[nfb-talk] conflict within the nfb itself

[Sherri]

Well, that's been my philosophy and that's why I stick with the NFB in spite 
of the pettiness that goes on.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 5:18 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] conflict within the nfb itself


Sherri:

I don't believe anyone would dispute what you write below. Certainly
petty wrangling gets old mighty fast. But all this stuff is as old as
humanity. AS Pogo put it: "WE have met the enemy and he is us!".

Having said this, however, I suspect that were you to ask those whose
egos you decry, they would say that they were doing no more than
strongly defending their positions etc. You know the drill.

What it really takes is a strong leader with sufficient people skills to
inspire everyone to think beyond the immediate situation and, as the old
saying in the Civil Rights movement had it, "Keep your eyes on the
prize!". Sometimes, we, the leadership, succeed; sometimes we fail. That
is the way with humanity.

Knowing something of the situation you must be thinking of, I have heard
that it is somewhat more complex than you paint it below. That also is
regretable; I can't tell you the number of times I've wistfully thought:
please give me a simple civil rights case without complications. In my
years in NFB, I have dealt with only one. WE won that one.

But the problems about which you complain are inherent in any
organization; indeed, they are inherent in human relationships in
general. You might as well pitch in since being a hermit won't help!
(broad smile)

Mike

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sherri
  To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
  Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 2:09 AM
  Subject: [nfb-talk] conflict within the nfb itself


  I wonder if the fates are telling me not to send this message out?
This is my third attempt. *smile*.

  I read the thread concerning the differences and similarities between
ACB and NFB and it brought to mind another subject.


  I would propose that this is due to possibly personality differences,
but what really bothers me about both organization is the in-fighting
that goes on
  and the clash of egos. I have noticed that if a chapter, for example,
does a fund-raising project, they don't want to talk much about what
kind of results
  they had, particularly if it was successful for fear that some other
chapter might outdo them. I have seen chapter members totally take
credit for things
  that other chapter members did without thought or thanks to the
chapter member responsible for the idea in the first place. If a strong
person comes into
  the organization with ideas to develop and forward the goals  of the
NFB chapter, often, his ideas are thwarted, because others feel
threatened by that
  person.
  I don't get it! I know that whatever is accomplished in the NFB
Greater Orlando chapter, it is not me, Sherri Brun as president that
accomplished this,
  but the chapter as a whole, of which I am one small part.
  I believe that this in-fighting and the ego problems that exist have
done much to drive very capable, enthusiastic and involved people away
from NFB.
  We say we are working to "change what it means to be blind", but
often, it seems to me we let our personalities and egos get in the way.
It would be my
  hope that we could do more toward walking the walk instead of just
talking the talk of what it means to be a Federationist.
  Looking forward to your feedback. *smile*
  Sherri Brun
  Secretary
  National Federation of the Blind of Florida
  President
  National Federation of the Blind
  Greater Orlando Chapter
  E-mail:
  sbrun at cfl.rr.com
   HURRY CHECK OUT NFBF FABULOUS ALASKAN CRUISE AT

  http://www.nfbflorida.org/cruise.htm

  TO DONATE YOUR USED CELL PHONE AND CHANGE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA go to:


  images/vd-button


  Whether we succeed or fail in what we do is not the essential thing.

  What is important is the heart with which we live our lives.




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