[Jobs] Hi thereRe: Jobs Digest, Vol 37, Issue 32

Sun Jun 24 19:43:58 CDT 2007

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Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 12:00 PM
Subject: Jobs Digest, Vol 37, Issue 32


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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. A challenge to the job seekers and VR Counselors of America
>      (Mark of Blind Ambitions Groups )
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:33:41 -0500
> From: "Mark of Blind Ambitions Groups "
> <mark.marvel at blindambitionsgroups.org>
> Subject: [Jobs] A challenge to the job seekers and VR Counselors of
> America
> To: <blindambitionsgroups at yahoogroups.com>, "'Jobs for the Blind'"
> <jobs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: 'Keith Caballa' <keith.caballa at blindambitionsgroups.org>,
> shelly.ondich at eyesonemployment.com, "'Ondich, David G.'"
> <David.Ondich at fortworthgov.org>
> Message-ID: <004301c7b621$3a9f1a70$d701a8c0 at S0033166539>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> 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"
>
> To join our Blind Ambitions Groups list, send an e-mail to:
>
> blindambitionsgroups-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
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> End of Jobs Digest, Vol 37, Issue 32
> ************************************
>