[nfbwatlk] Student Division

Thu Dec 4 22:07:10 UTC 2008

Hello Everyone,

The first meeting of the NFB of Washington Student Division took place at
the fall 2007 Convention in Vancouver. Dr. Maurer was our National
Representative and Arielle Silverman from Arizona served as National
Association of Blind Students Representative.

It was a great convention and we had quite a few students in attendance
including our two scholarship winners. Unfortunately, the founding meeting
was held on Friday and not all students had arrived by then. Mike Mello and
I suggested that the meeting be postponed because there weren't enough
students present to form a division. We've learned from past experience in
Idaho when we began a student division, just how much work it can be,
especially to a college student! There was much discussion of this and other
points and Mike Freeman, Dr. Maurer and Arielle Silverman provided some
excellent insight and sparking comments for debate. Majority voted to go
ahead and adopt a constitution and elect the standard four officers for a
division and they were: Jennifer Moerke, President, Jacob Struiksma, Vice
President, Lisa Owen, Secretary and myself, Andrea Travis, as Treasurer. I
am not a student and wasn't at the time. The majority of officers and
members must be students, but ANYONE is welcome to join! One more thing, the
Division President must be a full time student.

I decided to serve as Treasurer, to lend my support and experience to the
division and work with Jen, Lisa and Jacob to establish the base for a
division that would continue to grow. Elections are held annually, because
students seem to graduate every once in a while! So, I committed to one year
of serious attention to the student division. I'm not sure what happened for
the students at this year's convention since I had to work that weekend and
I'm sure not going to try to speak to or for anyone else about their
dedication and commitment.

As Gary and Kay pointed out, there is always loads of work to be done and we
all volunteer as much as possible while dealing with the rest of life!

Anyway, over the past year, I've been compiling a list of contacts,
fundraising and even helped put together a couple events including a Seattle
Chapter sponsored Student Pizza Party. I spoke to Gary Mackenstadt and we
agreed that the affiliate treasury would hold the divisions' membership
funds, all $30 of it, for the students to use as needed. I chose not to open
a bank account when there isn't enough money to fuss with! Once more funds
were raised; the current treasurer could decide what to do!

Although, I am not interested in being a Student Division officer, they have
my complete support and I will still help whenever and however I can! I know
most of you feel the same! The easiest thing we can do to support the
students is, continue to recruit members, all members! Be involved and set a
good example! Talk to people and share the NFB philosophy!

Andrea

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Kay Burrows <theladykathryn4one at juno.com>wrote:

> Lisa,
>
> Perhaps I am the only one that thought to be a member of the student
> division one had to a student actively pursuing a degree or certificate or
> to be considering an advanced degree or certificate.  I deemed it to be a
> rather exclusive organization rather like some of the professional
> divisions.  I also presumed it to be run by the members and not necessarily
> with direction and support of the affiliate.  In fact I thought that it was
> not a welcome place for "grey beards or snow tops" as most students are
> more
> youthful than the rest of the membership.  There for I am a little confused
> about your use of this forum.  Were your comments directed to the student
> members only or to all affiliate members with their lack of concern for the
> student division?
>
> I find it hard to even conceive that any member, let alone a board member
> is
> not concerned with fund raising.  For many of us it is a very frightening
> and worrisome situation.  I do not know of a single chapter that does mot
> benefit from the affiliate's pockets.
>
> Many people work countless hours for the benefit of their chapter and the
> affiliate and do not expect to have public recognition for their work.
>  They
> do what they do quietly, efficiently, and with much anonymity just because
> they love and care about the organization and the work that it does.  Mike
> Freeman would not even think of telling everyone how many personal hours he
> had spent organizing the convention that you thought "could have been done
> better"  Rather than make sure criticisms in public you might consider
> contacting Mike off list with suggestions for improvement and volunteering
> time to bring them to fruition.  Every mouse wanted the cat to be belled,
> but no mouse volunteered to put the bell around his neck.
>
> I can not and try not to speak for others.  These are my thoughts and I
> take
> responsibility for them.
>
> Kay Burrows
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 2:05 PM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Student Division
>
> Kay:
>
> One does not have to be a student to be a member of NFB of Washington
> Students. I'll have to look at the constitution for the division but I
> believe that all officers must be students and I should think that a
> majority of the voting membership of the division must be students also.
> AS I say, I'll have to look back through my records to clarify this.
>
> Insofar as I am aware, there is no set qualification for being a
> "student" insofar as division membership is concerned but common sense
> ought to rule. For example, Marty was a student since she was studying
> to become a licensed massage therapist. Likewise, anyone going to school
> to get an academic degree or to learn a trade is a student. I'm not sure
> someone taking, say, a night-time course to learn how to knit for the
> heck of it would be said to be a student, at least in the spirit of the
> group the division is meant to represent and assist though, as I said
> above, one does not need to be a student to be a member of the division.
>
> At the risk of leaving someone out, at the formation of the division, I
> believe that Lisa, Jennifer, Jacob and Marty were students and Andrea,
> Mike Mello and, I think, Ben Prows, joined also although I'm a bit vague
> on this last assertion except that both Andrea and Mike were "charter
> members" and Andrea may have been a student at that time. Oh yes -- CT
> may have joined also,
>
> Insofar as I am aware, Jennifer, Lisa and Jacob are the only bona fide
> students that are left though I am quick to admit that I could be wrong
> and could be leaving someone else out. CRS Syndrome and all that!
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kay Burrows" <theladykathryn4one at juno.com>
> To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Student Division
>
>
>
> There are some areas of clarification that I would like to have in
> understand the situation better.  How many students are member of the
> affiliate?  Is the student division limited to only students?  What is
> considered a student or what is the qualifying definition of a student?
> Are
> there parameters as to were and how many hours are needed to qualify?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Mackenstadt, Gary
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:11 AM
> To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Student Division
>
>
> Lisa, I am a little concerned about your message.  I agree that you have
> worked hard.  However, none of us live in a bubble.  I share your
> disappointment about the students" division.  I have been in the
> federation
> for thirty-five years, and a students' division particularly on a state
> level has always been a struggle.
>
> We do not need to get in to a discussion about people';s commitment.  As
> you
> know, all of the work is not done on the list serve or telephone.
> Maybe,
> some of us do not spend enough time telling other people how much we
> spend
> on raising money, or organizing convention, working on legislation, or
> doing
> advocacy.  We are all volunteers.
>
> The challenge remains the building of an active and productive movement.
> The NFBW is one of fifty-two affiliates.  We get the job done
> collectively.
> All of us need to generate ideas and action.  We are all volunteers.  If
> it
> was not for jobs, college, families and everyday living, there would be
> a
> lot of time.
>
> It is my plan to start communicating with the members of the fundraising
> committee.  However, anyone on the committee is welcome to call me, and
> we
> can talk.  Since we are on the subject, we are currently filling out
> some
> paper work related to a bequest.  Most members of the Federation do not
> understand how much paper work there is.  For the most part, the
> treasurer
> and president do the endless paper work.  Delegating the paper work is
> not a
> realistic option.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:39 AM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Student Division
>
> Hello:
>
> I am very disappointed about the lack of interest in the Student
> Division.
> The convention was a good experience; however it could have been done
> better.
>
> I appeal to all officeers in this division  to recommit themselves to
> this
> division. I appeal to all students also. I think it is a disserve to our
> membership when we don't even show up to elect officers or even to
> commit
> ourselves to even talking on the phone.
>
> Jennifer "Jedi" Moerke has worked tirelessly on all our belf. I thank
> her
> for her dedication. Everyone knows where respnsibility lies. I will not
> allow this division to fold up like a house of cards. This dision as
> well as
> the Bellingham chapter and this affiliate are far too important.
>
> We in WA are as strong or as weak as we wish. Fund raising needs to be
> taken seriously if this afiliate is to survive. No one seems to care
> about
> this issue either.
>
> Jedi is very upset and frustrated at the NFB of WA; I share her
> frustration.
> I share her dedication and commitment. We can't do this alone.
>
> I renew my commitment to this affiliate, the Student Division & the
> CFB.
>
> I will do whatever it takes to keep things going.
>
> We need you to help.
>
> Lisa A. Owen
> Treasurer Officer & Fund Raising Chair
> The Northwest Chapter
> Secretary Officer
> The NFB of WA Student Division
> Fund Raising Committee Membeer
> Member:
> The Canadian Federation of the Blind
> 360-920-0405
> _nfbnorthwest at aol.com_ (mailto:nfbnorthwest at aol.com)
>
>
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