[Nfbmt] late breaking news -- phone conference with seniorblind guest

Tue Nov 19 00:42:01 UTC 2013

Hi Dan.  Randi wants to know if you put his pictures from the convention in
Billings on the face book page yet?
Becca 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 1:53 PM
To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Nfbmt] late breaking news -- phone conference with seniorblind
guest

The definition of a "senior" is a pretty loose one.  It's true that th AARP
begins to solicit members once they turn 50.  I finally joined myself.

For purposes of the Rehabilitation Act and federal programs for "OLder
blind" under Title VII, the age is 55.  That's where Ted's Older Blind
equipment is funded from originally, and that is why the age is 55 or older.

At the same time, retirement for Social Security is definitely beyond the
traditional age of 65.

So, the definition of senior blind is pretty much an individual one

On 11/18/13, Rebecca Stewart <becca33 at bresnan.net> wrote:
> Hi Rick.   Some very good points regarding conference call etiquette.  I
> would have enjoyed calling in  yesterday and I actually tried to but 
> there were only about 15 minutes of the hour left when I found out 
> about it but I tried to anyway but trying to key in the number while 
> Jaws was speed speaking it wasn't working for me.  Our regular 
> conference call I have on my contact list on my cell so that works 
> much better for me.  Like I said though, with more notice, I would 
> really like to sit in on the meeting of another state's affiliate some 
> time.  If you hear about another one in the future, please let me know 
> again:)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rik James
> Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 8:53 AM
> To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
> Cc: James Karen
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmt] late breaking news -- phone conference with 
> seniorblind guest
>
> I actually did call in to that Nebraska affiliate of NFB's Senior 
> Blind division meeting last night.
> Turned out that the guest was not able to attend. No one knew why. But 
> we wondered if it might have been the bad storms back east.
> But they had a very good talk.
> And as it happened Nebraska had their state convention on the same 
> weekend as we did in Montana.
> So some of their time they talked about that.
>
> And the topic of how old is a Senior was actually mentioned.
> We all had a bit of a chuckle about how many of us are now more senior 
> than junior.
> And how we each may have a pre-conceived notion about being an elder 
> person.
> But no. There is no age requirement, no specific age.
>
> I turned 61 on November 10, just a Sunday ago.
> Working my way into another decade of wonderment, and still much to learn.
> I have come from a young know it all, to an older I will never know 
> enough guy, you might say.
>
> But the national division does exist of Senior Blind. And many 
> affiliates have a division of their own. And this Nebraska affiliate 
> are pretty active, and they discuss any kind of things they wish to. 
> So Robert asked me, does Montana have a Senior Blind division. I said 
> I did not think so. The only division I remember I don't want to 
> remember any more. We are now a unified
>
> and fortified, certified, group. Are we not?   (grinning proudly here.)
>
> But yes, we could have a division. If we wanted to, I would bet.
>
> At last night's meeting, they started off with what they called Brags 
> and Drags.
> Really like a round robin check-in to start the meeting.
>
> What would you like to brag about recently? A personal success, or 
> something. Or a recent addition to the family. Stuff like that.
>
> Or what is a drag for you recently. What is preventing you from 
> getting some traction on a personal goal?  Or what misconception of 
> blindness have you run into lately? Stuff like that.
>
> There were a couple other guests from other states and all were welcome.
> But it is a local state group, really. I had gotten the announcement 
> because it came from Robert Leslie Newman of Nebraska. He is President 
> of another division of NFB of which I am a long time member, the 
> Writers Division. And Robert also is in the Nebraska senior division 
> and had sent the announcement to me and other Wrter division members 
> by accident so he just officially invited us if we wanted. There was a 
> fellow from Mississippi who called in, too.
>
> One other quick thing. The conference call has that cross talk problem.
> People can be talking all at once.
> I think everyone has to adopt an etiquette about that.
> There has to be a moderator. And a person needs to say their name 
> first to get the moderator's attention.
> And then when the moderator acknowledges the person then they have the 
> floor.
> That does not mean that some deviation can exist. But some attempts at 
> that I think really does help it to get more easy to listen and to
participate.
>
> Blurting out, while I am guilty of this is probably a pretty 
> ineffective way to conduct a conversation on these conference calls.
> And I think also perhaps if the moderator has not heard from one of 
> the participants who is online, they might want to regularly call on 
> him or her.
> Just some thoughts, and observations from last night. Kind of 
> interesting listening in as a guest with another group.
>
> Okay.
> I have already talked too long.
> I really need an oven timer to use when I start off typing these emails.
> Do you think?
> Anyway...
>
> Happy Monday.
> What else is on your minds today?
>
> Rik
>
>
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--
Dan Burke
My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal

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