[Nfbmt] confusion

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

I think there may be some confusion about who can go to conventions and when
and by what means.

 

Anyone who wants to go to a national convention is more than welcome to go.
If they need funding to help with expenses, it is available for as many as
want to use it, as far as it will stretch.  Some may need help with all
expenses, some may need help with just some expenses.  You don't have to
accept any funding help if you don't want it, but it is available, and it
has been set aside especially for those going to a convention for the first
time.  The reason the funding is there is so no one who really wants to go
to a convention has to miss it because of lack of funding.  Asking for
funding help should have no stigma attached; it's just friends helping
friends.  Some people have plenty and can share; others need a little extra
help once in awhile.  I think we've all been in places in our lives where we
have more than we do at other times.  When we have more, we can share; when
we need more, we can ask others to share and then we can share with them
when we have a little extra and they need a little extra.  That's just
paying it forward.

 

Some day we may have that option for the state affiliate as well, but since
we are still such a new affiliate, we don't yet have the funding resources
to help those who might otherwise miss a state convention. That is one of
our goals, though.

 

This is a separate issue though from  you guys who have been selected to go
to the Maryland State Convention.  Funding has been offered to those who
have been selected to go.  Accepting that help is not a reflection on one's
ability to provide for themselves; it's just taking advantage of an
opportunity that has been offered.  If you don't want to accept the funding,
that's ok.  You've been invited to go and you are still welcome.  That's not
something that happens very often to very many people.  Enjoy it.

 

Joy