[nfbmi-talk] announcement from the vice-president

Fri Sep 9 15:23:48 UTC 2016

Hello Mike,

Thank you for this post.  You certainly have my support.  There are few in
our affiliate who have as good understanding and as broad knowledge of our
history of our movement as you do.  

Warmest Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael
Powell via nfbmi-talk
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2016 8:10 AM
To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List' <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Michael Powell <mpowell7583 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] announcement from the vice-president

Hello All.

At our state board meeting August 20, state President Larry Posont announced
that he would not be seeking another term as our state president.  I then
announced that I am interested in the position and I am ready to serve as
President if I am nominated and elected.  This being an election year for
our officers, President, 1st  Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary
and Treasurer, we all need to take a look inside ourselves and decide what
qualities we can call upon to build our affiliate that will determine what
we want our Federation to look like to those who may be discovering it for
the first time.     Ours is a vision of blindness that people are not going
to get anywhere else.  Our brand states that, "blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future."  NFB people are those who
have an enthusiasm for life and as we come up with non-visual ways to
accomplish things we put it out there and, yes, we celebrate it!  At every
national convention, state convention, and chapter meeting our blindness is
just a part of who we are that has no bearing on whether we look spectacular
or just plain ordinary.  What I am saying should not be construed as a
campaign speech for myself.  After all, I haven't said anything about
building any walls or bridges or who is going to pay for it.  Seriously,
though, this is, rather a campaign to urge you to look for what defines you
or your future.   What part can your participation in the Federation play in
determining what that future is?  So please give this some thought as we
need new ideas and new energy.  Be open to considering a position, serving
on or developing a committee, or begin researching an issue that you think
we need to take a look at.  Our Federation family has examples of people
who, once they committed to taking on a new job, pushed themselves to learn
more and more about it as they went along until they began to look like they
had been doing it all their lives.  All of us, whether we know it or not,
have become better people by being a part of our movement even if we just
dreamed a little bigger or tried a little harder to take on the demands of
life.  President Posont said it himself in his remarks at the board meeting.
He believes he has become a better person by serving as our president.  So,
if there is something you might like to try your hand at, or if you are open
to seeking one of the positions up for election think about it.  Talk to
others about it and if it is an office, get someone to nominate you.  Talk
to others about voting for you.  While some consider elections to be nothing
more than popularity contests; if you are not known or liked by others you
won't get votes.       While popularity is no guarantee of a good leader if
you draw no mass appeal what so ever you will never get elected even if you
might be the brightest person out there.  People need to feel you are
approachable and that you understand them where ever they may be coming from
in dealing with their blindness or the feelings they have due to others
treatment of them because of poor attitudes.   Whoever our future leaders
are we have to build the Federation and make it inviting to those who need
to come to know us.  The culture of dependency in our time is very powerful
and very seductive if one is fearful or believes that living a limited life
is all they can expect.   .  I have run across newly blind people who are
being sold on the idea of having a caregiver rather than receiving quality
rehabilitation.  As our nation's population continues to age, and government
programs are looking to save money,   this will certainly become the trend
if we don't stop it.  And we can only stop it by offering our alternative
and showing people that our Federation way is within their reach if they
will join with us to make it a reality.  

In the spring of 2004 a group from our affiliate took a trip to Baltimore
for a leadership seminar at our national office.  .  President Maurer, in
speaking with then president Fred Wurtzel, said that he saw a joy in us.
He could tell that we had a love for one another.  This is what people need
to see that they are not going to get anywhere else.  Whatever problems we
have, whatever individual differences we have, this and only this joy and
love will be in the work we do as it has always been a part of the National
Federation of the Blind  throughout the country and to the world since 1940.
I once heard that enthusiasm is the most contagious emotion there is.  So
let's get excited about the upcoming state convention and infect others with
our enthusiasm.   Let's make the 2016 state convention the best ever.  We
are not defined by our blindness, nor are we defined by what has been done
to us or hasn't been done for us.  We are defined by what we do and what we
give to this movement and to others.    So think about all of this, define
your future, and as our National President says, "let's go build the
Federation."

Call or email me off list if you want to share any thoughts on any of this.
My contact information is as follows:

Michael Powell   Home: (586)754-1325

                              Cell: (586)292-5581

                              Email: mpowell7583 at yahoo.com

I remain yours in Federationism,

Michael Powell

1st-vice-president

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan 

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