[Ohio-talk] Vibrant Chapters

Wed Apr 8 16:02:16 UTC 2009

Robby and Colleen, a good way to mix social time with meeting time is to host your meetings at a restaurant. My local chapter in SC does this. For those who don't want to eat show up when the meeting starts. This gives us the opportunity to get to know each other. We are a very close chapter because of this. We hang out several times a month out side of the meetings. I agree with Robby that if all you do is focus your time on the philosophy aspect of the NFB people will lose interest. Sure, the it's good for everyone to know what the NFB is about, but it's also important to make friends as well. I am very proud of the work my local chapter has done in SC and hope to share some of our ideas of what has worked for us when I move to Ohio this summer.  

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Colleen Roth <n8tnv at att.net> wrote:

From: Colleen Roth <n8tnv at att.net>
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Vibrant Chapters
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 1:52 PM

Hi Robby,
my suggestion is that we have our Meetings and have separate social events.
There is no rule that says you can't have two things in a month. Getting together to ply cards, learn braille, bowl, etc.
We will all learn to know each other and be like a family if we do things together.
Colleen Roth

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Spangler <spangler.robert at gmail.com>
To: NFB OF Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: 2009/04/08 13:34:09
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Vibrant Chapters

>
>
> I think that it would be a good idea to maintain a balance between 
> remembering the philosophy and going over literature along with planning 
> fun events, such as hanging out, bowling, and other things that we can 
> do.  This is something that I pointed out at the student leadership 
> seminar and someone told me that we don't want to lose focus of our 
> mission.  We are not going to lose focus of our mission, but if all we 
> do is preach philosophy and go over literature, I can tell you that it 
> will lose the interests of students pretty quickly.  I have read the Man 
> and the Movement, by the way, and found it to be very inspiring.
> 
> Robby
> 
> 
> Colleen Roth wrote:
> > Hi All,
> > I am very pleased that you all want the Toledo Chapter to be very active and that you are all excited. I do want to point out that an important component is a sound knowledge and willingness to learn NFB Philosophy. Without a strong knowledge of our philosophy we are not going to achieve our goals. Some of us have a good background and understanding and are here to help those of you just starting out. I for one feel that this is very important.
> > We need energy to grow and thrive but we need the experience of those of us who have been here a long time and know the history behind some things, are willing to change with the advent of new people, but will stand strong if things err with regard to philosophy.
> > I hope that our new people will read our literature and ask questions.
> > I would like to suggest that our New Chapter and all new chapters for that matter make it a practice to hand out a piece of Literature each month in people's preferred format or encourage those with Computer access to go online and get the item. The next month we could discusss this literature at the meeting.
> > For example, it would be very interesting to discuss Blindness: A Left-handed Dissertation, Blindness: Handicap or Characteristic or the Nature of Independence.
> > I believe that attending a Leadership Seminar was a highlight of my Federation Journey. The State Leadership Seminars I have attended have also been very useful.
> > Years ago we had Regional Training on our Philosorfy for those interested.
> > For all of you starting local chapters or revitalizing them let's remember that there are those of us who will be involved who have experience and knowledge to share from a long history with the NFB.
> > I for one want us to do all the things that we couldn't do with just a few members. Chapters need to participate in as many programs on the State and National level as possible.
> > We need to remember that it is acceptable to be blind and that we can do anything we want to do with Security, Opportunity and Equality.
> > I really also encourage you all read The Man and the Movement.
> > As you can see I am not a retiring vine.
> > Colleen Roth
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/spangler.robert%40gmail.com
> > 
> 
> -- 
> Robert Spangler
> The University of Toledo
> Student Senate - Recording Secretary
> Ohio Association of Blind Students - President
> 
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