy
> > President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present Secretary,
> > The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
> > 2015-2016
> >
> > "You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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> >
>
>
>--
>Kaiti Shelton
>University of Dayton-Music Therapy
>President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present Secretary, The
>National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division 2015-2016

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org





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