<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello, group:</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>. 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</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best wishes,</p><p class=MsoNormal>Nicole.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986">Mail</a> for Windows</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:nfbsf@nfbnet.org">Laura Millar via NFBSF</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Saturday, October 2, 2021 11:38 AM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfbsf@nfbnet.org">NFB of San Francisco, California List</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:laurammillar@gmail.com">Laura Millar</a><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Nelson,</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I was in the middle of writing this when I realized that Lisa and other</p><p class=MsoNormal>people have commented as well. Lisa, I second everything you said.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nelson, I can feel your frustration and want to share that your points are</p><p class=MsoNormal>valid for where you currently are on your blindness journey. And, with the</p><p class=MsoNormal>help of community and NFB members I’ve been able to adjust in a more</p><p class=MsoNormal>positive way.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’ve been adjusting to blindness for 19 years. 13 of those years I shared</p><p class=MsoNormal>your sentiment, blindness was the worst thing that could have happened to</p><p class=MsoNormal>me. I was stuck in my internalized ableism and in no place to hear the</p><p class=MsoNormal>positive messages about blindness.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I had no idea how much I had adopted society’s negative messages of</p><p class=MsoNormal>blindness. Hook line and sinker. Until I met NFB members and got involved.</p><p class=MsoNormal> Well, I have gotten a lot of organizing with the NFB. Most of the value</p><p class=MsoNormal>has come from spending time with NFB member and slowly adopting a more</p><p class=MsoNormal>blind positive attitude.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many of them were living lives as blind folks so positively that I knew I</p><p class=MsoNormal>wanted what they had. It took me a long time to understand NFB’s</p><p class=MsoNormal>philosophy that blindness doesn’t have to be what held me back and I am</p><p class=MsoNormal>still learning as I head off to The Colorado Center for the Blind for a</p><p class=MsoNormal>long intensive immersion program.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I understand that it can be hard to get involved when you have such heavy</p><p class=MsoNormal>feels and especially these days on zoom, and I want to encourage you to</p><p class=MsoNormal>check out the chapter meetings. Join us at meetings and find out what it</p><p class=MsoNormal>is that is helping folks find a more positive attitude toward blindness.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If for some reason you do not feel comfortable or want to attend meetings</p><p class=MsoNormal>or have tried and had a not so positive experience then I would be more</p><p class=MsoNormal>than happy to connect with you. As a board member we are striving to make</p><p class=MsoNormal>the chapter more inclusive and welcoming.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let me know if you’d like to connect. I’d be happy to listen to</p><p class=MsoNormal>where you are at and share a little of my journey.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Either way I wish you the best of luck on your blindness journey.</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Laura</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On Sat, Oct 2, 2021 at 12:14 PM Michael Schwartz via NFBSF <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>wrote:</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>> Hello, all. To borrow a phrase from talk radio, Long time listener, first</p><p class=MsoNormal>> time caller. I felt compelled to add my voice to this thread after seeing</p><p class=MsoNormal>> the direction it’s going, with my apologies to Amy that I am keeping us</p><p class=MsoNormal>> off-topic from the goal of the original post. Our contributor Nelson’s</p><p class=MsoNormal>> comment reminded me of a phrase I just heard this week. Say something in</p><p class=MsoNormal>> anger and it will be the best speech you’ll ever regret. I feel there was</p><p class=MsoNormal>> no small degree of anger in the response to this thread, and I want to add</p><p class=MsoNormal>> my voice in the hope that it will be heard. Over the many years of losing</p><p class=MsoNormal>> my eyesight, I have felt that anger and sense of hopelessness, and while I</p><p class=MsoNormal>> still have a lot of work to do, I am also learning two lessons Via that</p><p class=MsoNormal>> work. The first is that anger is fear in disguise, and I am working to</p><p class=MsoNormal>> pause whenever I feel that anger and ask myself what it is I’m actually</p><p class=MsoNormal>> really afraid of. It helps me. The second is that anger is just another way</p><p class=MsoNormal>> of saying I have a need that is not being met yet. to Nelson and everyone</p><p class=MsoNormal>> who, like most of us I’ll bet, who occasionally feels like they are in a</p><p class=MsoNormal>> hole that is too deep to climb out of, I would invite us to consider this</p><p class=MsoNormal>> sentiment. Our lives did not go according to plan, but even if the only</p><p class=MsoNormal>> piece of rope that you have to grab onto is the fact that all of us in this</p><p class=MsoNormal>> group have that one thing in common, let that be enough for now, and keep</p><p class=MsoNormal>> looking for other things to hold onto. Every little success, every little</p><p class=MsoNormal>> moment, every time we can identify with each other and realize that we are</p><p class=MsoNormal>> not alone, it’s another step on the path to living our lives with</p><p class=MsoNormal>> contentment and pride.</p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>> Best to all, and happy Saturday.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> Michael</p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>> Sent from my iPhone</p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>> Michael Schwartz</p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > On Oct 2, 2021, at 10:03 AM, Lisa Irving via NFBSF <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>> wrote:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Props Karen for conveying the compassionate side.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Lisa</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > -----Original Message-----</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > From: NFBSF <nfbsf-bounces@nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Karen Rose via NFBSF</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Sent: Friday, October 1, 2021 10:34 PM</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Cc: Karen Rose <rosekm@earthlink.net></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Subject: Re: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Nelson I am wondering why you feel fucked for life for being blind?</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> On Oct 1, 2021, at 9:05 PM, Nelson Hyde Chick via NFBSF <</p><p class=MsoNormal>> nfbsf@nfbnet.org> wrote:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> What is there for me to say? That is sucks and you are fucked for life</p><p class=MsoNormal>> being blind?</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Nelson Hyde Chick415 771-5162</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> -----Original Message-----</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> From: Amy Mason via NFBSF <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Cc: Amy Mason <amason80@gmail.com></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Sent: Fri, Oct 1, 2021 9:01 pm</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Subject: [NFBSF] Zoom invite for BEAM Oct. 2 6-8</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Amy Mason</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Pronouns: She/Her</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> ________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> From: Amy Mason <amason80@gmail.com></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2021 5:20:48 PM</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> To: NFB of San Francisco, California List <nfbsf@nfbnet.org></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Subject: Reminder: Meet the Blind/Blind Equality and Achievement Month</p><p class=MsoNormal>> Video</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Reminder!</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Looking for videos from the chapter. Below find details. With updates</p><p class=MsoNormal>> on deadlines. I only have videos from one person so far.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> This year, the San Francisco chapter is going to create a video to</p><p class=MsoNormal>> celebrate Meet the Blind Month/BEAM.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> In order to do this, we need video or audio clips along with</p><p class=MsoNormal>> appropriate pictures, answering one or more of the following questions:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> - What to do when meet me/ What not to do when you meet me</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> - Here’s what I want you to know about blindness</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> - I am a blind____ / I am blind and love to... (ski, shop, parent,</p><p class=MsoNormal>> insert what you love here)</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> - I am a blind “identity” (How do these affect one another?)</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> - Favorite blindness survival tip</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Please create separate clips for each question that you answer. Not all</p><p class=MsoNormal>> of them will be used but at least one from each respondent will be</p><p class=MsoNormal>> included. Feel free to answer multiple questions.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> If you send an audio clip, we need an associated picture, or a couple</p><p class=MsoNormal>> pictures, especially if you are mentioning the things you love to do. If</p><p class=MsoNormal>> there are pictures of you doing those things that would be all the better.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> Please send these clips to me via iMessage, or WhatsApp on the phone</p><p class=MsoNormal>> (402-770-2582) or send a sharing link from One Drive, Dropbox, Google</p><p class=MsoNormal>> Drive or another sharing service to my email, amason80@gmail.com.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> If anyone has emailed me so far please email again. I seem to have</p><p class=MsoNormal>> missed these files.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> If you are uncomfortable with recording your own clips, please join me</p><p class=MsoNormal>> on Zoom tomorrow night, October 2. from 6-8. You can join that room and I</p><p class=MsoNormal>> can assist you in recording your message from Zoom.</p><p class=MsoNormal>> >></p><p class=MsoNormal>> >> If that time doesn’t work for you</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > _______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > NFBSF mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > NFBSF@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsf_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for</p><p class=MsoNormal>> NFBSF:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsf_nfbnet.org/bernieslife%40icloud.com</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> > _______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > NFBSF mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > NFBSF@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsf_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for</p><p class=MsoNormal>> NFBSF:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> ></p><p class=MsoNormal>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsf_nfbnet.org/michael%40trailheadproductions.com</p><p class=MsoNormal>> _______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>> NFBSF mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>> NFBSF@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsf_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for</p><p class=MsoNormal>> NFBSF:</p><p class=MsoNormal>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsf_nfbnet.org/laurammillar%40gmail.com</p><p class=MsoNormal>><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-- </p><p class=MsoNormal>Laura Millar MPH, M.A., MCHES (She/Her)</p><p class=MsoNormal>Sexuality Educator, Consultant, Coach & Community Organizer</p><p class=MsoNormal>Contact # (925)-321-8804</p><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBSF mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBSF@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsf_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBSF:</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsf_nfbnet.org/nicolecgreely%40gmail.com</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>