[Ohio-talk] Fw: Some Thoughts on Tandeming, Conventions, & the Future of the S&R Division

[Everett Gavel]

Hello,

I'm sharing this here in the hopes that some of it, regarding getting
involved, will motivate others besides myself. (smile)

Strive On!
Everett


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Everett Gavel"
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List"
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 2:18 PM
Subject: Some Thoughts on Tandeming, Conventions, & the Future of the S&R
Division

Hello Annemarie, Kathy, and all,

I'd also like to work with you, Kathy, and anyone else involved, on Tandem
cycling at future events.  Now please don't any of us waste any more energy
on feeling insulted.  What I'm saying is that, yes, I'm stepping up.  But if
this list can't be used for talking about the future of the division, of
sports and those who are blind, and improving things, then what good is this
list?  So what if we talk about past events?  That is not a bad thing. Even
occasional criticism can be used productively, if it is received properly.

As some of you know, I worked on the first tandem ride in Dallas several
years ago.  LM may have sent you notes from that, Kathy.  If not though, I'd
be happy to send them along.  Perhaps there are some contacts that weren't
kept up with that could be re-initiated or something, for our future Dallas
conventions.  Not sure.  I'd be happy to work on the tandeming aspect of
future conventions with the S&R committee, at least - and help in any way I
could.

I walked away from the committee a few years ago, as some of you may
remember.  For very specific reasons which I won't go into here.  But seeing
as how we now have a convention with less rather than more, I think some of
us need to stop letting a few probably already overtasked individuals handle
everything. More of us need to be more involved and responsible.  I say this
to the list as a whole, hoping others will step forward.  But I'm talking
more than anyone else, about myself, trust me. ;-)

I do think it's a shame we can't tandem or skate, openly, in the name of the
NFB Sports & Recreation Division.  It's one of the more positive and
attention-getting things the organization as a whole, could've done.  We may
be missing out on opportunities if any of our leadership is making decisions
based on their own personal inhibitions.  I hope and pray this is not the
case.  Putting out a few more dollars for insurance coverage to allow for
such positive impressions to be dispersed among the masses cannot be a bad
choice.

If we want to change what it means to be blind, we should be doing all we
can to impact the masses in ways that make them take notice.  Take notice -
and notice us in a positive light.

Definitely, we will need to get insurance woes and others' concerns out of
the way long before next year.  I'm sure I don't know the whole scoop as to
why some things couldn't happen this year, and I do trust our leadership -
so I'll move on.

Me, I'm a dreamer.  A dreamer still struggling with and working on being
better at putting those dreams into action rather than merely dreaming them.
I dream of the skating canes having 100 members skating rather than
marching, in future years!  Not 5 or 6 piddly members.  Bah!  We need to
have more fun in life. Step up, people!  Take a chance!  Have some fun!  Be
daring.  Take action, today!  Rarely will you ever regret it moreso than not
having taken action on a thing and leaving it up to someone else.

In the movie, The Replacements, Keanu Reeves said it very well.  Something
to the tune of, "Cuts and bruises heal.  Broken bones heal.  But the memory,
the glory, lasts a lifetime."

Me, I'd like there to be tandemers and skaters and maybe even a hot-air
balloon or something like that with the division logo emblazoned on it's
side, next year!  I'd love to have a 30-foot tall whozit, as well as one of
the sporty whozits too, 30-feet tall and towering over the people like a
hot-air balloon tethered to the ground.  I've looked into it.  It certainly
is possible.

I'd like a radio station setup at the gathering, broadcasting from the
event!  I'd like a stock car and blind stock car racer from the Eye Rock 500
event, having his stock car on a trailer, revving his engine in some parking
lot at the gathering after the March, next year!  I'd like that
rock-climbing wall setup every year, in the park at the gathering!  With
blind climbers giving it a go all day long, or at least however long the
event lasts.

I want to put out there for everyone to notice, many of the simple things
that those who are clueless seem to think a person that is blind, can't do!
Extreme sports!  Sports in general.

Adventurous and fulfilling lives are not lived by those with sight alone!
As I've said many times before, a lack of sight does not equal a lack of
talent, dreams, or desire!

So, Listers, as Joe said, I repeat. I implore you to step up with me, with
us, with the division and the organization.  Don't know what you could help
with?  Trust me, there's something.  But it begins by you taking the step
up.  Contact Lisamaria.  Now, today, not "later." Her e-mail is:
lmartinez217 at gmail.com.  If you're more comfortable contacting someone you
may know already who is on the board, contact them.  Just take that step up
and make contact with someone.

Actually, LM, who is on the board these days, please?  Can you post the info
to the list?  Please post the Web site too, if the division has one.  Iwent
to the list of divisions yesterday and couldn't find any division Web site
given, but I thought we already had one?  No matter though, who's on the
board, please?  To help people make contact?  Thanks.

However you do it, people, please, just make contact!  Take that step.  That
step up.  This division could be a major force in truly changing what it
means to be blind.  In the past, more often than not, "blind sports" has
meant having sighted people 'help' organize and run some programs to allow
blind people to get some form of exercise.  Why are we letting everyone else
do stuff for us, still, in this day and age?  Step up!  If you truly believe
you are better than most people give you credit for, step up!  Even if
you're not really sure about your capabilities, take a small risk and step
up.  Prove it to yourself.  That can only be done through action, not just
words.  Start now, start today.  Contact someone and take action.  No matter
how small the action, action is better than just thinking about it.

As one small example, last night I stepped into the ring - literally. I got
the snot beat out of me for the most part.  But what matters is, I did it.
I've been thinking about it for months but talked myself out of it week
after week.  Last night I took that step up. Now, today I can't breathe in a
full breath without my ribs aching.  But so what?  I'll heal.  But I took
that first step and am looking forward to learning how to box despite not
being able to see my opponent.  And if anyone has tips on boxing, I'd
appreciate you sharing them.  I got some good shots in last night, but was
the punchee more than the puncher.  I look forward to learning the way to do
it so I am not merely a punching bag for my opponent. (smile)

I don't know who wrote it, but I'll end with a quote I've been repeating to
myself often lately:

"The smallest good deed is better than the largest good intention."


Take Action!
Everett
everett at everettgavel.com
www.everettgavel.com


----- original message ----- 
From: Annemarie Cooke <aec732 at msn.com>

Like Everett, I send messages to individuals on this list and get no reply.
I know they must be answering but I cannot figure out what is happening;
nothing gpoes into Junk file. At any rate, this is about the tandeming
thing:

... So, Kathy, if you are out there, yes, I would like to work with you as
we did previously on the tandem ride. I have all the info from the last
time, including the bus company which treated us so well with
transportation.

... do we have a call this Sunday night? I have stopped receiving messages
from the board and I know they are being sent.

Frustrated here in NJ and looking forward to convention,

Annemarie Cooke