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

[BMW]

I read Chris's comments with interest and am hoping that he will get an 
intelligent response rather than the one replied to here.

He has valid concerns which should not be brushed aside.

I enjoy being a part of this list because it allows me to keep my ears to 
the ground.  However, it is attitudes like the one quoted here is one reason 
why I do not belong to any blindness organization any more.
Visit my personal page at
http://www.lynnwhite.radioforlife.net
or visit my radio station page at http://www.radioforlife.net
or the page for my show Lift Those Hands at
http://www.liftthosehands.radioforlife.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Chrane" <kenneth.chrane at verizon.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] do we focus too much on national conventions?


> Hi Chris, I have heard comments like this before.
> People have been going to NFB Conventions since 1941.
> You may want to ask Ray and Diane McGeorge from Colorado, because they 
> have
> been going to conventions since 1956.
> As for me, I have been going to convention since 1975.
> Every one does focus on National convention, and state convention as well
> their local chapter meetings.
> May be you aught to get one started in your local area.
> You can start to contact your talking library, and the Pennsylvania school
> for the blind.
> I believe there are two.
> Who knows, you may be lucky.
> Kenneth Chrane
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Chris Westbrook" <westbc at clw19.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:09 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] do we focus too much on national conventions?
>
>
> 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.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk