In a message to All dated 17 May 97 07:58, "Melvin Lumbardy" writes:
 ML> Our chapter
 ML> has since dissolved due to lack of
 ML> communication with the national
 ML> office, we were never even posted in
 ML> the Braille Monitor . There was a
 ML> lack of communication with other NFB
 ML> officials in Indiana as well.
Deb: I have written you privately on this subject. However, I 
think a few things should be pointed out here.
First, the vitality of a chapter depends not upon involvement by 
the national Office but rather upon the involvement of its 
members. Certainly the national Office can provide encouragement 
in the form of literature and Presidential Releases. But HQ has 
neither the time nor the personpower to become personally involved 
with the many hundreds of chapters in the NFB. In part, that is 
the responsibility of the state affiliates in which the local 
chapters exist. However, fundamentally, the responsibility of 
keeping chapters vital and alive rests with the members of those 
chapters. Without this, encouragement from the national Office 
avails little.
Second, not all chapter election information gets put in the 
Monitor. If David Andrews is correct (and I suspect he is) that 
there are over seven hundred chapters in the country, think of how 
much of any Monitor issue (and there are at most twelve per year) 
would be taken up if all announcements were published. This info 
is placed in the MOnitor Miniatures section on a space-available 
basis. Besides, as stated above, whether or not your chapter lives 
or dies doesn't turn upon whether you are hailed in the MOnitor 
but rather upon the commitment, enthusiasm and dedication of 
chapter members.
 ML> So I do dissagree that the national
 ML> office keeps taps on its chapters
 ML> and state affiliates, because if it
 ML> did we would of not given up now.
You don't have to give up yet. Hang in there. Even in a town whose 
main feature is a large Council chapter, you can generally find 
some discontented with the status quo who will be willing to form 
a lean and mean NFB chapter! Go to it!
 ML> Our state does have a chapter
 ML> development committee now and one
 ML> dear lister has sent me many letters
 ML> and offered to help but it is
 ML> too late. , one cannot have a chapter
 ML> with only one member.      Deb
Ever tried it? Besides, I'd bet if you held another organizing 
meeting other members of the affiliate would come to help and I'd 
bet that at least some would be dedicated enough to come for 
several months to flesh out the chapter till you could stand on 
your own feet with local people.
Don't think "I can't!" Think "I Can!"  Remember the Little Engine 
that Could. There is a Dutch proverb something to the effect that 
the fool said "I can't!" and therefore he couldn't. Don't play 
that fool!
Good luck and I bet we'd all pitch in to help!
Mike Freeman; Internet: mikef@pacifier.com; Amateur Radio Callsign: K7UIJ
President, National Federation of the Blind of Washington
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