[NABS-L] Purpose of the NABS Email List in the 21st Century?

Fri Aug 10 22:49:40 UTC 2018

Hi Chris thanks for your message. I believe that this list still plays an important role for blind students around the country. This platform creates a valuable form of social and professional networking for many blind individuals especially those of us who are going into the working world. 

On Aug 10, 2018 4:16 PM, Chris Nusbaum via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Friends: 
>
> Elizabeth, thank you for starting this important and very timely 
> conversation. Many of you have already said what I would have said if I 
> hadn't come so late to the party, so I will follow Michael's advice and 
> avoid merely echoing other people's comments after reading the entire 
> thread. However, I would like to offer one reflection. 
>
> It seems that some contributors have referred to the listserv as being 
> useful for those who are not on social media, implying that it is not as 
> useful for those who are. Personally, I have found that the list and social 
> media are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they are different platforms which 
> serve different but equally legitimate purposes. For instance, I think 
> social media can often start a series of one-sided conversations. Though 
> people of course have the option to comment on Facebook posts or reply to 
> tweets, it is not as easy (or as common) for many people to chime in on a 
> conversation on social media as it is for people to do so on a listserv. 
> Since most social media users are only skimming through their feeds in their 
> free time, they are less likely to read the entire comments section of an 
> organization's post attentively than they are to reading a chain of email 
> correspondence. So, in my observation, organizations tend to use social 
> media as a way to announce what they are doing. On a personal level, I 
> coordinated social media for NABS for two years. Because of the nature of 
> social media, I was not able to have the conversations on those platforms 
> that I was able to have on this list. Even so, as an active social media 
> user and list member, I have found both to be useful in their own ways. 
>
> It may also be worth noting that, as many of us know, email is still the 
> primary means of professional and organizational communication. As part of 
> our student status, many of us are working to build a professional network 
> which will serve us well as we move into the workforce. In my opinion, this 
> list is a great way to find people who would be good additions to our 
> networks, who we can then contact off-list for more detailed conversations. 
> By the same token, this list can also be considered a kind of social 
> network, as it allows us to ask questions of each other and bounce ideas off 
> of people who share our interests and circumstances. So, it seems to me that 
> this list can be viewed as a marriage of the best elements of social 
> networking and professional email correspondence. 
>
> When I have more time for more reflection, I'll try my hand at answering 
> Kathryn's questions. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing more 
> perspectives on this topic. 
>
> Chris 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of michael Ausbun via 
> NABS-L 
> Sent: Tuesday, August 7, 2018 12:31 PM 
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list' 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: michael.ausbun at gmail.com 
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Purpose of the NABS Email List in the 21st Century? 
>
> Hello All: 
> I have been thinking about the discussion that has been taking place, and in 
> lieu of president Webster's questions, you can find my thoughts, or at least 
> some of them, below: 
> 1. Should the Outreach Committee institute weekly discussion starters on the 
> list? 
> I am of the opinion that this should absolutely be the case. I do 
> not think that we should ask questions merely to ask questions-"what is your 
> favorite animal?"-but I think that facilitating discussion weekly would be 
> useful. There are a lot of people with a variety of circumstances 
> prohibiting group participation, or, asking questions that may be on their 
> minds. It's the old adage, "there are no stupid questions; ask, because 
> someone else most certainly has the same question." 
> Further, I think these directed questions could be utilized in a way 
> to assist our students in understanding, and engaging with, our 
> organizational philosophy. Our philosophy and history is rich and wide 
> reaching. Often I have found that our members do not know where to start. If 
> provided the  first step, I believe our members will be fully capable on 
> continuing exploration and find their place in our beautiful organization. 
> 2. How do we make the list more active, but also not too overwhelming with 
> email traffic? 
> This question has been on my mind for many years. I do not believe 
> that you can have both simultaneously. As our student division  grows we 
> will necessarily see an up in traffic. If we, the membership, are 
> contributing thoughtfully and continuing to provide engaging questions and 
> comments, there likely will be more contributions. My only suggestion is 
> that people be conscious regarding the number of posts and the information 
> provided. For example, we should all try to read the entirety of the 
> conversation so we do not duplicate information, and try not to post back to 
> back to back with no other responses between our posts on a given topic. 
> 3. What are ways we can better engage our members? 
> Electronically, we need to move to other social media platforms. 
> People like me, isolated to Facebook and twitter, are behind the times. We 
> are losing out on possible connections with a younger audience. Instagram, 
> snapchat, and the like are ever popular with those born after 2000. Although 
> there are a lot of students in their collegiate years, we must find those 
> students in compulsory education. Those in K-12 need us, and quite frankly, 
> we need them to. 
> I have other thoughts, but I need to reflect a little longer. 
> Respectfully, 
> Michael Ausbun 
> Secretary/Treasurer, Louisiana Association of Blind Students Vice President, 
> National Federation of the Blind of Nevada 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of President, NABS | 
> Kathryn Webster via NABS-L 
> Sent: Tuesday, August 7, 2018 6:22 AM 
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list' 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: President, NABS | Kathryn Webster <nabs.president at gmail.com> 
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Purpose of the NABS Email List in the 21st Century? 
>
> I love this discussion! It sparks so many ideas on how we can further 
> improve our mailing list. 
>
> Some initial thoughts come to mind - 
> 1. Should the Outreach Committee institute weekly discussion starters on the 
> list? 
> 2. How do we make the list more active, but also not too overwhelming with 
> email traffic? 
> 3. What are ways we can better engage our members? 
>
> These are just some immediate questions I have, but I am excited to hear 
> from all of you! Let's get our creative juices flowing! 
>
> Love, 
> Kathryn 
>
> Kathryn C. Webster 
> President | National Association of Blind Students 
>    A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind 
> (203) 273-8463 
> Nabs.president at gmail.com | www.nabslink.org 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica Dail 
> via NABS-L 
> Sent: Tuesday, August 7, 2018 9:14 AM 
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: Jessica Dail <jldail13 at gmail.com> 
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Purpose of the NABS Email List in the 21st Century? 
>
> Hi, 
> Yes, I feel the email lists are absolutely necessary for people like myself, 
> who are not allowed on social media. 
>
> Having these lists still allows everyone to communicate and keep up with the 
> happenings of the NFB. 
>
> Thanks, 
> Jessica 
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone 
>
> > On Aug 6, 2018, at 10:18 PM, Elizabeth Mohnke via NABS-L 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote: 
> > 
> > Hello All, 
> > 
> > As the National Association of Blind Students reaches out to new 
> > members 
> and new partners, there has been an increase in various media platforms used 
> to connect with these new members and partners. So in the new age of media 
> platforms, how do you see the NABS email list fitting in with these other 
> media platforms? 
> > 
> > What do you believe should be the purpose of the NABS email list now 
> > that 
> we use other media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? Do you still see 
> a role for the NABS email list among these new media platforms? If so what 
> do you believe the role of the NABS email list should be among these new 
> media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? 
> > 
> > I feel as though the discussion on the NABS email list has decreased 
> > as 
> other media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have become more popular. 
> So I am just curious if there is still a place for the NABS email list in 
> the 21st century. 
> > 
> > I look forward to receiving your ideas in regards to this matter. 
> > 
> > Warm regards, 
> > Elizabeth 
> > _______________________________________________ 
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