[Nfb-editors] NFB logo

Fri May 20 01:15:36 UTC 2011

Bridgit:

I'm afraid we may have to agree to disagree. I believe that separate logos
for separate divisions places too much importance on divisions at the
expense of the NFB as a whole. In my view, the great strength of NFB is that
we are *one* movement -- not a hodge-podge of groups with separate
interests. To my way of thinking, the only reason for divisions is that that
the NFB as a whole cannot specialize sufficiently to adequately confront the
many incarnations of the problems re blindness that we face.

I'll go further: I believe that taking "NFB" out of division names was an
aggregious error and should be corrected posthaste.

The upshot of this conviction is that while divisions should have separate
letterheads, there should be only one logo -- that of Whozit since that
one's been trademarked by NFB.

Incidentally, Hazel tenBroek, wife of the NFB's first president, adamantly
opposed divisions as fragmenting the Movement. Given the seeming desire for
customized logos, I wonder if she might not have been right?

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 12:32 PM
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-editors] NFB logo

Mike,

Trust me, I understand the importance and concept of logos.  Through
various campus activities, I've worked with public relations teams, and
I now am interning with a PR group.  One thing that is stressed over and
over is the importance of branding and maintaining it.

Technically, yes, it would be changing the logo to add something like a
guide dog, but this is why it would be presented before the board before
implementing.

However, since it is not a complete logo face lift, it is not changing
the brand of the NFB.  It is still simple and still NFB, it just gives a
specific brand to a division.  Where is the problem in that?

Our organization has many, many groups and it makes sense that these
groups would have the opportunity to incorporate something specific to
their group to bring distinction as to what NFB group it was.  The
Whosit would still be the Whosit, which is the official NFB logo, but
then a group can be specific with a design element so that it would be
the NFB guide dog group, or the NFB Texas affiliate, or the NFB student
division, etc.With so many interest groups, some which communicate
frequently outside the organization, it would be beneficial to bring
more specificity to these groups.

And now that I recall, I remember during the newsletter committee
meeting last year in Dallas, an employee of national said they can
create specific logos for NFB groups if divisions/groups wanted.  Very,
very interesting, but I'm being told here that this is not an option.
Do explain.

And as for the websites, of course a volunteer organization must
consider the cost, but there are ways of developing websites that are
cost-effective.  We have a lot of people in the organization who better
understand this stuff and could assist in gathering info.  Something
like the design of a website is just as crucial in terms of branding as
the logo is.  When people visit a NFB website, they should automatically
know it is NFB by its look and design.

Creating a template for a home page of NFB websites would not be a huge
undertaking, and individual web masters could incorporate the design the
best way they know how.  This would bring uniformity to the organization
that currently doesn't exist.  There are other volunteer-based
organizations that manage to develop this uniformity to make the
branding cohesive.

National has all the funds and best people working to maintain what
little branding exist, but it is equally important any other NFB related
groups follow national's format.  Perhaps national needs to look at
sharing and helping with some of the cost for changes that would provide
uniformity.  Perhaps affiliates and national divisions need to look at
the cost of redesigning websites and fundraise to meet this need.
However it is handled, I guarantee you, it is important for the NFB to
have one look.  The logo alone does not accomplish this.

If we ever want immediate recognition as the Federation, we need to
understand as a collective the importance of adopting whatever
precedence national sets so we have uniformity.

And any affiliates and divisions who have websites are obviously already
paying for it so to change the design would not require the same cost as
starting a website.  And if national provides a template, that does not
mean websites have to use the same programming national does in order to
make any change.  They should be able to work within the context of
whatever website format they use to adopt changes that reflect
national's website.

Anyway, I'm only trying to think of ways to strengthen this
organization.  I know some think I'm a loose canon who wants to change
the organization and does not prescribe to NFB standards, but the reason
I joined the Federation is because the core beliefs resonated with me,
and the mindset I already had after losing my vision was the mindset of
the Federation.  I had nothing in common with most organizations,
agencies and people who were blind.  Then I discovered the NFB and found
a collective who felt the way I did about blindness.

I'm very motivated and dedicated, and I only wish to help improve
wherever we can.  No person or entity has all the answers and does
everything right all the time, we work to stretch and strengthen.  That
is all I want- to make this organization bigger than it has ever been,
and succeed in ways that are fruitful.

Any critique is not made lightly with malice intended to defame and
undermine.  Regardless of what upper echelons think, I've been loyal to
this group, and I have fought tooth and nail for this organization.
Success can only come when we work together and not become elitist.  Not
just anyone should be able to jump into leadership positions, but we
also need to be open-minded when it comes to how we present the
organization.  Trying new things, expressing different perspectives is
not equal to changing the philosophy and mission of the Federation.  No
matter what I may think about the direction or presentation, I
whole-heartedly believe in the philosophy of this group.  I know I am
not winning popularity contest, and I'm very opinionated, but my passion
is driven by my motivation to make this organization better.

Bridgit

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 18:17:39 -0700
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] NFB logo
Message-ID: <00a901cc15c2$8c5e70e0$a51b52a0$@panix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Bridgit:

That still changes the logo. The thing about logos is the KISS rule
applies
- Keep it Simple Stupid!

As for website uniformity, we are an organization of volunteers; only
the
national office and a fortunate few affiliates have staff. For the rest
of
us, we do website programming as best we can. Enforcing website
uniformity
would require all to have common tools and people with common
programming
skills and common templates. Either that or everything would have to be
done
at HQ and I shudder at the bureaucracy that would foster. (grin)

Mike

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