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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I also was and am deeply touched and humbled by
Shannon's article and will never think of the word "of" the same way again.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>What an eloquent spokesperson and advocate she is!
She gives truly practical and lifelong advice even though our situations and
life lessons change!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thank you for revisiting her thoughts!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>My prayers remain always with you and your precious
Debbie as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Your loving and life friend!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Julie</FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">Gary Wunder via
NFBMO</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=gwunder@earthlink.net
href="mailto:gwunder@earthlink.net">Gary Wunder</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, July 7, 2025 3:04 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NFBMO] Something I really like
from the June Monitor</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>[PHOTO CAPTION: Shannon Cook]<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>What Is Your Of?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>by Shannon Cook<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>From the Editor: Shannon Cook has been a member of the
National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina for over thirty years; in
fact, she and I came into the movement at about the same time and have been
friends for slightly longer. She is currently the affiliate secretary, NFB of
SC Scholarship Committee chair, Palmetto Convention Grant chair, and serves as
secretary for the boards of the Federation Center of the Blind, Rocky
Bottom Retreat and Conference Center for the Blind, South Carolina Association
of Black Leaders, SC Computer Science and Technology Division, and the SC
Association of Guide Dog Users, among other duties. I must remember to ask her
if and when she sleeps. She obtained her Master of Social Work from the
University of South Carolina. Shannon met her husband Steve through the
Federation, where he is a leader in his own right. They have been married for
twenty-one years and have three dogs. We often say that the word of is the
most important word in the name of our organization. When we talk about why,
we usually say it is because we are blind people speaking and acting on our
own behalf, not others speaking or doing good works for our benefit. But in
this beautifully written article, Shannon invites us to consider other aspects
of the meaning of of, particularly as it relates to fostering inclusion,
which is one of the Federations core values. Here are her thoughts:
<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The word of is often seen as a small, almost unremarkable
part of our everyday language. Yet its role is far from insignificant,
especially when we examine it as it relates to our place in the National
Federation of the Blind. It is a term that links, connects, and defines
relationships among people, things, and ideas, and when placed within
inclusive frameworks, it can carry powerful connotations of unity, shared
experiences, and collective belonging. In the framework of the National
Federation of the Blind, of is everything we stand for. It connects each
member to our collective experience of blindness. It connects each member to
the greater organization as an integral part of the whole, no more or less
important than the other members, but part of the entire structure. The of,
fittingly positioned smack-dab in the middle of the name National Federation
of the Blind, reflects that we, the blind, comprise the voice of the
organization through our expertise and firsthand knowledge of blindness. We
are the ultimate authority on blindness because of of. We are not for in
the sense that others decide for us; we are our own leaders within our
movement for equality, change, integrity, inclusiveness, accessibility,
growth, and success. Of means that we belong.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Linguistic Role of Of<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>For those of you who know the grammar nerd that I am, I
could not skip this bit of background. In its most basic sense, of is a
preposition. It serves as a connector between a noun and another part of the
sentence. While its primary function is to denote possession, origin, or
association, it can also show parts of a whole or define relationships. This
seemingly small word, therefore, acts as a bridge, linking individuals and
groups to larger structures, whether in the context of society, culture, or
beliefs.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>For example, in the phrase members of the community, the
word of not only connects the members to the community but suggests a shared
identity or affiliation. It is this use of of that holds relevance when
discussing inclusionit implies belonging, being part of a collective, and
establishing connections among individuals and larger social
systems.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Of and the Concept of Inclusion<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>At its heart, inclusion is about recognizing, welcoming,
and valuing the diversity of people, ideas, and perspectives. It is about
fostering environments where everyone feels that they belong, regardless of
their background, identity, or abilities. When we use the word of in this
context, it can represent a powerful tool in shaping inclusive narratives and
fostering understanding.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Consider the expression a society of equals. Here, of
does more than just indicate that equality is a feature of societyit
expresses that society is made up of equal individuals. The use of of frames
the concept of inclusion in a way that everyone, regardless of their
differences, is seen as an integral part of the whole. In this way, the word
becomes a building block for inclusive language, which seeks to empower and
unite rather than divide. In the National Federation of the Blind, we often
hear that we are an organization of the blind, not only for the blind. A
one-word change on the surface would seem barely relevant to the meaning, but
by using of we are all equal parts of the whole as community members. We all
have a seat at the table. No ones lived experience is more or less valuable
than anothers. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>To put it in a different frame, imagine that the National
Federation of the Blind is a giant puzzle. Each member is a piece. Without
everyone, the puzzle is not complete. No one piece is the same as the next.
Some are shaped differently, have a combination of colors, or have sharp edges
rather than rounded. The intersectionality of features is individual to each
piece. In our movement, we are each a piece; no one is more important than the
next. Each piece is individual. Some are similar. Maybe we have common family
histories, home states, gender identities, etc., but the unique combination of
characteristics is what makes us an irreplaceable part of the entire beautiful
picture. The puzzle is not complete without all its pieces in place.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>How Do You Envision Your Of?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I have been a Federationist for most of my life,
thirty-four years to be exact. I identified with the Federation from day one
because the Federation philosophy gave me the language to articulate my belief
that blindness did not make me less than my sighted peers. When I first became
a member, I learned the structure, boards, and interplay among local, state,
and national levels of the organization. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to
help organize and lead one of the smaller chapters of our state. I joined and
participated in the Student Division. (We still refer to our student group
this way rather than adopting the South Carolina Association of Blind
Students formulation, because the acronym SCABS sounds gross!) The more
involved I got, the more I wanted to get involved. I was accepted in a way I
never felt before in my life. Blindness was the characteristic that gave us
all a connection, but it became secondary in our interpersonal relationships
because we all shared it. No one was known as that blind person, as we often
are in other contexts. We had deep discussions about music, books, politics,
religion, myths of blindness, and our own misconceptions. Because of our
particular perspectives, we were stronger together. Each member found their
purpose and sought to fulfill it. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The question I pose to readers is, What is your of? What
do you bring to the Federation that excites you and keeps you invested in our
future? You may have a busy, overwhelming personal life, and attending monthly
chapter meetings is the maximum you can manage right now. If that is your Of,
that is fantastic. If you can plan speakers, chair committees, organize
fundraisers, donate to the cause, recruit new members, live by example, teach
alternative techniques to newly blind members, make reminder calls, solicit
convention sponsors, or anything else, that is wonderful. We can all do
something. Your capacity to be involved can and will likely change over time.
The key is to realize what you can do. Often it is more than you may imagine.
If you do not see a niche for your talents, make one; accept the challenge to
develop a project or program where your skills will be best used.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>cccEvery one of us, by virtue of our membership, bears a
responsibility to further the aim of the National Federation of the Blind: to
plan for the present, appreciate and acknowledge the contributions of the
past, and make provisions for the future of the NFB. Membership and belonging
also come with a collective responsibility to carry us forward through trials,
triumphs, stumbles, and successes.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Find your place; dont be the missing piece.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Take your place in our big, beautiful of.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Gary Wunder<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A
href="mailto:gwunder@earthlink.net">gwunder@earthlink.net</A> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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