[NFBMT] defining and clarifying mission, who we are, what we aspire to do, observing the Community Services Division of the NFB

[d m gina]

I have been married for 13 years, at no time does the family ecept my cooking.
For me I don't argue with them, I just say more for Jim and me.
Baked banana bread for Christmas gifts.
John ate it at his shop.
I didn't use the same oil as his wife does.
That was the first and last time I baked for the family.
Was fun though enjoyed doing it.

Original message:
> Hello Montana members.

> I joined a few other NFB listserve discussion groups awhile back.

> They are really a good way to expand and learn, is how I feel about it.

> My Inbox of my email has posts from them as well as posts from our NFB of
> Montana discussion group.



> Recently the Community Services Division President Darian Smith, posted to
> its members on their list.

> They are exploring and discussing and revising, and clarifying their
> division's mission or statement of purpose.



> I feel like we often all need to visit and re-visit our own chapters and
> membership divisions, to see how we are doing and discuss it, as it relates
> to the purposes and mission statements.

> In this way and in that way, we are part of an organic and ever growing and
> effective organization.



> I hope by me pasting this below, it may be useful to everyone, or at least
> to some of us.

> Please discuss further, okay?

> Thanks.

> Rik James

> Secretary of the state board of NFB of Montana

> President of the Treasure State  At-Large chapter of NFB of Montana.

> To discuss off list with me you can email me directly at this email address:

> Rixmix2009 at gmail.com <mailto:Rixmix2009 at gmail.com>



> ###  ###



> Post from Darian Smith of Community Services Division of the National
> Federation of the Blind:



> Good Morning,

> a few days ago we discussed the definition of community service in general
> and specifically it's definition as it relates to our Community Service
> Division.

>   As it stands today, the purpose of the division is to encourage blind
> people to serve in their community, either by themselves, with their family,
> friends, chapter members, neighbors, etc.

>  If people don't know where to start, the division helps them find out where
> they can. If people are hesitant to start, the division encourages them.  If
> a person faces difficulty serving in their community, the division does what
> it  can to help the person through it.

>  We are a division of the National Federation of the Blind, which means we
> support the programs and policies of the NFB,  and consequently everything
> we do is based upon the foundational positive philosophy of blindness that
> all of us in the NFB believe in.  Another words we believe that as blindness
> is not the characteristic that defines us or our future, that blindness does
> not define or limit us in the way we can use our talents and passions to
> give to the world we were born into and live in. We have long held the
> belief  that the  real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight, but
> that the real problem of blindness is people's attitudes and misconceptions
> about blindness and blind people. We believe that blind people are as normal
> as anyone else, having the same interests, likes, dislikes, hobbies, desires
> and fears as anyone else.   Our division believes that  serving in our
> communities is just the most logical  step down the path to true
> independence and equality in society, making this not just a nice thing to
> do,  but as essential to everything we do.

> We believe that just as it is important  for us to be out in the public to
> protest discriminative practices, or out in force in the halls  of our
> legislature to let people know what we want and need, that it is just as
> important to be out in our community, showing just what we can do and be.

>  While service has the benefit of helping others first and foremost, it also
> allows us  the opportunity to teach and learn at the same time. When we
> serve our community, we learn about issues we didn't know existed or of
> stories people share that might cause  us to view the world differently.
> There an also be tangible benefits.  Through national service programs such
> as AmeriCorps or teach for america, we  gain professional level skills that
> make us more attractive to employers, life long connections and friendships
> and assistance to help us through school.  As a division we can bring these
> opportunities with programs and organizations closer to our reach by letting
> them know about our mission and those who share in the call to service.

> So  at the end of the day, we want to not only encourage service , but to
> expand opportunities for blind people (individually and collectively) to
> serve   wherever the need to serve may be and where their desires and
> interests lead them regardless of what society tells us they can or can't
> do.



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--Dar
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