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

[Joe Orozco]

Chris,

Normally I hate the parallel people draw between blindness consumer groups 
and political parties.  Yet when it comes to conventions I believe the 
comparison is a valid one.  On a business level the NFB can use the 
opportunity to sell its products and services while advancing its 
philosophical and legislative agenda, all of this while simultaneously 
generating the most fundraising than at any other point in the year.  On a 
recruitment level the organization can reach out through its divisions, 
committees and social gatherings to lock in and hold on to newcomers in 
hopes that they might return home and encourage others to jump in.  Where 
the parallel falls short is when you consider the personal level.  Some 
people really are turned around by a national convention.  Some people 
really do use convention as their personal vacation.  Still others may only 
truly venture out of their comfort zone by attending a convention, and for 
that reason alone national conventions can be our single most important 
feature.  At times I think the best service we can do for a person who has 
never really known independence is to put them in an environment of swinging 
canes, passing dogs and total chaos at the elevators to really let them see 
how independent they could be.

As for communication outside of convention, I think the blame is mutual. 
Until older members learn to embrace the full benefits of technology, and 
until younger members learn not to depend on technology so much, we will not 
fill the middle-age gap that exists at all levels of the movement.  Sound 
contradictory?  Think on it.

Joe Orozco

"I came, I saw, I conquered."--Julius Caesar
----- 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.


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