[NFB-Lions] FW: RE: Touching Base with Federation Groups - Lions

Tue Apr 20 07:37:53 UTC 2021

First I would like to apologize profusely for being absent on the zoom calls as of late, as my schedule has been pretty busy with other meetings. Secondly I’ll be at work during the mentioned time, so unfortunately I will not be present. I am interested in knowing how this meeting goes and knowing the feedback that was given.
Thanks,
Kat

> On Apr 19, 2021, at 9:22 PM, Milton via NFB-Lions <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
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> Dear NFB-Lions:
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> I hope all are doing well and getting your vaccination for Covid19.
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> I'm writing to you all on this list as I have begun to try and revive the NFB-Lions group. We have been meeting via Zoom on the 4th Saturday of each month at 5:00 PM EDT. Eastern Daylight Time. 
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> About a month and a half or so ago I received communication from President Riccobono with 7 questions that I responded to. I shared the questions and response that I received from President Riccobono and those who were on the most recent call in March had questions that they wanted to discuss with President Riccobono.
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> A time and date has been offered and I will be accepting this time and date of Thursday, May 6, at 4:00 p.m. eastern. I would like to see as many of your you who are still members of a Lions Club to join us for this discussion. The meeting will be held via Zoom and the Zoom invite will be sent out once all is confirmed.
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> If you have further questions, please contact me directly at: mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:mota1252 at gmail.com> 
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> In Lionism,
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> Lion Milton Ota
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> From: Braun, Beth <Bbraun at nfb.org> 
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2021 2:11 PM
> To: Milton <mota1252 at gmail.com>
> Subject: FW: RE: Touching Base with Federation Groups - Lions
> Importance: High
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> Hi Milton – 
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> President Riccobono asked me to work with you to find a time for the Lions Group to meet with him.  His calendar is really packed for the next couple of weeks, but I have held Thursday, May 6, at 4:00 p.m. eastern for you. I wanted to pick an afternoon time, since I’m not sure where all the Lions are located. Is that time and time convenient for you and the rest of the group? If not, will you suggest an alternative or two?
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> Thanks, Beth
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> From: Milton <mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:mota1252 at gmail.com> > 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 2:28 PM
> To: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org <mailto:OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> >
> Subject: RE: Touching Base with Federation Groups - Lions
> Importance: High
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> Dear President Riccobono,
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> The NFB-Lions group would like to meet with you at your convenience via Zoom to discuss the future existance of the NFB-Lions group. 
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> We had a discussion about the response that you provided after I had completed the 7-questionair.
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> Please let me know of a date and time and I will set up a Zoom invitation for the meeting. Thank you very much.
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> Milton Ota
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> Co-ordinating NFB-Lions
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> From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org <mailto:OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> > 
> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 8:25 AM
> To: mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:mota1252 at gmail.com> 
> Cc: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org <mailto:OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> >
> Subject: RE: Touching Base with Federation Groups - Lions
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> Dear Milton,
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> Thank you for this message. I appreciate the info, background, and perspective. I would be happy to talk with you about this if you want but let me give some feedback on the below. 
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> You describe the purpose as:
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> “To encourage NFB'ERS who are members of a local Lions Club in ways that they can be involved in their community and to help prospective individuals who are interested in becoming a Lion.”
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> This makes it sound like the purpose is to help build membership in the Lions Clubs. It strikes me that our purpose should be to build membership in the National Federation of the Blind. It feels like a better overall purpose would be:
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> To facilitate connections between Federation members who are or are interested in being part of the Lions Clubs International, to share information about ways to leverage relationships to share the Federation philosophy within the Lions organization, and to create programming that raises expectations.
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> How do you feel about that purpose? 
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> I am pleased to leave this group in place although it sounds like interest is very low.
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> Let me know how I can help.
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> mark
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> From: Milton <mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:mota1252 at gmail.com> > 
> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2021 11:45 AM
> To: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org <mailto:OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> >
> Subject: Touching Base with Federation Groups - Lions
> Importance: High
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> To: President Riccdobono,
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> This is in response sent to Ramona Walholg who is listed as the Chair of the NFB-Lions Group. I'm responding to the seven questions that was sent to her.
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> 1.    Is the group still active?
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> 2.    Do you believe the group is still necessary/adds value to the Federation/continues to receive sufficient interest from others?
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> 3.    Are you still willing to chair this group? If not, do you recommend someone else to serve in this role? If so, please provide contact information.
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> 4.    We want to publish clear purpose statements for each of our groups. In one or two sentences can you please describe the purpose of the group?
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> 5.   Is the information for your group still correct at this page: https://www.nfb.org/about-us/divisions-committees-and-groups/groups
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> 6.    Does the group have ongoing activities outside of the national convention? If so, please describe?
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> 7.    What suggestions do you have for how we can more tightly integrate the work, resources, and expertise of groups into the Federation? 
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> 1. I would consider the group active as a monthly Zoom meeting has been started beginning in September, of 2020 as the pandemic continues. It was begun to connect Lions and encourage them to get involve with their club and their meetings and activities.
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> 2. As of now it seems that there is interest but being that the group has not met during the National Convention for around 5 years since Ramona is no longer a member of a Lions Club in her area, I took it upon myself to see if there was interest in reviving the group. 
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> 3. Yes, I'm still interested in chairing this group. 
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> 4. To encourage NFB'ERS who are members of a local Lions Club in ways that they can be involved in their community and to help prospective individuals who are interested in becoming a Lion.
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> 5. Currently on the group page (url) provided the contact person is Ramona Walholf.
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> 6. The group has a listserv presence on nfbnet.org. We are since September, 2020 regularly meeting via Zoom at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on the 4th Saturday of the month. The list serv is not very active and the Zoom meeting has about 5 to 7 people that join online. I would like to see more and there has been a few that have said they would join the call but haven't been present since we began the monthly calls. The Lions Magazine is also available on NFB-Newsline but I do not know who made this possible. The Lions Magazine has been on NFB-Newsline for several years now and it is encouraged that NFB members who are Lions take advantage of the reading of this magazine.
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> 7. To put in the Monitor an anouncement that the group is being revived and to let members of the NFB know about the listserv and Zoom call.
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> A little background about this group:
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> Back in around 2006 Ramona put out the call to form this informal group and I believe the first meeting was held during the National Convention of 2007. We held  our first meeting and Ramona asked those who were present if anyone would be interested in Chairing or Co-chairing the group with her. I believe no one responded and she asked me if I would Co-Chair the group with her. I then accepted. 
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> I believe that the very last meeting during the National Convention was probably 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
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> Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.
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> Respectfully,
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> Lion Milton Ota
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> Phone (701) 731-0511
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> E-mail: mota1252 at gmail.com <mailto:mota1252 at gmail.com> 
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