[nfb-talk] The real reason for a chapter meeting

Sat Apr 26 21:08:12 CDT 2008

Bully for you, John for being the quintessential blind person who apparently 
doesn't need anything from anybody.  I'm so happy for you.
I've been blind all my life (almost 59 years) and I consider myself to be 
very well adjusted.  But, I don't believe I have all the answers.  I also 
don't believe Dr. Jernigan felt he had all the answers either.  I do know 
that he had a lot of wisdom and that he himself was a very competent blind 
person.  Like Cindy, I suggest you read some of his writings.  I'm not sure 
if you're proud, resentful, angry or what. I really would like for you to 
read some of his stuff and then comment.  For instance, you should read one 
of his best speeches, "Of Visions And Vultures" delivered at the 1976 NFB 
Banquet, or listen to it.  You can find it on the NFB web site.  That was 
one of the most inspiring compelling speeches I've ever heard.
I once heard Mitch Pomerantz, now President of the ACB, poke fun at Dr. 
Jernigan because he taught people to grill steaks.  I was very angry with 
him when he did that because I knew he had no clue what he was talking 
about.  I also read hhis article ina recent issue of the Braille Forum where 
he made fun of the KNFB Reader Mobile which is a very useful tool for blind 
people.  Again, it was arrogant and showed a true lack of understanding on 
his part.  I left the ACB  about six years or more ago, and I'm so glad I 
did. I'm not saying the NFB is a perfect organization, but I am saying that 
it is much more inline with how I view my philosophy of blindness than is 
the ACB.  I regret ever joining their organization.
Please promise  you'll read or listen to the Visions and Vultures speech.

Michael

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] The real reason for a chapter meeting

> John,
>
> I haven't said anything about this subject.  But, I have to comment on 
> your
> message.
>
> Dr. Jernigans writing don't "tell" you how to live your life.  But, they 
> do
> offer a great deal of wisdom and insight into how it is to live as a blind
> person.  I've learned a lot from his writings, and from him, when he was
> alive.  I'd suggest you read his writings, with an open mind, if that's
> possible, and, perhaps there is something you'll learn, which you don't
> already know about blindness.
>
> You like to say that you don't want the NFB to tell you how to live.  But,
> with your insistence on modifying money, aren't you doing the very same
> thing...telling us how we must live our lives?
>
> You may never change your mind about the NFB's philosophy.  But, until you
> actually read our literature and learn, first-hand, why we believe what we
> do, you'll remain a very resentful person.
>
> Cindy
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] The real reason for a chapter meeting
>
>
> As far as I know,  I have never read a single word Dr. Jernigan ever rote
> except his essay on  guidedogs. And I'm doing just fine. I don't need
> anybody to tell me how to live my life and I don't think it's appropriate
> for the leading advocacy group for the blind to see itself as a tool to
> promote that sort of thing.
>
> If somebody comes to an NFB meeting and says, "I am having trouble 
> adapting
> to being blind," you can steer them to Dr. Jernigan's writings. But don't
> presume that I need his advice. I don't.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marilyn Womble" <womble-m at cfl.rr.com>
> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:28 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] The real reason for a chapter meeting
>
>
>>I would suggest the following:
>> 1. Select one of Dr. Jernigan's well-known speeches
>> 2. Divide your members into two groups.  These groups will be competing
>> against each other.  (You will need to decide what the winning groups 
>> will
>> receive.)
>> 3. Distribute either a print or a cassette copy to each member.
>> 4 Ask the member to read the speech and be ready to answer questions
>> about it at the next meeting.
>> 5. Be sure to appoint a person to lead that has the ability to keep the
>> event running smoothly.
>> 6. Each group answers the questions as one unit and one person from
>> each group records the answers.
>>
>> Your group will have a "fun" time, but much more valuable, you will learn
>> why it is so important to belong to the NFB.  In addition, you will
>> understand the philosophy that has brought us the independence that we
>> have
>> today.  I am an individual that thinks for me, but I have enough sense to
>> learn from others what works and what does not.  You will never agree 
>> with
>> all of the issues of NFB, just as you will not agree with our United
>> States
>> Government on all things, but, when you look at the full picture, you 
>> must
>> agree that we are very blessed to live in America and we are very blessed
>> for all the hard work that Dr. Jernigan and others have done for us.
>> Before
>> you place judgment on an issue, stop and look at it from all angles, then
>> present your ideas through the proper channels.  Eating and socializing 
>> at
>> a
>> chapter meeting is okay, but that is not the purpose.  Your chapter will
>> succeed if you come together to change what it means to be blind
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces+womble-m=cfl.rr.com at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces+womble-m=cfl.rr.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf of 
>> Tina
>> Hansen
>> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 6:27 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Getting Chapter Members to Read Our Literature
>>
>> Does anyone have suggestions for encouraging chapter members to read our
>> literature?
>>
>> I realize that as technology changes, more options are available, but not
>> all members will have access to every option. While some people can go to
>> our national web site and read most of the articles, others can't. Also,
>> there are those who still have tapes, but there are those who would 
>> rather
>> go digital.
>>
>> Face it, I'd love to see all of our kernel books available in mp3 format
>> from our national site, but that's not hapened yet.
>>
>> On the content side, what encentives, if any, have other chapters used to
>> encourage people to read our literature?
>>
>> I realize that chapter members are busy, but they need to get into our
>> literature using whatever tools they have. Our chapter is needing to do
>> this, so any suggestions you have would be great. Thanks.
>>
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>>
>
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