[Nfbf-l] Interest in Serving on our State Board

Wed May 24 13:32:09 UTC 2017

Hi Bill, 

It's a pleasure to meet you, even if it's on the list! Hopefully we can meet
at State. I always love to talk about books and writing. :) 

I completely understand about people being in different places in their
blindness. Everyone manages their blindness in different ways and it's the
differences that enrich. No one should ever feel pressured to be a "perfect"
blind person. Each person has their own strengths and that is what gets them
to their comfortable point. 

See you at State! 

Camille 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman via
Nfbf-l
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 3:06 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bill Outman <woutman at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Interest in Serving on our State Board

Hello, Camille.  

I am pleased to meet you on this list and am glad to see you on the writers
list where I appear occasionally as well.  I hope we will be able to meet at
the convention.  

It's good that you chose not to remain a lost swallow that wallows.
Remember, though, that we advocate because not everyone is able at first to
reach the boot straps to pull themselves up.  

Perhaps we can discuss things you are involved in such as public relations
and resolutions.  I could use some help in building my image.  Your
newsletter is of some interest as I'm the secretary of the chapter in
Daytona Beach.  

Bill Outman 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Camille Tate
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 10:09 AM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'
Cc: Camille Tate
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Interest in Serving on our State Board

Greetings Federationists, 

My name is Camille Tate. I currently serve on the board of the Melbourne
Space Coast Chapter. I wish to introduce myself to all of you, as I am
interested in the vacant position on the Affiliate Board. 

I am 41 years old and joined the NFB and NFBF in 2015. I lost my vision in
2005 due to diabetic retinopathy and went blind in six months. After taking
about a year to wallow, I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and decided to
live! I'd never heard of the National Federation of the Blind, even though
my father also went blind due to the same eye condition when I was a child.
When Joe Naulty opened our chapter in Melbourne, I took a chance and
attended its first meeting. I was hooked! I ran for and was elected to my
chapter's board and have worked diligently in my various duties. 

In addition to my work on the board, I am the Editor of our chapter's
newsletter, The Visionary, which is sent out monthly. I am the Public
Relations Chair for MSCC and perform many of our speaking engagements. I
"steer" our social media and work on promoting our chapter in our community.
I have and will continue to represent my chapter and the NFB with our local
government officials and community leaders. I also represent my chapter on
the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Steering Committee. Working
with members of the Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, I have advocated before
Brevard County Commissioners to improve transit and paratransit for the
blind and disabled. I bring all the drive and dedication I have and will use
it to represent you, the members of our Affiliate, within our state and
across our NFB family. 

I am currently a student, working towards obtaining a B.A. I plan to go on
to law school and use those skills I have developed to make strides in
disability and civil rights. One of the things I most dislike is the
mistreatment of a person because they are different. Differences should be
celebrated because how else do you learn than by experiencing something you
might not have known? I am interested in legislative issues and governmental
affairs. I firmly believe that if you want to effect change, you must go to
the halls of power. How powerful a message do we, as blind and low vision
individuals, make when we walk into a Commission chamber or the House and
Senate, with our white canes (or white tipped canes)? It makes it undeniable
that we should not and will not be silent. 

I hope to meet you all at our State Convention. This will be my second
Convention and I am serving on this year's Resolutions Committee. 

Always remember, that blindness isn't the characteristic that defines me or
my future and it shouldn't define yours either. 

Sincerely, 

Camille Tate 

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