[VABS] February VABS Call: Attendance Necessary

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Robert,

I hope you get some good attendance for the call!

That's such a great idea to organize a retreat. I'm no longer a full time 
student but I do pick up electives here and there to continue learning as I
look for employment.

When I was in my college years and younger, I did try VABS and one 
disappointment I found was the lack of cohesion and lack of
networking with peers. I always felt isolated on campus and like I was the 
only one with struggles to access the class materials. At my first college, 
George Mason, I was not the only low vision student, yet with such a large 
campus, I never saw the other students with visual disabilities. It was rare 
to talk to other vabs students between conventions although one or two 
people did chat with me some.
I think my experience with VABS would have been richer and more meaningful 
had I had activities which you are organizing.

Learning how to do things to succeed in higher education and other life 
skills are important. Having the opportunity to network with peers and 
socialize
is also  real important. I'm not sure what the complicating factors are here 
and the general affiliate's  questions,
but it seems to me that getting together to have fun and also network is in 
line with NFB mission.
Its one thing to preach philosophy, and another thing to live it.
If we want to show the world we are equals and do whatever everyone else 
does, then what better way to do it than to do fun activities on a retreat. 
This is a real world activity and not just talking about philosophy. I'm 
sure you can throw in a small philosophy talk as well.
I'm not sure what you had planned, but when I think of retreats, I think of 
a camp site such as a lodge or cabins.
In this setting, you can do things like play games indoors and outdoors, 
talk, walks or hikes and maybe even have a campfire and roast marshmallows.

Hopefully there will be enough support all around and it goes through.

Good luck!

Ashley


-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert Parsons via VABS
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 9:26 AM
To: 'Virginia Association of Blind Students list'
Cc: Robert Parsons
Subject: [VABS] February VABS Call: Attendance Necessary

Good Morning VABS



I hope that you all are well. I am writing to discuss the VABS call this
coming month. The VABS call will take place on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at
8pm. This call is very important for a few reasons. First, we will be
discussing the national scholarship. Secondly, we will be discussing the
status of the potential VABS summer retreat in depth. At this point, some
people were not pleased with the location that was chosen for the retreat.
This is an issue because the reasoning behind it is layered in different
concerns that I need all of you to listen to and determine if this is a
place you want to have this event at. Furthermore, there is a concern from
the affiliate because they don't know if a social retreat is something they
want to support. I believe all your opinions were that you wanted to have a
social experience and not so much of a structured philosophical one like we
did last year in Baltimore. If this is still the case, your voices need to
be heard at this conference call. I do not mind the board and I going to bat
for what you guys want, but attendance has not been very high the last two
months on the calls. If you do not show up to the call and speak on what you
want to do at this event, I cannot guarantee that what you want to see will
happen or that you will be attending the event if it does happen. Please
take the time to call in next Thursday.



Thanks



Robert E. Parsons Jr.

President, Richmond Chapter

President, Virginia Association of Blind Students

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

President, French Club

Secretary, Caribbean American Student Alliance

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society '15

Randolph Macon College '18

Phone: 804 801 7674

"Without struggle, there is no progress." -Frederick Douglass



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