[nabs-l] I am running for NABS President this July

Wed Apr 20 12:37:54 UTC 2016

Dear Fellow NABSters:

I am truly excited to hear that Kathryn has chosen to run for the all-important office of NABS President, and I am proud and honored to offer my full support to her candidacy. As you know, I have been honored to serve as a NABS Board member for almost a year now, and I have learned many things from the experience. Perhaps the most important of these, however, is the vital importance of mentoring and the effect which personal interaction can have on the strength of our movement. Much of this knowledge has been gained from the inspiring example of Kathryn's leadership.

From the time I considered seeking a position on the NABS Board, Kathryn has been a consistent and trusted advisor. She has encouraged me to grow in my leadership and in my Federation work as a whole, often showing more confidence in me than I had in myself. As a Board member, I have seen firsthand Kathryn's tireless work on behalf of our movement, and have been inspired by her selfless dedication to NABS and our members. Despite her hectic schedule and her ever-increasing responsibilities, she still finds the time to encourage her fellow Board members as well as new members who are coming into our movement and looking for a way to get involved in our work. As a Board member, therefore, I have found Kathryn to be a dedicated, hardworking, compassionate and inspiring leader. I have complete confidence that she will maintain all these characteristics as NABS President.
Perhaps the most personally inspiring example of Kathryn's leadership, however, is her work as a national representative. When I invited Kathryn to Maryland, our student division had been in a period of stagnation for the past year. As we approached convention, our focus was on rebuilding and revitalizing our organization, once again making it an energetic and active contributor to the Federation. I already knew of Kathryn's motivational and charismatic leadership style, and I knew that she was the best national rep to help us rebuild. Her performance exceeded my most optomistic expectations. Her ever-positive presence at convention naturally drew many new students to her, and she personally encouraged many to become active participants in our work. But her personal involvement in our division in Maryland did not stop at convention. Since last November, she has remained a personal mentor to each of our Board members, participating in all our conference calls and fielding many calls from MDABS Board members seeking advice in both our Federation work and our personal life. Due to all that she has done to help us grow, all of us have Maryland have come to have a special affection for her, considering her as one of our own and loving her as a sister in the Federation.

In conclusion, Kathryn Webster is a true leader. She is inspiring, encouraging, wise, dedicated, and hardworking. Most importantly, however, she exudes the warmth and love which so characterizes our Federation family. In my Federation work, I consider her a mentor, motivator and role model—the kind of leader I would like to be. In my personal life, I consider her a trusted, compassionate friend in whom I can confide. I know she will bring all these characteristics to our organization, and that she will inspire all of us to make NABS a stronger, more vibrant organization. For these reasons, I am proud to support Kathryn Webster as the next President of NABS, and I would encourage you to do the same.

Yours in the movement,   

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 20, 2016, at 7:32 AM, Kathryn Webster via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Fellow Federationists!
> 
> 
> 
> Finals are quickly approaching and I hope each of you are finishing off the
> semester strong! 
> 
> I am writing today to announce my intention to seek the presidency of the
> National Association of Blind Students.
> 
> 
> 
> Over the past two years, I have worked with NABS members and leaders both on
> and off the board. For the first year, I served as a member of the
> Fundraising and Legislative Committees. In July, 2015, I was elected
> Secretary of NABS. Shortly thereafter, I assumed the role of treasurer in
> order to fill an unexpected vacancy on our board. Over the past two years, I
> have been blessed to work with many of you on numerous projects.
> 
> 
> 
> As Fundraising Chair, I am unbelievably proud to announce that NABS was able
> to fund over 15 students to attend Washington Seminar, raising over $3,750
> to make this happen. This was an initiative I worked hard for, and one I am
> thrilled succeeded. I could not do this alone. The Fundraising Committee,
> composed of several members off the NABS Board, as well as some great NABS
> Board Members, worked tirelessly to reach our goal, while planning other
> events for 2016. NABS would not have been able to sponsor several students
> across the country without President Riccobono's generous commitment to
> match NABS' financial commitment and without the help of Anil Lewis, Patti
> Chang, and Parnell Diggs working with us to select the recipients, which
> emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with our
> national leaders. 
> 
> As a Computer Science minor at Wake Forest University, I quickly added the
> task of NABS web master to my federation work, combining my personal and
> academic interests to improve our website. As the Legislative Committee
> Co-Chair, President Sean Whalen and I worked closely to collect over 160
> equal-access-to-education testimonies. Throughout this endeavor, we worked
> with our Governmental Affairs specialists in Baltimore, keeping the
> Federation's priorities at the forefront of every decision made. 
> 
> 
> 
> While I am exceedingly proud of the work that I and our members, committees,
> and fellow board members have done the past two years, there is always more
> we can do. I am confident that I can energize, strengthen, and grow the
> National Association of Blind Students. I want students to join us during
> National Convention without the worry of finances lingering over our heads.
> Just like the Washington Seminar Funding Program recently implemented, I
> hope to replicate that for national Convention attendees.
> 
> 
> 
> Last November, the Connecticut affiliate partnered with NABS to put on the
> very first Legislative Leadership Workshop for students. As part of the
> planning committee, I hope to see these seminars expand to various other
> states and will be working with affiliates to make it happen. Through
> interaction, discussion, and learning, we gain knowledge and insight from
> others in order to advocate effectively, perform exceptionally, and work
> professionally. I am a leader and a team player. I love collaboration,
> particularly amongst our state student divisions. While many seminars are
> already in the works, modeling from the successful workshop last November, I
> see promise in the effort put forth by students across our regions.
> 
> 
> 
> Several student divisions struggle with financially supporting the programs
> and events we all dream to host. Look no further! With experience
> fundraising and event planning, I will create a NABS program that student
> divisions can apply to for stipends in order to host events in your home
> states. If Florida, or any other state affiliate, wants to host a student
> social for recruiting new talent, but money is tight, NABS should be able to
> help fund these types of programs because we are here for our students, our
> members, and our federation family.
> 
> 
> 
> Have you ever interacted with a NABS representative during a State
> Convention? NABS wants to know what you think. As President, I plan on
> creating a NABS Rep feedback form so student divisions and affiliate
> leadership can reflect on their experiences. We are an organization driven
> by our members and we want to provide mentors that are responsive to every
> student concern and affiliate need. These forms will inform the NABS Board
> of what was helpful, beneficial, less effective, and what we need to do to
> best grow our student divisions and state affiliates.
> 
> 
> 
> These are some of the new programs that I hope to institute if I am so lucky
> to earn your vote this summer.  In addition to my ideas and experience as a
> Student Division President of North Carolina, a Connecticut Affiliate Board
> Member, and NABS officer, I will also bring my unique leadership style to
> NABS.  First and foremost, I believe that we, as students, must have strong
> relationships with our organization's leadership.  The easiest way for
> students to have an impact on the work of the Federation is to work hand in
> hand with our affiliate and national leadership.  Second, I want to know
> you. I care about personal connection in order to foster positive results. I
> don't want to be a leader from a distance; I want to be your teammate, a
> mentor, and a friend. Third, I will make sure that there is accountability
> on the board.  We will be attentive to our membership, inclusive of
> non-board members, have follow through with our commitments and work, and
> will be responsive to other divisions, affiliates, and national leaders that
> want to work with us.  Finally, I will make sure to continue to provide
> opportunities to students who want to participate but are not elected to the
> board.  This opportunity was what allowed me to get so involved with NABS
> two years ago and is what helped me to develop the leadership skills I
> believe the NABS board needs to continue the progress we've made.  
> 
> 
> 
> For these reasons, I'm asking for your vote to be the next President of
> NABS.  If anyone has any questions, concerns, or ideas about NABS, as
> always, I'm ready to hear them.  I'm looking forward to seeing you all at
> convention in a little over two months! Let's go build the Federation!
> 
> 
> 
> Have a great Wednesday!
> 
> 
> 
> Best,
> 
> Kathryn
> 
> 
> 
> Kathryn Webster
> 
> Treasurer/Secretary | National Association of Blind Students
> 
> (203) 273-8463
> 
> Kathrynwebster.nfb at gmail.com
> 
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