[nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant

Wed Aug 18 13:11:16 UTC 2010

Greetings,

I'd just like to offer my comments on the subject.  I think that the youth Outreach should apply for an imagination grant.  This is one of our, of has been, major source of funding for the year.  I do try to find other sources throughout the year.  It is impossible to run the quality of program we want as an affilate on just the money we get from the affilate auction which wh are not promised every year.   I do agree that the money should be used to build up our own programs and not those of another organization.    Just for infomation sake,  we are already working on bringing youth to state convention, taking youth to Washington Seminar, and Naitonal convention next year.  These are all expensive projects.  We cann't expect other organizations to support our program if we are unwilling to support it ourselves. 
I have mixed feelings about the scholarship idea.  I do agree that it is a good recruit ment tool.  However, we have to use the informationn  we recieve and keep people interested.  TO my knowledge, we had 15 people apply for a national sholarship from Michigan 11 of those were nonmembers.  Again, to the best of my knowledge we haven't followed through with these people.  SO , i am okay with the scholarship being used as a tool if there is some committment to follow up and get these people involved. 
I would also be in favor of doing a joint project between the students and youth because in theory we should be working together to keep our young people interested. 

Thanks so much,
Melinda

MELINDA LATHAM 
Youth Outreach Coordinator, NFB of MI 
517.803.3800

--- On Wed, 8/18/10, David Robinson <drob1946 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: David Robinson <drob1946 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 6:58 AM

   These are good points and I truly believe in the national scholarship
program and it has benefitted us tremendously.  I have not seen the same
follow up and strength form scholarships in Michigan as of yet.   It all
depends on what the affiliate does with it.  Lets decide together and then
really follow through with our plan.  

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of J.J. Meddaugh
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 12:26 AM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant

I agree with many of your points, but also believe that applying for a grant

to reestablish a student scholarship fund will benefit us the most in the 
near-term. Having the ability to award an a student scholarship will help us

to bring in new members by inviting them to conventions. This will also give

us additional contacts which we can use to circulate to local chapters. In 
addition, the Michigan Association of Blind Students has already raised some

money to help in this fun, so we would have something to build on.
The power of the national scholarship program as a recruitment tool has been

proven time and time again, and it's time we work on bringing this power to 
Michigan.

J.J. Meddaugh - ATGuys.com
A premier licensed Code Factory, Sendero, KNFB Reader, and iBill distributor
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:21 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant

> Dear Elizabeth,
>   It is critical that the State affiliate apply for an Imagination grant
> based on several factors.  First, I agree it should never be to assist or
> benefit another organization without great benefit to the NFBM.  I also
> agree that funding programs connected with Camp T has not generated the 
> kind
> of long term results that are a beneficial to us.  Secondly, I am sure 
> that
> assisting the student ddivision with the scholarships or assisting people 
> to
> the Washington Seminar could be hhelpful, but like th Camp T programs, 
> such
> funding in the past has net benefit the NFBM in the long term.  Finally, I
> agree that a quick and meaningful decision must be made.  No application 
> for
> funds should go in form Michigan without a clear message  from the NFBM 
> that
> this is the application that we support and are willing to implement.
>   I guess I have reached the conclusion that just giving assistance to
> people does not produce workers and leaders.  Mentoring programs that 
> bring
> knowledge and purpose to persons about the Federation and why we exist,and
> why we must continue to fight for the rights and opportunities of the 
> blind
> should always be a part of what we do.  Thus, any funded program needs to
> assure us as members of the NFBM that weare investing in peoples 
> commitment
> to not only succeed in ones own life, but to be one who will stand along 
> the
> side of others and help them to achieve success as well.
>   Therefore, the youth programs should help the student division and local
> chapters, the student division should bring leadership and work to the
> affiliate and local chapters, local chapters need to assist the
> strengthening to the affiliate and the State affiliate leaders must bring
> all of us together with common effort and purpose.  Knowing who we are and
> why we need the Federation in our lives is critical to growing this
> organization form to to bottom and form side to side.  That is why we are
> priviledged to have Imagination grants available to us.  Let's use it
> wisely.
>
> Dave Robinson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Elizabeth
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 6:08 PM
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant
>
>
> So if this grant is due on September 1, then what do we as an affiliate 
> want
> to do with it? I know that our funds are vary limited right now, so I
> believe it is important that we apply for this grant. I would recommend 
> that
> we apply for a grant to help the student division get their scholarship
> program up and running again, or help out with the costs associated with
> attending Washington Seminar.
>
> I am deeply opposed on the idea of applying for a grant to help fund more
> camps at Camp T. They are a separate organization that is not a part of 
> the
> National Federation of the Blind, and I have a problem with us funding
> programs for a separate organization when we have a problem funding our 
> own
> organization. We should be more concerned about funding our own 
> organization
> before we think about funding another organization that does not appear to
> do much to help or support us.
>
> What does everyone else think? It would have been nice to have a 
> discussion
> about this on the last conference call, but since that did not happen, I 
> am
> posting the question here on the email list. We need to make a decision 
> fast
> if we want to get in on this opportunity.
>
> Respectfully,
> Elizabeth
>
>
>> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:27:13 -0700
>> From: d_mohnke18 at yahoo.com
>> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Imagination Fund Grant
>>
>> <P>Hello, </P>
>> <P> </P>
>> <P>I e-mailed the national office and the Imagination Fund Grant is due 
>> by
> 4:00 pm on September 1.  I was told the application is not posted
> online but I did receive an application attached to the e-mail I recieved.

> I
> forwarded that message to a few people but if you would like a copy of the
> grant application please let me know. </P>
>> <P> </P>
>> <P>Diana </P>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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