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

Wed Oct 24 17:18:01 CDT 2007

Hi Kay,

I respect your opinion.  However, there are a lot of employers who will not 
let people off during that time of year.  For example, I reference mine who 
only allows a few people off at one point.  You have to be high on a roster 
to get the leave you want.

What one person may see as an excuse is another person's reasons.
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: "kaye zimpher" <kayezimpher at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] do we focus too much on national conventions?

> Actually I agree with the comments made in the reply which you reference. 
> I
> truly dislike excuses and a lot of what Chris says sounds a little to me
> like an excuse not to attend and be a little more active. If an assistant 
> is
> needed because of another disability then hire or find that assistant 
> don't
> expect the organization to have them on hand. that is not the philosophy
> that NFB has taught me for so many years. As for not living in the area of 
> a
> chapter, I agree with Ken why not start one up? We are always in need of
> more chapters. I can think of no better way to make policy decisions then 
> at
> a convention. That is where the most members can be heard and the most
> opportunity given. For those who can not attend however there is always 
> the
> state board who should always be on hand to listen and take ideas under
> consideration. I would caution however that an inactive member may be a
> little less heard than an active one.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "BMW" <lynnwhite51 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] do we focus too much on national conventions?
>
>
>>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.
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
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