[nabs-l] About the future of NABS and the NFB

Fri May 20 23:03:36 UTC 2011

Darian,
  Good questions, to be sure.  I think what it boils down to is are we
competing on terms of equality in the sighted world?  In other words,
if we're employed or actively seeking employment training (and I'm not
judging those blind people who are unemployed through no fault of
their own), and if we're doing it in the way everyone else does, going
to school and working in the public, people will notice if we do it
well.  That's the best way to atract interested people-a blind person
may approach you and say "where'd you get that confidence?", a TVI may
seek you out and ask how you're doing what your're doing, etc.  In
other words, we live Federationism by example and those interested in
learning more will see we're different because we see ourselves as
regular people who happen to be blind.
  I'm not saying we don't advertise-I'm just saying our lifestyles and
our confidence and our work in the sighted world should be our biggest
advertisement.
  Hope that clarifies,
Kirt

On 5/20/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kirt,
>   absolutely, but in what ways, how can  weencourage  ourselves to
> talk less and do more? and what does that "do more" look like ?
>
> On 5/20/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Darian,
>>   We talk less, we do more.
>>
>> On 5/20/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> How do we communicate this message to the students we come acrossin
>>> our lives,  camps, schools and the like?
>>>
>>> On 5/20/11, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>>>> You're right. My point is that those who are suspicious of us may view
>>>> what
>>>> we say as vitriolic though we don't mean it so simply by virtue of the
>>>> radicality of our message. If you view blindness as a tragedy, denying
>>>> this
>>>> belief is blasphemy.
>>>>
>>>> Mike Freeman
>>>> sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On May 20, 2011, at 14:55, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Mike,
>>>>>  I don't mean to be crass, but so what?  Do we have to meet vitriol
>>>>> with vitriol, match them insult for insult?  I think not.  And we both
>>>>> know it's not the same world it used to be-even those who disagree
>>>>> with us usually take us seriously.  What's that famous aphorism from
>>>>> FDR?  Speak softly and carry a big stick?
>>>>>  Warmly,
>>>>> Kirt
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/20/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> there were quite a few people on the call, most of them wished to
>>>>>> listen (which is just fine), while  others elected to chime in.  Some
>>>>>> were affiliate presidents, some were state student division
>>>>>> presidents, and some were nabs board members.
>>>>>>  if some of them wish to  contribute what  discussions stood out to
>>>>>> them, that would be a good thing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One thing thatI thought stood out is  the idea of taking  the  energy
>>>>>> of National/state convention and recreating that in our student
>>>>>> divisions.  If you have  ever gone to a convention, you find that
>>>>>> there is an  energy and excitement around  the event.  A good part of
>>>>>> that is the reunion factor, while alot of it is  the exchange of
>>>>>> ideas, the fellowship, the idea that we as blind people are  not alone
>>>>>> and at conventionit's brought into such a strong reality.
>>>>>>  We see people with canes and dogs dressed up and going to  various
>>>>>> meetings, seminars, events, fundraisers and banquet - that other blind
>>>>>> people with their canes and dogs  run themselves.
>>>>>> I think this  is a  wonderful example of everything that we talk
>>>>>> about in practice, and  Hopefully, this should inspire us to  not just
>>>>>> talk about what we believe the truth is about blindness, but practice
>>>>>> it, not only around each other at convention and at chapter meetings,
>>>>>> but with each other in public.  This models blindness to the public
>>>>>> and to each other.
>>>>>>  That's something I remember, and  my little spin on  what I took from
>>>>>> it
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 5/20/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Chris,
>>>>>>>  It's awesome you're on here.  You're a case study of why it's good
>>>>>>> for students to get on board while they're young.  Just out of
>>>>>>> curiosity, how were you introduced to the Federation?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 5/20/11, Âris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> I agree completely, Kirt! Great points!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Chris
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --- Sent from my BrailleNote
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com
>>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> Date sent: Thu, 19 May 2011 19:57:10 -0600
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] About the future of NABS and the NFB
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Darian and all,
>>>>>>>>  I think sometimes we underestimate the role of vission
>>>>>>>> teachers.
>>>>>>>> (call them what you want-TVIs, teachers of blind students,
>>>>>>>> itinerate
>>>>>>>> teachers, whatever)  These are usually the people who give blind
>>>>>>>> students, and their parents, first impressions about blindness
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> thus they have a huge influence on whatever expectations a
>>>>>>>> student or
>>>>>>>> parent develops about what is possible as a blind person.  I
>>>>>>>> think we
>>>>>>>> need to put a lot more energy in to sincerely dialoguing with
>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>> teachers, especially the reasonable ones who don't agree with us
>>>>>>>> (I'm
>>>>>>>> not saying all teachers who disagree with us are reasonable), to
>>>>>>>> improve our image and the way we're presented to students.
>>>>>>>> Because my
>>>>>>>> state affiliate is pretty good at this, my TVI, although she
>>>>>>>> disagreed
>>>>>>>> with a lot of what the NFB does, didn't discourage me from coming
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> my own opinions and getting as much firsthand experience with the
>>>>>>>> Federation as I could.  Even those blindness professionals who
>>>>>>>> disagree with us can, if we present ourselves in a civil and
>>>>>>>> courteous
>>>>>>>> manner, direct students to our organization.  It happened with
>>>>>>>> me.
>>>>>>>>  Warmest regards,
>>>>>>>> Kirt
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 5/19/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> You know, one thing that I would like to add to this discussion
>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>> the following  "what ideas would you  suggest to improve what
>>>>>>>> you may
>>>>>>>> think needs improving?"
>>>>>>>>   I think it's  really easy for all of us to get into the  habit
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> mentioning what isn't happening.  Sometimes, it's  not so much a
>>>>>>>> matter
>>>>>>>>  that no one is aware of an issue (sometimes, on the other hand,
>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>> in fact may be the case), but suggestions on how to improve are
>>>>>>>> also
>>>>>>>> very valuable.   Remember, we never roll out of bed with the
>>>>>>>> answers!
>>>>>>>>   Best,
>>>>>>>>   Darian
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 5/19/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>    I don't think we're doing enough with the
>>>>>>>> middleschool/elementary
>>>>>>>> population.
>>>>>>>> We need to get the message out faster,
>>>>>>>> to the younger kids.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On May 19, 2011, at 9:00 PM, dsmithnfb at gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Let's bring this conversation fourth.  What do people think
>>>>>>>> about this
>>>>>>>> question?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On May 19, 2011, at 5:39 PM, "Tina Hansen" <th404 at comcast.net>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I wanted to know what people felt about the future of the NFB,
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> whether or not we're doing anything to address how to
>>>>>>>> communicate our
>>>>>>>> message in a way that will reach people through new
>>>>>>>> technologies.
>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb
>>>>>>>> %40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/computert
>>>>>>>> echjorgepaez%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb
>>>>>>>> %40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Darian Smith
>>>>>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>>>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>>>>>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> — Robert Byrne
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.craz
>>>>>>>> ydude%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for nabs-l:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nu
>>>>>>>> sbaum%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Darian Smith
>>>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>>>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> — Robert Byrne
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Darian Smith
>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>>>
>>> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>>>
>>> — Robert Byrne
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Darian Smith
> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>
> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>
> — Robert Byrne
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com
>