[Ohio-Talk] Greetings again Ohio, A friendly reminder.

[Richard Payne]

Greetings again Ohio,

Previously I posted a request for members to let me know if you have the
ability and desire to attend the Washington Seminar. Therefore, the deadline
for you to notify me is on December 8,2021 at 6pm which is also the deadline
for you to respond with your desire to serve on the committees please do not
wait until the last day step up.

The NFB was founded on the guiding principles that blind people have an
inalienable right to independence, that blind people have equal capacity,
and that only blind people themselves can legitimately speak for the blind
community. These principles have continually permeated the membership and
structure of our ever-growing organization.
Today, the NFB is the largest organization of blind people in the United
States. 
National, state, and local officers are elected by our members to ensure a
representative form of government. This ensures that, as blind people, we
can drive our own collective action and determine our own future, rather
than relying on others to advocate for us. 
The main components of our structure are listed in our constitution
<https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/constitution>  (i.e.,
"Article V. Powers and Duties of the Convention, the Board of Directors, and
the President"). In short, the national Convention
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>  is the central and
foundational element of our organization. It is the Convention that elects
our board of directors <https://nfb.org/about-us/leadership/board-directors>
and our President <https://nfb.org/about-us/leadership/presidents-corner> . 
This structure at the national level is reflected in our state affiliates
<https://nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates> , where conventions of blind
people set state policies and elect state leaders, including presidents.
While the state affiliates must follow the policies and practices of the
national organization, blind people in each state make independent decisions
about the programmatic priorities and concerns in their local area.
Since 1940, we have worked collectively in a unified national organization,
improving the lives of blind people throughout the country, and in some
cases, the world. Along with high expectations and strong values, our
structure continues to empower members of the National Federation of the
Blind to live the lives we want.

2022 National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Committees
Listed below are the committee descriptions for 2022. At this point, all
committee positions need to be filled. This means if you chaired or served
on a committee in 2021, you cannot assume that you will automatically be
placed there for 2022. There will be no exceptions! Please let me know which
committees you would like to serve on by December 08 If you wish to chair a
committee. Please email me a narrative of why you believe you should hold
this position. Remember, Ohio is seeking innovators and committed leadership
that can bring energy and creative new ideas to the committees. 

2022 NFBO Committee Descriptions
1: AWARDS COMMITTEE
Charge: To oversee the awards process, to provide information and feedback
when necessary, and to make reasonable judgments about NFBO awards.

2: BELL COORDINATOR 
Charge: To communicate and help with planning the inhouse bell program and
to organize the bell Academy and plan efficient ways to promote and execute
the important programs. 

3: COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE
Charge: To educate the Ohio Affiliate about the professional and personal
benefits of community service, to encourage chapters, divisions, and
individuals to participate in projects in their communities, to encourage
members to identify or develop and implement their own service projects, and
to educate the public about NFB philosophy and the skills and abilities
blind people bring to community service

4: CONSTITUTION Committee
Charge: To make sure that all NFBO constitutions follow the state and
national constitutions, both philosophically and rhetorically.

5: RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
Charge: To oversee the submission process and to write and distribute
clearly articulated and philosophically sound resolutions. 

6: DEAF-BLIND Committee 
Charge: To aid and provide information to those who are in this unique
community and to serve as a vehicle to foster a positive relationship for
the deaf-blind community. 

7: EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Charge: To inform the president about policies, legislation, strategies, and
initiatives in which NFBO should be engaged to improve educational
opportunities for blind youth throughout the state.

8: FINANCING THE MOVEMENT COMMITTEE including (SUN coordinator, Jernigan
Fund coordinator, PAC coordinator)
Charge: To make members aware of these specific organizational fundraising
opportunities and to implement strategies to increase participation. 

9: FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
Charge: To investigate added opportunities to increase NFB-O resources and
to implement effective fundraising strategies and programming. 

10:  LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Charge: To increase the organization's visibility and effectiveness in the
state legislature and to continue to support our efforts in Washington
throughout the year. 

11: MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Charge: To implement effective strategies to recruit and retain members and
to reinvigorate the chapters and divisions of NFBO. 

12: PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY AND NEWSLINE COMMITTEE
Charge: To assist with updating the content on the Newsline service, as well
as, promoting and advertising NEWSLINE. Members on this committee should be
proficient computer users.
To develop content and suggest creative ways to promote NFBO branding.
Responsibilities include research audience preferences and discover current
trends, create engaging text, image and video content, design posts to
sustain readers' curiosity and create buzz around new issues, stay up to
date with changes in all social platforms ensuring maximum effectiveness,
train leaders how to use social media in a cohesive and beneficial way.
, and oversee social media accounts. 

13: SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Charge: To conduct the affiliate scholarship program and to develop and
implement effective strategies to increase the visibility of the program and
increase participation. 

14: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee
The charge for the committee is to provide education and training, guidance
and advocacy where needed. Our diverse community includes, but is not
limited to, the intersectionality of ability, age, religion, race,
ethnicity, culture, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation.

15: Employment Committee
To inform the president about policies, legislation, strategies, and
initiatives on why NFBO should be involved to improve employment
opportunities for blind persons throughout the state and beyond; the
importance of holding various platforms on accessible technology,
socializations skills, resume writing, career exploration and preparing
employers for interviewing and hiring blind people; also prepare members for
the National and various Career Fairs through, Learning about new employment
resources. Networking and interviewing techniques; finally educating members
on the significance on how to advocate for reasonable accommodations,
rehabilitation services and other vital resources to aid one in being
productive and successful in obtaining and maintaining a career.    

Richard Payne,  President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.