[NFB-Lions] Help, need perspective

[Kyle Laconsay]

Judy and Chris,

I would LOVE to talk to you both tomorrow. I have students until 3pm, HI
time, but can call you afterwards. Are you available to talk then?

I’m sorry you had such a disappointing meeting with the Knights of the
Blind.

Please don’t lose hope with becoming a Lion!

Lion Kyle

On Tue, Nov 3, 2020 at 7:19 PM Judy Jones via NFB-Lions <
nfb-lions at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi, All,
>
>
>
> My husband, Chris, and I are considering joining our local Lions club.
>
>
>
> We have been asked to be part of our multi-district 19 newly-forming
> Knights Of The Blind committee.
>
>
>
> We like the idea of being blind members to assist our local club, and in
> especially reaching out to the blind in our area.
>
>
>
> What we’re finding, though, is a committee made up of people whose
> philosophy differs radically from ours, concerning blindness.
>
>
>
> We’ve been telling ourselves that, although our philosophies don’t jive,
> the commonality of serving together should unite us.
>
>
>
> We live in a semi-rural area in northern Washington, so not many blind
> people around and the MD-19 goes clear up into Canada, and over into parts
> of Idaho, so comprises a lot of territory and a lot of people.  We also
> belong to the state’s NFB at-large chapter as there are no chapters in our
> area.
>
>
>
> The WCB has prospered, also in our county, and we are the only two NFB
> members on the committee.
>
>
>
> We’ve become good friends with two of the couples in the WCB, but we live
> in different hemispheres in the way we think about blindness and the way we
> do life.
>
>
>
> The founder of this Knights Of The Blind committee is a very knowledgeable
> and experienced Lion, but is losing his vision, can’t read his e-mails,
> can’t change his talking clock from Daylight Savings Time, and not
> interested in any empowerment.  Of course that is his business, but just
> setting the ambience.
>
>
>
> The committee is mainly made up of blind members who are satisfied with
> “visually impaired” and “blind.”
>
>
>
> Chris and I had this discussion on how we would set the tone for
> blindness, that blind is blind, as people who are legally blind are, in
> fact, blind, that we are responsible for setting the tone for our clubs in
> which we serve.
>
>
>
> The rest of the committee disagreed with us, so we understand we are in
> the minority, but feel that we still can serve together.
>
>
>
> On tonight’s call, we had a guest speaker, familiar with Knights Of The
> Blind committees, and states that it is imperative to teach Lions the
> difference between blind and visually impaired.
>
>
>
> She goes on further to describe her visual impairment, that she doesn’t
> use a cane that her husband is her seeing eye dog.
>
>
>
> She talks about approaching the blind of the community, asking what they
> would need, what they would like to do, then proceeds to organize the
> projects.  These are all things done FOR the blind, because the general
> premise is that they don’t get out, so these planned projects are those
> that help them get out in public.
>
>
>
> She also states that for events with paid tickets, the blind individuals
> are not charged full admission, that the Lions pick up the tab.
>
>
>
> The more Chris and I are listening to this, the more uncomfortable we are
> feeling.  The rest of the committee is buying all this hook, line, and
> sinker.
>
>
>
> I think the problem Chris and I have is in the philosophy permeating this
> committee.
>
>
>
> We have been with the NFB since 1980, and any, have been mostly around
> blind folks who just do life.
>
>
>
> I told Chris about this list, and we both feel, that, before saying
> anything to the committee, we need some perspective from experienced Lions
> who are in the NFB.
>
>
>
> We are just feeling very disappointed coming off the committee call
> tonight, but we don’t want to let wrong attitudes get in our way of serving.
>
>
>
> We are on the cusp of joining Lions, but giving it a second thought, and
> welcome questions, advice and perspective.
>
>
>
> My husband is suggesting a call, if anyone is interested, and we do have a
> freeconferencecall.com account we could use.
>
>
>
> Thanks a ton.
>
>
>
> Chris will also be subscribing to the nfb-lions list.
>
>
>
>
>
> Judy
>
> 🌄 (sunrise over mountains)
>
> “embrace each day with His mercies and blessings.”
>
>
>
>
>
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