[NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8

Michael Schwartz michael at trailheadproductions.com
Sat Oct 2 22:14:47 UTC 2021 

Thanks for the kind words, Nicole! I also should add a clarification. I had mentioned that I sensed a lot of anger in the response to this thread.  The responses I was referring to were definitely not all the voices of kindness who shared their opinions and life experiences with the group. The reference to  the anger I  Felt  I detected was from our friend Nelson, who  responded to Amy‘s original post. I genuinely feel for Nelson, because dealing with blindness is always challenging and often a struggle. If his feelings are those of anger, that was the root of my response, and like everyone else, I stand ready to listen. Cheers to all.


Sent from my iPhone

Michael Schwartz

> On Oct 2, 2021, at 2:58 PM, Nicole Greely via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello, group:
>  
> I have only participated in meetings a few times as a listener, but really want to commend the most recent message, received in my email, that was written by Michael
>  
> .  I hope you all are having a nice weekend , and want to let you know that you all contribute a sense of hope, for me.  I am still struggling to find my level of comfort, with low vision.  Thanks for being a part of my journey, remotely
>  
> Best wishes,
> Nicole.
>  
> Sent from Mail for Windows
>  
> From: Laura Millar via NFBSF
> Sent: Saturday, October 2, 2021 11:38 AM
> To: NFB of San Francisco, California List
> Cc: Laura Millar
> Subject: Re: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8
>  
> Hi Nelson,
>  
> I was in the middle of writing this when I realized  that Lisa and other
> people have commented as well. Lisa, I second everything you said.
>  
>  
> Nelson, I can feel your frustration and want to share that your points are
> valid for where you currently are on your blindness journey. And, with the
> help of community and NFB members I’ve been able to adjust in a more
> positive way.
>  
>  
> I’ve been adjusting to blindness for 19 years. 13 of those years I shared
> your sentiment, blindness was the worst thing that could have happened to
> me.  I was stuck in my internalized ableism and in no place to hear the
> positive messages about blindness.
>  
>  
> I had no idea how much I had adopted society’s negative messages of
> blindness. Hook line and sinker.  Until I met NFB members and got involved.
> Well, I have gotten a lot of organizing with the NFB. Most of the value
> has come from spending time with NFB member and slowly adopting a more
> blind positive attitude.
>  
>  
> Many of them were living lives as blind folks so positively that  I knew I
> wanted what they had.  It took me a long time to understand  NFB’s
> philosophy that blindness doesn’t have to be what held me back and I am
> still learning as I head off to The Colorado Center for the Blind for a
> long intensive immersion program.
>  
>  
> I understand that it can be hard to get involved when you have such heavy
> feels and especially these days on zoom, and I want to encourage you to
> check out the chapter meetings.  Join us at meetings and find out what it
> is that is helping folks find a more  positive attitude toward blindness.
>  
>  
> If for some reason you do not feel comfortable or want to attend meetings
> or have tried and had a not so positive experience then I would be more
> than happy to connect with you.  As a board member we are striving  to make
> the chapter  more inclusive and welcoming.
>  
>  
> Please let me know if you’d like to connect. I’d be happy to listen to
> where you are at and share a little of my journey.
>  
>  
> Either way I wish you the best of luck on your blindness journey.
>  
> Laura
>  
> On Sat, Oct 2, 2021 at 12:14 PM Michael Schwartz via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>  
> > Hello, all.  To borrow a phrase from talk radio, Long time listener, first
> > time caller. I felt compelled to add my voice to this thread after seeing
> > the direction it’s going, with my apologies to Amy that I am keeping us
> > off-topic from the goal of the original post. Our contributor Nelson’s
> > comment reminded me of a phrase I just heard this week. Say something in
> > anger and it will be the best speech you’ll ever regret. I feel there was
> > no small degree of anger in the response to this thread, and I want to add
> > my voice in the hope that it will be heard. Over the many years of losing
> > my eyesight, I have felt that anger and sense of hopelessness, and while I
> > still have a lot of work to do, I am also learning two lessons Via that
> > work. The first is that anger is fear in disguise, and I am working to
> > pause whenever I feel that anger and ask myself what it is I’m actually
> > really afraid of. It helps me. The second is that anger is just another way
> > of saying I have a need that is not being met yet. to Nelson and everyone
> > who, like most of us I’ll bet, who occasionally feels like they are in a
> > hole that is too deep to climb out of, I would invite us to consider this
> > sentiment. Our lives did not go according to plan, but even if the only
> > piece of rope that you have to grab onto is the fact that all of us in this
> > group have that one thing in common, let that be enough for now, and keep
> > looking for other things to hold onto. Every little success, every little
> > moment, every time we can identify with each other and realize that we are
> > not alone, it’s another step on the path to living our lives with
> > contentment and pride.
> > 
> > Best to all, and happy Saturday.
> > Michael
> > 
> > 
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > 
> > Michael Schwartz
> > 
> > > On Oct 2, 2021, at 10:03 AM, Lisa Irving via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Props Karen for conveying the compassionate side.
> > >
> > > Lisa
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: NFBSF <nfbsf-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Karen Rose via NFBSF
> > > Sent: Friday, October 1, 2021 10:34 PM
> > > To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> > > Cc: Karen Rose <rosekm at earthlink.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8
> > >
> > > Nelson I am wondering why you feel fucked for life for being blind?
> > >
> > > Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net
> > >
> > >> On Oct 1, 2021, at 9:05 PM, Nelson Hyde Chick via NFBSF <
> > nfbsf at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> What is there for me to say? That is sucks and you are fucked for life
> > being blind?
> > >>
> > >> Nelson Hyde Chick415 771-5162
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: Amy Mason via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> > >> To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> > >> Cc: Amy Mason <amason80 at gmail.com>
> > >> Sent: Fri, Oct 1, 2021 9:01 pm
> > >> Subject: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Amy Mason
> > >> Pronouns: She/Her
> > >> ________________________________
> > >> From: Amy Mason <amason80 at gmail.com>
> > >> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2021 5:20:48 PM
> > >> To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
> > >> Subject: Reminder: Meet the Blind/Blind Equality and Achievement Month
> > Video
> > >>
> > >> Reminder!
> > >>
> > >> Looking for videos from the chapter. Below find details. With updates
> > on deadlines. I only have videos from one person so far.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> This year, the San Francisco chapter is going to create a video to
> > celebrate Meet the Blind Month/BEAM.
> > >>
> > >> In order to do this, we need video or audio clips along with
> > appropriate pictures, answering one or more of the following questions:
> > >>
> > >> - What to do when meet me/ What not to do when you meet me
> > >> - Here’s what I want you to know about blindness
> > >> - I am a blind____ / I am blind and love to... (ski, shop, parent,
> > insert what you love here)
> > >> - I am a blind “identity” (How do these affect one another?)
> > >> - Favorite blindness survival tip
> > >>
> > >> Please create separate clips for each question that you answer. Not all
> > of them will be used but at least one from each respondent will be
> > included. Feel free to answer multiple questions.
> > >>
> > >> If you send an audio clip, we need an associated picture, or a couple
> > pictures, especially if you are mentioning the things you love to do. If
> > there are pictures of you doing those things that would be all the better.
> > >>
> > >> Please send these clips to me via iMessage, or WhatsApp on the phone
> > (402-770-2582) or send a sharing link from  One Drive, Dropbox, Google
> > Drive or another sharing service to my email, amason80 at gmail.com.
> > >>
> > >> If anyone has emailed me so far please email again. I seem to have
> > missed these files.
> > >>
> > >> If you are uncomfortable with recording your own clips,  please join me
> > on Zoom tomorrow night,  October 2.  from 6-8. You can join that room and I
> > can assist you in recording your message from Zoom.
> > >>
> > >> If that time doesn’t work for you
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
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> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > NFBSF at nfbnet.org
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> > >
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> > _______________________________________________
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> > NFBSF:
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> > 
> --
> Laura Millar MPH, M.A., MCHES (She/Her)
> Sexuality Educator, Consultant, Coach & Community Organizer
> Contact # (925)-321-8804
> _______________________________________________
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>  
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