[nfbwatlk] A question of recruitment
Jim Portillo
jp100 at earthlink.net
Mon Oct 2 00:30:21 CDT 2006
Mike:
I agree with you on not having to compromise that for which the organization
stands. One thing that I was thinking about was that you mentioned how the
current generation isn't as activist as previous ones. I think there's some
truth to that, but then I think of other affiliates around the country that
are strong and vibrant and are being led by people of this generation.
One thing I think that happens is that people join and are being told what
we're doing and what needs to be done. However, I wonder if enough emphasis
is being put on the "Why." This isn't just for Washington, but I sometimes
have wondered if we don't take enough time to explain why we're acting in
such a manner or why we're taking a stand for something. I think that any
organization needs to be careful with that.
I guess we, as an affiliate, can't afford to get too comfortable. We need
to be able to explain things to others, and if that distracts from the
agenda, I think it will be worth it in the long run.
I'm one who has always found that I learn a lot from the previous
generations. That is probably why the majority of my friends and
acquaintances are older than I. One thing I find in previous generations is
that they mentor those who come. They share the excitement and zeal with
new people but are conscious that if the new folks have no idea of what is
being talked about, then new generations aren't going to get it. I've also
found that previous generations can help by relating to the younger folks.
They've already been in their shoes. And at least, I've found that people
of your generation really want to teach and share experiences.
I've found this to be so in such areas as education, folk music and in life
itself, so I imagine this would be the case with NFB affairs. I know that's
so, because Dr. Jernigan was certainly that way, and he knew the value of
relating to new generations so that they could keep the movement going. So,
it's up to your generation to teach the younger folks to stand up for what's
needed and it's up to us younger folks to listen and want to learn. It's
all reciprocal.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] A question of recruitment
> Jim:
>
> I agree with you and also disagree. I agree that we should change with the
> times. But we should not abandon that for which we are respected. Some
> people come to us *precisely* because we do *not* emphasize the "bells and
> whistles" that other organizations honor. I am one of those. Insofar as I
> am
> concerned,if we need to soft-pedal our message or put on "bread and
> circuses" to gain recruits, they're not recruits I want. WE don't want
> bodies for bodies' sake; we want people who are anxious to put their
> shoulders to the wheel. And, like it or not, we won't be able to
> hornswagle
> people into our philosophy if they don't understand or believe it. We are
> what we are.
>
> I think part of the reason we're not getting recruits is that the current
> generation isn't as "activist" as was my generation. I don't think blind
> people these days truly believe that the system of rehabilitation,
> libraries, civil rights laws and the like might be in danger if we aren't
> vigilent. If they are worried, they tend to think that "they" (meaning we)
> will do the watching. It doesn't occur to them that without recruits, the
> watchers will slowly fade away.
>
> Moreover, there was a great lump of young, capable, active blind people
> forty years ago due to the RLF wave; the great lump of blind people today
> is
> bound to be among senior citizens and diabetics who do not have their
> disease under control. I do not want to stereotype but I think it's fair
> to
> say that they do not march to the same clarion call to change the world as
> my generation (now NFB leaders) did. And our primary mesage is that we're
> changing what it means to be blind. So the seminal problem is how to keep
> on
> doing the changing while incorporating those who do not feel the same
> impetus and just want friendship and the latest technological gewgaw at a
> rock-bottom price!
>
> Whatever else may be said, it is a fundamental truth that most people come
> into the Federation (or the Council, for that matter) because they have
> friends in the Federation or Council, respectively. So our primary task
> might well be to get to know other blind people, to make friends with them
> and bring them into the fold.
>
> I'm open to new ideas for convention fare. But said fare must not
> compromise
> our purposes or our methods.
>
> I think this discussion is extremely healthy; many heads are better than a
> few.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim Portillo
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] A question of recruitment
>
>
> Hi Kris,
>
> You are not just hearing stories. I've heard similar stories as well.
>
> We really need to be careful that we don't come across as what the public
> has thought of us in the past. This is another reason why people feel a
> lot
> more comfortable with the WCB.
> Now, I'm not slamming them or anything like that either. And there might
> be
> some people who will right away say that our organization is here for
> certain reasons or purposes. That's all well and good; however, we're
> also
> people and want to be treated well. That means that if we at one point
> want
> others to reach out to us and take us in, then we need to do the same
> with
> new people.
>
> As far as recruitment, I strongly think we also need to make our
> conventions
> a bit more newby friendly. What I mean by this is that we should also
> have
> a few items that will attract people who either are new to blindness or
> new
> to the organization. Some might say we're conforming or throwing in some
> bells and whistles when we don't need to. Well, I'm seeing it more as
> we're
> attracting new members.
>
> A friend of mine, named Bob Dylan, once said, "The times...they are a
> changing!" I agree with him, and the NFB needs to keep up with those
> times
> as well. We can not be so set in our ways that we aren't willing to
> think
> out of the box.
>
> It's not good for people to have such a negative concept of us, as Kris
> has
> said. We need to recruit. I think that what people need to see first
> and
> foremost, is that the NFB is made up of people who are united to make
> life
> better for the blind. THey should first see people, who happen to be
> blind.
> They can learn about the rest of the stuff once they feel comfortable
> among
> the group.
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "kris Lawrence" <kris.lawrence at comcast.net>
> To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 9:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] A question of recruitment
>
>
> > This brings up another topic for me. Recruiting and maintaining
> > membership is an important part of a healthy and growing organization.
> > However, I have heard a number of stories lately about how people who
> > are new to the organization feel as though no one is interested in
> > getting to know them. So, if they do attend a convention, no one asks
> > them to lunch or bothers to get to know them while they are there. So,
> > off they go feeling that we are a very clickish group. Other stories I
> > have heard deal with the fact that some of our members come off rude
> and
> > opinionated to the point of not listening to what the new person is
> > trying to say or ask. While a certain amount of this may be "sour
> > grapes" there may be a grain of truth in it somewhere?
> >
> > Or, am I just hearing stories that have no foundation....
> >
> > Kris
> >
> > Judy Jones wrote:
> >> Hi, Lisa,
> >>
> >> Along with this is also reaching the parents of blind youth, too.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: <Owenblue2 at aol.com>
> >> To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 1:55 PM
> >> Subject: [nfbwatlk] A question of recruitment
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> Hello my NFB friends:
> >>>
> >>> Earlier this week I posted a question concerning a student division.
> >>> Jennifer asked me a very good question. How do we attract members and
> >>> keep
> >>> them
> >>> interested. I'm especially interested in attracting young members.
> The
> >>> student
> >>> division is a good start. On the other hand, there are not that many
> >>> students in
> >>> the NFBW. Perhaps we need to concentrate our efforts on recruiting
> and
> >>> keeping our present membership interested. Not always a simple task.
> >>>
> >>> I'm committed to reaching out to all interested parties. It takes
> time
> >>> and
> >>> effort, but it's worth it.
> >>>
> >>> I think this is a good topic to discuss and something to consider and
> >>> think
> >>> about.
> >>>
> >>> Warmest regards and many blessings to all of you:
> >>>
> >>> Lisa A. Owen
> >>> Treasurer Officer
> >>> The Northwest Chapter
> >>> NFBW
> >>> 3330 Northwest Avenue #C5
> >>> Bellingham, WA 98225
> >>> 360-920-8652
> >>> _nfbnorthwest at aol.com_ (mailto:nfbnorthwest at aol.com)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> nfbwatlk mailing list
> >>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
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> >>
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>
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