[nfb-talk] do we focus too much on national conventions?

[Chris Westbrook]

I read a lot of literature in the NFB about how conventions change people's lives, and I'm sure to some extent that is true, but I wonder if we focus too much on the convention as a policy setter for the organization?  I'm sure there are lots of people who cannot for whatever reason make the national convention who would like to contribute their opinions on current and/or future policy, practices, etc.  I was not able to attend this year because I only got one week of vacation for my job, and I don't see myself attending anytime soon since the summer is a busy time for our company.  I worry that the NFB is ruling out contributions from highly intelligent blind people who simply have other commitments during that time period.  I think we also must remember that convention isn't a fun experience for everyone.  I went with my mother a few years ago, and if I had gone alone I honestly think convention would have been hell for me.  The huge dinner crowds meant I couldn't eat in the hotel because with my hearing loss the noise was just too overwhelming.  If I had to worry about finding a restaurant outside the hotel (I can't cross streets independently due to my inability to distinguish parallel from perpendicular traffic) and worry about the cost of eating out every night that would have definitely put a damper on my convention experience.  One thing I like that ACB does is provide support personnel for people who have hearing impairments in addition to blindness to help with situations like that, but that's a topic for a whole other message.  The exhibit hall was also overwhelming.  The various speeches were nice, but were they worth traveling all across the country for?  I suppose it depends on your perspective.  I'm not advocating for the elimination of a national convention, though I think this will become a greater issue as prices for hotels and other things keep going up, but I'm just curious how a person who can't or won't go to convention gets involved?  There is no chapter in my area, so perhaps my view of NFB is a bit warped by this fact.  and yes I realize that a large part of being a federationist is just getting out into the community, etc., which I'm doing, but that still doesn't really change what I said above.  I'm interested in your thoughts.
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I read a lot of literature in the NFB about how conventions change people's lives, and I'm sure to some extent that is true, but I wonder if we focus too much on the convention as a policy setter for the organization?  I'm sure there are lots of people who cannot for whatever reason make the national convention who would like to contribute their opinions on current and/or future policy, practices, etc.  I was not able to attend this year because I only got one week of vacation for my job, and I don't see myself attending anytime soon since the summer is a busy time for our company.  I worry that the NFB is ruling out contributions from highly intelligent blind people who simply have other commitments during that time period.  I think we also must remember that convention isn't a fun experience for everyone.  I went with my mother a few years ago, and if I had gone alone I honestly think convention would have been hell for me.  The huge dinner crowds meant I couldn't eat in the hotel because with my hearing loss the noise was just too overwhelming.  If I had to worry about finding a restaurant outside the hotel (I can't cross streets independently due to my inability to distinguish parallel from perpendicular traffic) and worry about the cost of eating out every night that would have definitely put a damper on my convention experience.  One thing I like that ACB does is provide support personnel for people who have hearing impairments in addition to blindness to help with situations like that, but that's a topic for a whole other message.  The exhibit hall was also overwhelming.  The various speeches were nice, but were they worth traveling all across the country for?  I suppose it depends on your perspective.  I'm not advocating for the elimination of a national convention, though I think this will become a greater issue as prices for hotels and other things keep going up, but I'm just curious how a person who can't or won't go to convention gets involved?  There is no chapter in my area, so perhaps my view of NFB is a bit warped by this fact.  and yes I realize that a large part of being a federationist is just getting out into the community, etc., which I'm doing, but that still doesn't really change what I said above.  I'm interested in your thoughts.