[NFB-Lions] Perspective, please, on White Cane Days.

[Ramona]

Okay, now I read the whole thing. When I was President of the NFB of Idaho, I got a letter from the District Governor asking the NFBI to help sell these little pins maybe an inch and a half long with little crooked canes on them. This was for the Sight first drive to raise a million dollars to help eliminate blindness in Africa I think. There was a second Sight First campaign after that. I knew there was no way that the NFBI would sell these pins, so I asked for a meeting with the District Governor who lived in Twin Falls about 130 miles away which I would go for the meeting. The man brought several district leaders with him. I wanted to make friends with him and not fight. I explained that the white cane is a symbol of independence for blind people who use it well. I explained to him that Lions have two programs which they often think of as one: 1. is to prevent blindness and the second is to help those who are blind. We talked for about an hour, and left friends. He thanked me for explaining that these two things are different. He said, It never occurred to me that it is not all one thing." I told him that even if I asked, I did not think members of the NFBI would sell those little pins, although I did not find the pins as objectionable as the pamphlets they were using. I promised that we would not raise a row for that campaign, and we did not. Then I began a campaign of getting blind people invited to speak at club meetings. The pins never came up. The District raised some money, but the little pins are not really a very good fundraiser, so they just donated a little from other projects. It was a good thing to eliminate river blindness and some other naststy stuff in Africa. The clubs in our District liked to brag about helping with it, and I thought they should. I thought the less fuss, the less defensive the Lions will be. That's why it helps to have blind people involved and get themselves liked. There was an old-timer in my club who used to say "honey attracts more flies than salt." If people get too determined to have publicity on the little white canes, you may have to say something, but mostly I do not know why they keep using them. They can raise just as much money with a cute jar. It is worth looking at the pamphlet to see if it has been improved. If not, I would offer to try to help improve it. I am pretty sure it comes from headquarters. I did confront a staff member from Oakbrook one time at a Lions Forum because one of their videos was pretty bad. That lady turned her back and refused to speak with me further. The other Lions in the room were not impressed. And they did not use that video in our district. It was about Leader Dogs, and a better one has been made since. So my philosophy is like the old hymn: You take the one next to you; I'll take the one next to me. In no time at all; We'll have them all; We'll win them, win them, one by one. 

RamonaOn Jan 26, 2021 7:17 PM, Judy Jones via NFB-Lions <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi, Tammy,
>
> At the recommendation of our MD-19 KOTB Chair, Chris came up with a resolution.  (We all know how to write those from our many years of NFB experience, right, hahahaha)?
>
> Anyway, it points out that since sight restoration and blind rehabilitation are two separate solutions to poor vision, that the white canes have no business being any part of a sight restoration venue.
>
> We "condemned and deplored" it.  😊
>
> Judy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Lions <nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of ms.sunflower61--- via NFB-Lions
> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 6:06 PM
> To: 'NFB and Lions' <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: ms.sunflower61 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Lions] Perspective, please, on White Cane Days.
>
> Judy,
> I have a really hard time with this event too! 
>
> During one meeting a woman from another club was talking about our club doing this and then she told the people in my club that were blind to please be there with our canes.  My brain nearly exploded.  I absolutely refuse to stand in public with my hand out as a cane user and mislead the community.  To my knowledge, my club has never purchased a cane and wouldn't even know where to start.  I wish this fund was renamed.  I seriously doubt that Lions International has the first clue how insulting and misleading this is.
>
> Judy, this is one topic that makes me see red!  Smile!
>
> My previous club would hold this fund raiser but we would give the people a candy with Lions on it and a sticker with a cane on it.  Still didn't care for it.
>
> Smile!
> Tammy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Lions <nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Judy Jones via NFB-Lions
> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 6:22 PM
> To: 'NFB and Lions' <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Judy Jones <sonshines59 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFB-Lions] Perspective, please, on White Cane Days.
>
> Hello, All,
>
> In our area, there are, apparently, Lions clubs that raise money for the Sight And Hearing Foundation, by going to public venues and soliciting donations, and offering replica white canes.
>
> When I found out about that today, My first reaction was to be horrified, as this just seems to promulgate the stereotypic blind/cane/soliciting relationship.
>
> As with you who use a white cane for travel, our canes are the gateway to independence and travel, when one receives proper training.
>
> I would like to know how you all feel about this perspective, and what your clubs do to raise funds for Sight And Hearing Foundation.
>
> To me, this seems very damaging, once again, feeding the  blind stereotype.
>
> Our club members are very kind and caring people, and I would not want to hurt feelings, but I was incensed when I found this out.
>
> Thanks for relating your experience and perspective.
>
> Judy
>
> 🌄 (sunrise over mountains)
>
> “embrace each day with His mercies and blessings.”
>
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