[nfbmi-talk] Why be a part of the NFB?

Wed Jan 21 13:34:18 UTC 2015

Hello Elizabeth, Dave, Larry, and Mary Ann,
Thank you for having this thoughtful discussion where so many of us could read it.  I am thinking about all of the things each of you wrote.   I hope more of us will write in and say why they belong to the NFB.

Lydia Schuck, MSEd
Research Associate, National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
Western Michigan University
1908 W. Michigan Avenue, Mailstop 5259
Kalamazoo, MI  49008
phone 269.387.5990

----- Original Message -----
From: Larry D Keeler via nfbmi-talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: Mary Ann Robinson <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>, NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 23:19:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?

Well Mary Ann, you have met the perfect person, me! I make perfectly good 
mistakes! I also think part of our issues are that when we haven't been in 
the organization long or started younge we have to build up a base of 
connections. For example, I've only been a Federationist for a few years. A 
lot of people knew me before I was but now they are beginning to take me 
more seriously because I've been getting involved in things. However, I have 
not been around long enough to devope a reputation. Ok, maybe that preceeds 
me! Again, the best we can do is keep reaching out and making connections 
and strengthening them.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Ann Robinson via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing 
List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?

> Elizabeth,
>
> I also want to commend you for writing to the list.  Expressing your
> feelings took a great deal of courage.
>
> I have been a member of the NFB for more than 40 years.  There were many
> years when I wasn't very active.  In recent years, I have increased my
> activity exponentially.
>
> The NFB philosophy is sound, makes sense to me  and reflects my values. 
> In the
> more than 60 years that I have lived on this earth, many things have
> improved for blind people.  However, there are many
> areas that still leave much to be desired for us.
> I am not perfect and I have yet to meet the perfect person.
> In the NFB, there are as many opinions as there are people.  Some amount 
> of disagreement
> or conflict is healthy.  If someone disagrees with us, that does not mean 
> they dislike us.
> Exposure to different opportunities, thoughts,
> ideas, perspectives and points of view is a strength.  For me, the NFB is 
> a safe haven where I can express my joys, frustrations, pain and 
> accomplishments and be accepted.  I am among people who, like me, live 
> with
> their blindness everyday and truly understand me. They also give me the 
> support and encouragement to persevere when I might give up otherwise; and
> they challenge me to be the best person I can be.
>
> Knowledge is power and there is power in numbers.  I can accomplish much 
> more as a member of our movement than I ever could alone. I look to the 
> organization to help effect change, but I also look inward to see what I 
> need to change within me.
>
> You have contributed much in many ways and you have worked very hard.  I 
> believe you can contribute still more. To echo Dave's sentiments, there is 
> much work that needs to be done and we need more people to do it.  The 
> road to equality and living the life we want can be a long one. I hope 
> that you continue to pursue your hopes and dreams and may you find the 
> answers to your questions about the Federation and inner peace as you 
> continue on your journey.
>
> Mary Ann
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Robinson via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Elizabeth Mohnke" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet
> Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?
>
>
>> Elizabeth,
>>
>>  First, I want to thank you for expressing your frustrations and asking
>> your questions. These are important points and real feelings and they are
>> to
>> be respected.  I suppose that the NFB is just an organization of people
>> who
>> have come together for a common interest. We have a philosophy to live by
>> and to guide us,and we have a place were we want all blind people to be 
>> in
>> this world.  However, we are foremost, just people with all the good and
>> bad
>> that comes with that statement.
>>
>>    Secondly, as a Federationist for over 45 years, I know of the 
>> rejection
>> and the the hurtful comments from other members.  It is not the way we
>> should be and it is not what we as Federationists want it to be.  Each of
>> us
>> struggle for our own place in the world and our place within the
>> Federation.
>> Often it results in disappointment, but sometimes it results in
>> satisfaction
>> and a sense of accomplishment. I think that the world is just like that 
>> in
>> all things.
>>
>>   You have worked hard and you have contributed much, perhaps more then
>> many of us,and I as sorry that you did not recieve more from it then what
>> you have given.  You may have fallen short at times,and I to have fallen
>> short.  In fact, I am sure I have many more times then I care to think
>> about.  It is my hope that fellow Federationists will forgive me when I
>> fall
>> short,and help me to do better. It is also important that I recognize the
>> problem and pray that I will do better next time.  When you fall short, 
>> we
>> need to forgive, when you do well, we need to give you thanks , but If we
>> don't give you thanks, I hope you will forgive us. Sometimes we are 
>> caught
>> up in our own world and do not give gratitude when we should.
>>
>>   Believe me when I say, you are not discounted. You are not unwelcomed.
>> In fact, you are vital and much needed. We the organized blind need you 
>> to
>> be partof us.  We are just a group of blind people trying to help
>> others,and
>> we always have more to do then we have people.  I want to look for the
>> good
>> things in people that want to be my brothers and sisters in the movement,
>> and I will continue to do that even though I see things that may not be
>> good.  I take from many for my role models,and I reject from the very 
>> same
>> the things that I may not like, and so I hope you can do the same.
>>
>>   I am part of the Federation because I can succeed in helping our 
>> efforts
>> to equality and I can also feel good about what I do, who I can  count as
>> friends,and to feel as part of a common cause, a family that has a 
>> purpose
>> and living the life with them through all the ups and downs. Remember, 
>> The
>> Federation purpose is a good one, and only  the people's shortcomings are
>> what cloud the results.
>>
>> Dave
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Elizabeth Mohnke via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 4:09 PM
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?
>>
>>
>>> Hello List,
>>>
>>> Perhaps I should not be posting this in such a public forum, but I have
>>> so
>>> many questions about the NFB that I can never really seem to answer.
>>> Trying
>>> to find the answers to these questions has only led to more frustration
>>> and
>>> confusion. So I am just wondering, what the heck is the point of being a
>>> part of the NFB? Why should someone try to become a part of the NFB? And
>>> what good comes out of trying to be a part of the NFB?
>>>
>>> My overall experience with the NFB has been less than positive. I have
>>> been
>>> trying to become a part of the NFB for about fifteen years now, and I
>>> have
>>> always felt as though I am somehow always on the outside looking in
>>> wishing
>>> I could truly be a part of things but never really being a part of
>>> things.
>>> During these years I have worked really hard to be a part of the NFB, 
>>> but
>>> I
>>> feel as though all of my hard work was all for nothing given the way I 
>>> am
>>> constantly being treated by people within the NFB. For the most part, 
>>> the
>>> only real thing I have receive from the NFB is a lot of criticism
>>> rejection,
>>> and negativity..
>>>
>>> When I first tried to join the NFB, I was told that the NFB was a great
>>> source of hope, encouragement, and inspiration for people like me who
>>> were
>>> losing their eyesight. I was also told that there were so many great 
>>> role
>>> models within the NFB who could serve as mentors who would be willing to
>>> help support and guide people like me along their path in life. However,
>>> the
>>> NFB has never really been any of these things for me, and I feel as
>>> though
>>> I
>>> was led to believe in something that really does not exist.
>>>
>>> So what exactly is the NFB all about? Is it about all the bickering that
>>> goes on to see who can throw the worse insults at each other? Is it 
>>> about
>>> forming special cliques that only keep others out? Is it about rejecting
>>> people from serving on a project because they have yet to become the
>>> perfect
>>> blind person? Is it about tearing each other down with harsh words of
>>> criticism and insults? Is it about being the biggest man or woman in the
>>> room which justifiably gives you some reason to treat everyone else as 
>>> if
>>> they are somehow less than you?
>>>
>>> This is what the NFB is to me. I think this is rather sad because I do
>>> not
>>> believe this is what the NFB is supposed to be. If you believe the NFB
>>> should not be this way either then I would encourage you to take a good
>>> hard
>>> look at the way the NFB treats all of its members. I have been deeply
>>> hurt
>>> by all of the criticism and rejection I have received by the NFB, but as
>>> someone who has been shunned and ostracized from this organization, I am
>>> not
>>> quite sure what more I can do to change the way NFB treats some of its
>>> members. The NFB should be willing to accept anyone who wants to be a
>>> part
>>> of it, and maybe by posting this message, someday this might actually
>>> become
>>> a reality.
>>>
>>> Warm regards,
>>> Elizabeth
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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