[Jobs] A challenge to the job seekers and VR Counselors of America

[Mark of Blind Ambitions Groups]

Hello gang of listers and job seekers everywhere, 

I want to let you know about a meeting with the LIONS Club of District 2 X1
and how it went today. I am the new Sky Pilot for the Dallas Park Cities
LIONS Club for the year 2007/2008. Today in Ennis Texas,  I spent the
morning with a group of new officers from directors to Secretaries,
treasurers and Presidents from 61 LIONS Clubs in the Dallas and surrounding
area. The meeting was to teach and acquaint the new officers with the goals
of the LIONS Club. John Eads spoke to my group about four things to do for
the coming year.  He talked to us about Goals, an action plan, knowing your
resources, and finally working the action plan. I felt this was something I
could do for myself and for my LIONS Club and very easily put into practice
for Blind Ambitions Groups and Eyes on Employment. It was decided that I
would do just that. I would tell John my goals and a little bit about my
action plan. As he completed his program, I asked him if I could walk with
him back to the general assembly room. I told him about our goals at BAG and
how I wanted to speak to each club and let them know how they could help the
blind community. He got excited about the program and further said, Why
don't I give you  a few minutes to speak to the group before we leave. It
was magical. I told them about our Blind Ambitions Groups goals, our action
plan, how I would like to use each and everyone of them and their clubs to
be our resource list and finally, I want to go to work with this challenge.
I told them this story, which I hope each and everyone of you will take as
your challenge for yourself. Here is the story.

I spoke to a man about a month ago who I befriended at a local meeting. I
told him about what we did and how I was working with the blind to help them
find jobs and careers. He wanted to know how he could help. I told him to
just think about all the job positions in his office. He had sixteen
employees including himself. I asked him how many of those jobs could a
person who was blind, could do. He said "I think three jobs could be done by
someone who is blind". I then asked him to tell me about the jobs that he
felt they could not do and why. He said, "I have two fork Lift drivers and I
don't think they could do that job". I told him I agreed and told him to go
to the next job. He said "I have one job that a truck driver moves the
trailers into the loading docks and takes the loaded ones away". I told him
that he was probably right again. I said "What other jobs are there?". He
said "I have a job where the person in the office takes orders over the
phone and enters them into the computer. I asked him why he felt the blind
could not perform this job. He said that it involved entering information
into the computer. I reminded him that we can use computers. He replied with
that he knew that but this was using spread sheets. I said" Like Excel?". He
paused and very gingerly said "Yeah, but more like Lotus:. I told him that
we can use lotus and excel and that spreadsheets were very accessible to the
blind. He said "Well, they would have to use the computer and enter the
information into the spreadsheets while talking to them on the phone. I told
him that there are a lot of people who do this and that this is not really
any problem at all. He replied with" Well, that's three more they can do".
As we went to the next job and did the same exercise, it was very clear to
him that this was something his office could do and that his awareness to
the abilities of the blind was far greater than he had ever thought. When
this exercise began, only three people could do the jobs in his office if
they were blind. When the forty-five minute conversation was over, only
three jobs in his office were determined to not be accessible to the blind.
It was at this moment that I gave him two challenges. One, Call or meet with
another friend or business associate who you have respect for in your circle
and give him this same challenge. Tell them to go through the list of
employees or job descriptions and determine which ones could do the job if
they were blind. Then with that in mind, determine which ones can not do the
job and at least one reason why. Then have them call Mark Marvel. He told me
that that would be fine and he would try that. He then asked "What is the
other challenge?". I said "This one is easier than the first one". I told
him "The next time one of the thirteen positions becomes available and you
are getting ready to hire someone to fill one of those thirteen positions, I
want you to call me and let me know what you are looking for in an
employee". He said "I can do that". I keep in touch with him and others whom
I have challenged and will continue to do this in the future.  I have also
spoken to other LIONS Clubs since that meeting. As I wrapped up my little
speech, I was asked about my phone number and then was applauded by over one
hundred attendees. Was the applaud nice, maybe, but do I think they will
take the challenge? The answer is an overwhelming yes. That group represents
over 2800 LIONS in the Dallas and surrounding counties. This is a start. I
sat down and was immediately greeted by a past district Governor who invited
me to speak to his club on Monday night right after the officers our
installed. I feel that if we can all go out and just talk to people we know
and talk about what we do and about our dreams and desires, that we too will
be in a position someday to be asked to look at our office and evaluate who
can and can not do the jobs of our company as it pertains to hiring people
who are  blind or have some other disability. You can find people in all
sorts of places. Churches, events, concerts, work source commissions,
walking into a job sight, LIONS Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other civic
organizations. There are so many and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I
am going to challenge each and everyone of you to meet with one person by
the end of the month and come back and tell the group about one employer or
friend whom you issued the challenge and what the results were. Please don't
feel like you have to drop everything you are doing to do this but what if
you were to do this and that person was to think about it and then hire
someone based on your conversation? What if he or she hired you, based on
this conversation? Would you do it again and then maybe once more? We all
talk about jobs here but now lets go out and find them. Make the goal to go
to one person before June 29, 2007 and then email me that Friday. I have
been asked to speak  to a group at the NFB National Convention on Saturday
night June 30, 2007 on the newest ideas on job seeking skills and would love
to talk about some of the feedback that you get. This is my vision for the
2007/2008  year. I am challenging everyone I come within speaking distance
and hope they will accept the challenge. So many of you have lost your sight
over the years or were born without sight. Many of you have lost your VISION
too. I want to help you get your VISION back. Help me with this challenge to
help yourselves and others accomplish one goal this year. I want you and
them to find a job or better yet, a career. I love this country that we live
in and I love working with the people I have been so blessed to have met. I
want to share a conversation with each and every one of you and talk about
the one person whom you challenged to this plan. I want to hear how the
employer reacted when you told them how much they could do if they were
blind or visually impaired. I want you to call me or email and tell me the
results. I will post these on the lists as I meet with my challengers. Lets
create hope for the future with people right now. Lets create an awareness
initiative for America to let people know that we don't just sit home and
wish we could see. Let them know that we are the best, most qualified
employees they will ever hire and that we are just an opportunity away. I am
challenging you, today to take this upon yourself to do just that. Let me
know by Friday and I will see you on Saturday night in Atlanta.

Best regards,

Mark Marvel
President
Blind Ambitions Groups
1222 Commerce Street
Suite 406
Dallas, TX 75202
Toll-free: (888) 760-9252
Phone: (214) 760-9252
Fax: (214) 760-9254
Mobile: (214) 796-5868
Email: mark.marvel at blindambitionsgroups.org
Website: www.blindambitionsgroups.org
"We may have lost our sight but we have not lost our VISION"

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