[Nfb-editors] Robert's thoughts on NFB Newsletters

[Mike Freeman]

Robert:

When I first joined NFB, I was like you; I read anything and everything that
had to do with the movement and its philosophy.  However, as my
responsibilities -- both in general life and in the NFB -- have increased, I
find it increasingly difficult to keep up with all newsletters,
NFB-published magazines and general blindness-related stuff and still have a
life outside the Federation.  I *do* still read the Monitor although I'm
sometimes and issue or two behind.  Having it available to read on one's
iPhone or Victor Reader Stream or BookSense helps a lot.

As for social networks, I am one of those curmudgeons who feels that, in the
long run, they do more harm than good and can be terrible time-wasters.  But
that's just me.

AS for booster-shots of NFB philosophy, I tend to get them on lists such as
this and some other NFB lists.  But I am truly one of those persons who
wonders if the welter of information available today is causing us to
confuse quantity with quality.

Ah well; different strokes ...

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Leslie Newman
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 3:37 PM
To: editors nfb list
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Robert's thoughts on NFB Newsletters

Hey you all

 

I love a good collection of writings that promote the human potential to
live successfully with blindness. I like to see a good mixture of articles,
with some being of an in-depth newsy nature about our movement's successes.
Or one of a testimonial flavor, you know, a story of an individual who
realizes that after blindness, they can still live a life of normalcy. Or a
piece of a "how-to-do" type of story line, you've seen them, like how to
teach a blind kid how to make a snowman. Or a tech review that incorporates
access technology with off the shelf stuff that my sighted neighbors are
using. And/or, just give me a good philosophical talking to; I can always
benefit from a philosophical tune-up. Yup, a guy can learn and be inspired
from that type of publication; helps to put blindness into a more positive
perspective. And finding all that to be in one convenient file --- now that
is really handy and appreciated --- the impact from that sort of package is
--- well just greater, too. That sort of "newsletter" I'll read, it is
meaningful to me. Guess that is why I enjoy reading "The Braille Monitor,"
"Future Reflections," "Slate & Style'" and now I've found several affiliate
mags are really good too! I feel it is super important that we strive to
create and boost as many of this type of publications out onto the Internet
as we can; our stuff competing with the over whelming number of non-good
philosophical blindness related blogs that are out on the WWW and available
for the world to read. Putting our type of message into print is part of
what I see and I really truly believe that all Federationest see as part of
our duty to change what it means to be blind. With that said, and with the
recognition of the talent that our Federation has in both its authors and
editors, And with giving credence to the difficulties that comes along the
path to the creation and maintenance of a "good newsletter" then we need to
work at staying positive and work out what is workable. 

 

"Newsletter," we really must do something about that word/concept's
inadequacies Like yeah, what we say about our ability to cope with blindness
is news to most people outside the Federation. However if we are looking to
provide our membership with timely news, today there is now several options
that are more immediate. And this is where I think our "Newsletter
Publication Committee" and its unofficial voice of "The NFB Editors Mailing
List" has a need to explore, is look at what the electronic, computer,
communication networks has opened up for use. Like Face Book and Twitter and
email lists, and BLOGS. Who within the Federation can we speak to about the
'now and future" capabilities of these social-networks? 

 

There is a middle place, where the old and the new can more smartly blend
and work together.

 

 

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

President, Omaha Chapter NFB

President, NFB Writers' Division

Division Website

 <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org

Chair, Newsletter Publication committee

Personal Website-

 <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

 

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