[Nfb-seniors] Attracting seniors

Tue Jan 15 09:30:25 CST 2008

Hi All,
What is a good blind person?  How does a newly blind individual, old, can't
walk good, and can't hear good become a good blind person?
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of George Cassell
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:43 PM
To: NFB Senior Division list
Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Attracting seniors

Hi, Everett --

To clarify, my statements were made in response to another list member who 
was wondering why there didn't seem to be much traffic and/or interest in 
this list.  I was merely speculating from the perspective of one who is 
newly blind myself.

In so doing, I was trying to point out that, rather than sticking one's head

in the sand, members could begin to see some of the reasons why others may 
not wish to join and participate in this list either.

>From my perspective, the NFB should NOT be just another list for lifelong 
NFB members who just happen to be getting old.  After all, such "always 
blind" members should already know all there is to know about going or being

blind.

This list, I would think, should instead be a valuable resource for the many

millions of people who are losing or experiencing diminishing sight with 
each passing year.  them, this entire process of losing one's sight is 
terrifying!

Quite honestly, no senior who is losing his or her sight gives a damn about 
being a good little NFB member, capable of dealing with life as well as any 
sighted person possibly could, because these seniors believe this to be 
nothing but a load of crap to them, and if you try to convince them 
otherwise, is to strip yourself of any credibility whatsoever.

You went on to say, "Besides, everything I've ever read on "success" and 
self-improvement has always said, "hang around with those who are where you 
want to be one day..."

The problem with this statement on this list, Everet, is that (1) none of us

wants to become a senior; we want to remain young forever.  And (2( NOBODY 
wants to go or be blind.  It's probably the second least popular selection, 
just after death itself.  So striving to become either old or blind is not 
something you'll ever convince any sane and rational person as being 
something they should seek out and embrace.

Now remember, I am a already a member of this list, and have been for some 
time now, though I've seen very little traffic of any significance on it 
myself.  So I was merely commenting on why I perceive that others have not 
joined and begun to participate on this very promising list, in the hopes 
that it could be properly decorated and presented as something to strive for

(just the list itself and the information contained therein), if not old age

and blindness themselves.  <Smile.>
-- George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Everett Gavel" <EverettG at SuccessfulAdaptations.com>
To: "NFB Senior Division list" <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Attracting seniors

Hi George, and all,

Ah, George, only by the grace of God have I "belonged"
to this "club" for awhile.  I only lost my sight about
14 years ago.  I thankfully found some people in my
community that were handling their blindness far better
than I'd thought imaginable.  They turned out to be NFB
members, and so I was introduced to the organization,
and more importantly, its life-changing, life-enhancing
philosophy.

Now, if one was in a boat with only people in the same
situation, how would they learn those tricks to be able
to share with eachother?  Seems to me that if we truly
want to get out of the boat we may be in, and handle
life better, we just need to deal with the good, the
bad, and the ugly, as it passes us.  Grab the bits we
need and want, and try not to be so sensitive as to run
away if we don't agree with something that is said.
That's life, my friend.  And yes, I call you my friend
though I have no real clue who you are yet--and
vice-versa.  I call you friend simply because I, as
with most if not all here, want only to help where and
when we can, if the help is needed (though it's not
always wanted, understandably).

To define things to such a narrow "boat" as to have
only one kind of blind senior, for example, hurts more
than truly helps.  I think one would benefit far more
from joining a few other "blindness" focused lists on
varying subjects.  Just grab what you care to from
each, and ignore and delete the rest.  It's the
quickest way to learning what we need and want, from
those who *have* been there, and those who are going
through exactly what we are on some level, all at the
same time.  And for those not sure, there are a huge
amount of categorized lists such as this one, at
www.nfbnet.org.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that if we define a
list such as by what you say below, there'd be far more
people on the list hoping for answers and helpful
suggestions, than answers or help.  (smile)

Besides, everything I've ever read on "success" and
self-improvement has always said, "hang around with
those who are where you want to be one day, not with
those who are in the same boat as you."  Meaning, if
you want to be the next Bill Gates, for example, start
hanging around with and gleaning things from those who
are already running successful businesses.  Not with
those who are still dreaming of it, or who are content
working a 9-5 job making others rich, you know?

God bless your efforts, George.  I'm glad to hear from
you here,
and hope you stick around, and speak up more. These
lists, and the organization, is held together by the
common factor of blindness.  Other than that, we're
people from every aspect of life.  We're an
organization of varied people, all who just happen to
be blind. With various people always come various
opinions.  AARP is not one group of like-minded
individuals.  Neither is the Lion's Club, as examples.
But they try to, and so does this organization, work
together for the betterment of all in the category they
fit in.  In this instance, blindness of course. (smile)

Now, you can easily just ignore me.  Not only do I
often say things that one who may at times be a bit too
sensitive might get offended at, but I also am not yet
a senior myself.  I am closer to 40 than 30, however.
My interest in seniors and this list is because my
target market for my upcoming business is helping
seniors who are losing their vision.  Boomers, you
know?

Anyway, if you ever have questions, this would be a
great place to ask for feedback.  And as always, just
take what you deem helpful and disregard the rest.
E-mail discussion lists are wonderful tools.  They're a
great way of getting useful input on a wide-basis,
quickly.

God bless your efforts, George, and all who are here
and may be hesitant to ask questions.  Please, ask!
(smile)

To A Fulfilling Life!
Everett (Who will always help if and when I can)
www.everettgavel.com

----- Original Message ----- 
> It's not easy joining a club to which most, if not
> all of the members have
> already belonged for a long time, if not a lifetime.
> Then add to this the
> fact that the existing members are going to tell you
> that you are most
> welcome to join, but that you must be of the same
> mindset ("Blindness is
> just an inconvenience" and "You must learn Braille if
> you want to be able to
> tell which is the aspirin bottle") as those who are
> already members,
> regardless of your particular circumstances, and you
> begin to see the
> problem with the newly blind seniors not wishing to
> participate in any
> organization of the blind.
>
> Now, if there was an organization for seniors, that
> just happened to have a
> recently blinded division, then that may be a
> different story, as that's
> something they could relate to, and everyone else in
> that group would, so to
> speak, be in the same boat, able to share tips,
> tricks and suggestions on
> how to cope with their blindness.
>
> Just a thought from someone adrift in that same boat.
>
> -- George
>
>

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