[Ohio-talk] Conference call remarks

Tue Nov 11 12:58:15 UTC 2014

Thanks Kaiti for the summary of your views. It was stimulating and gratifying. We especially want college students to get what you did out of convention. I just hope that it will keep you inspired and encouraged for the fight ahead. You are right that you have us all as a resource, and you know that you are not the first and unfortunately will not be the last to fight this battle. But there is something encouraging in knowing that you are on the front line and making history. Call whenever you need bolstering.

Cheers,
Barbara
Barbara Pierce
President Emerita
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
bpierce at oberlin.net
440-774-8077

On Nov 10, 2014, at 8:55 PM, Kaiti Shelton via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I managed to make it to the conference call, a rare event since I
> usually have obligations at 8:00 but they started and finished early
> tonight), but my phone reception was so poor that I was asked to write
> what I was going to say.  What I wanted to say at one point is
> something we discussed on the call, and everyone seemed to agree that
> we need to talk it up.  So, that's why I'm putting what I've got to
> say here.
> 
> First, when we were talking about our performance after we talked
> about the hotel pros and cons, I think we handled our parts of the
> convention really well.  Everything ran more or less on time, and the
> agenda was pretty nice.  Although I know the streaming had it's
> problems, Aleeha definitely did her best to make that accessible to
> those listening in from home.  I was very excited to have Dr. Maurer
> there.  I saw a report that Deborah wrote to the Cincinnati chapter
> members earlier today, and she said that Dr. Maurer was truly among
> us.  It was really cool to get to meet him... I wanted to really badly
> when I went to National Convention last year, and I actually had some
> pretty cool conversations with him this time.  I loved the fundraiser,
> and even if I weren't in the Federation, it would have been something
> I would have enjoyed going to and participating in.  I'm also really
> glad I bid on those Springfield Symphony tickets, and want to thank
> the Springfield chapter for donating them.  I don't get to see my
> roommate from last year much these days, so she'll be accompanying me
> to part of the Mozart festival in January, using the gas card to get
> us there and to get ice cream before going back to campus.
> 
> For me, the convention was amazing!  I was hooked when I attended my
> first convention in 2012, but this convention was incredibly inspiring
> and rejuvenating.  I was so pumped up throughout the entire weekend,
> and everything from Dr. and Mrs. Maurer joining the student division
> (yes, they paid dues and Dr. Maurer even highjacked running the
> presidential election from Aleeha which was kind of funny), to the
> wonderful presentations from all who talked on Friday, Saturday, and
> Sunday in general sessions.  I've also received a lot of nice feedback
> on the music I played, and am flattered.  I was still pretty new to it
> before convention, but I've been playing my CD from the Cincinnati
> chapter a fair amount over the past week or so, mainly because the
> songs took on so much meaning once everyone was singing in convention.
> I didn't get through all I wanted to, and didn't get to show everyone
> the re-writes I wrote of Yellow Submarine and All Together Now, but
> the important songs made it in and I had a great time with it.
> 
> It was surprisingly hard to adjust back to school life coming out of
> convention.  I hear that a lot from my roommates who go on campus
> ministry retreats, because they get so emotionally involved in what
> they're doing.  I think that was what happened to me over the weekend.
> I'm really proud of the work that has been accomplished this year in
> the affiliate, and in the student division, and can't wait to see what
> happens next.
> 
> A few of you know that I had a difficult time securing accommodations
> for my music classes last year.  I've just in the past few days found
> out that the problem is not just isolated to me and my university, but
> is an organizational problem which can effect students with
> disabilities across the U.S.  Convention happened at a perfect time,
> because I know that I have a network of people I can contact for
> advice or to just share my concerns, and I have just seen examples of
> things which take time in order to change for the better.  I'm
> definitely freaking out about this problem, but I would be freaking
> out more, and wouldn't be focusing on finding a solution rather than
> wallowing in the problem if I didn't have the NFB, or had I not had
> convention before learning about this serious issue.
> 
> If you weren't at convention, you truly missed out on an amazing
> weekend of work, play, and celebration.  I know that we've
> acknowledged that the Cleveland chapter was missed, but we missed
> everyone else who wasn't able to come too.  If you didn't come this
> year, I'd highly recommend coming in 2015.
> 
> Just my two cents worth... sorry to those on the phone call who tried
> to understand me through my poor reception.
> -- 
> Kaiti Shelton
> University of Dayton 2016.
> Music Therapy, Psychology, Philosophy
> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
> Sigma Alpha Iota-Delta Sigma
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ohio-talk mailing list
> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ohio-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/bpierce%40oberlin.net