[NFBMT] NFB of Montana Committees

Thu Oct 5 20:39:14 UTC 2017

I love the idea,
I am not around the blind in Billings even though I get out daily.
I just see the seniors at mass.
They are still driving and such.
Who would I speak with here in town?
Cindy?
I would be glad to do that.
Just some thoughts.

Original message:
> Good set of committees, and I will consider which would be a good fit for
> me.  I'll get back soon.

> Meanwhile, I wonder if we should have a Membership Committee.  Our future
> depends on bringing in new members, and it would be prudent for NFB-MT to
> develop and apply strategies to increase membership.  The Committee could
> also help keep chapters focused on our mission and values.  One idea is to
> solicit new members through the Montana Talking Books Library.  We could pay
> for a mailing by the Library to its members that would invite individuals to
> join us and to share with potential members our brochure or other
> information.  It could be as simple as including the invitation in the Bits
> of Gold newsletter that the Library publishes.  Of course, we could go
> through other organizations such as Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind
> Services and college disability services.  Another idea is to go to a city
> to host a public meeting.  It would take targeted advertising, perhaps
> through radio and newspaper ads.  During the public meetings, we could
> describe what we're doing and ask people to get involved.  It may even be a
> way to start more Chapters.  Lastly, we need a way to approach individuals
> to join us.  We could call someone with a conference call of two or three of
> our leaders to encourage participation.  We could provide a membership
> packet, both in print or other media as well as through social media like
> Facebook, Linked In,  and Twitter.

> BTW, the September Convention was awesome!  We had several new faces in the
> room, and the agenda and discussions were really, really good.  It makes me
> want to come back time and time again.  So, please know that nothing is
> broken in our fine organization.  We are healthy, and making a good thing
> better is the best way to assure continued positive progress.  I think a
> Membership Committee would do a great deal in making sure we're advancing
> our organization.

> Best!

> Jim Marks
> Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
> (406) 438-1421

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of BRESLAUERS via
> NFBMT
> Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 9:07 AM
> To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: BRESLAUERS <breslauerj at gmail.com>; marjorie <dmgregg at 3rivers.net>
> Subject: [NFBMT] NFB of Montana Committees

> Hello again, everyone.

> I would like to form or reform some committees to help with the work we will
> be doing in Montana.  Here are some ideas that immediately come to mind.

> Legislative:  Currently sheila Leigland and Travis Moses have offered to
> help with our legislative agenda.  They might also be interested in going to
> Washington Seminar.  Are there any others interested in being on a
> legislative committee?  My idea is that they would keep us informed and
> involved about legislation, both nationally and statewide, that we should
> know about or be involved in promoting or protesting.

> Fundraising:  My favorite.  (not.)  We need someone interested in or
> knowledgeable about fundraising, who might have some ideas of what we can do
> to finance our programs.  We should set up a way to ask for and handle
> bequests.  I would like Jeff to be on this committee, because he has done a
> lot of fundraising.  I'd like to ask him how he decides on a good
> fundraiser, what some of the more successful fundraisers have been, what is
> involved in putting on a fundraiser.  I know it is a lot of work, but many
> hands make light work.  What is that saying . if we all do a little, we can
> do a lot.

> Bell Committee:  At the 2017 state convention, the Board authorized us to
> start a BELL Program here in Montana.  This committee would help in that
> effort.

> Scholarship Committee:  The Board authorized us to offer a $1500 scholarship
> to a college student for the 2018-19 school year.  This committee would work
> out the details.

> Communications and Social Media:  Is anyone interested in getting our
> presence out there more consistently on Facebook and/or Twitter?  I have not
> been successful in doing this.  I would sure like to turn it over to someone
> more knowledgeable than I am.

> I also think we should start a newsletter or blog or some way for us to be
> informed about what is going on with us.  One of the ideas that I have is
> that chapter meeting minutes could be put on something like Dropbox or some
> other similar system where everybody could read them to see what other
> chapters are doing.  That's one of the reasons I would like to have the
> chapter minutes from each meeting.  I would also like to send them to our
> National office so that they have a record of what we are doing, in case any
> of it becomes historic.  Not hysteric, although I suppose that is possible,
> too.

> I have, when I remember to, put notices of chapter meetings in the paper.  I
> have not put them on the community calendar or a psa on radio or tv yet.
> Perhaps we should.  Also, maybe we could arrange to be on tv or radio to be
> interviewed about who we are and what we do.  Jeff has a pretty good handle
> on a lot of this in Billings.  Perhaps he can share his expertise.  I think
> there is a program called aging Horrizons.  Maybe we could go on there and
> do a joint presentation with Vocational Rehabilitation and blind Services,
> provided they have something to offer.

> These are just a few ideas to get started.  Think about what you want to do
> in order to live the life you want, what drives your passion, what makes you
> get up in the morning and want to be a Federationist.  Let's do what we can
> to make it happen.

> Joy Breslauer, President

> National Federation of the Blind of Montana

> Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/>

> Live the life you want

> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.

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