From: "Melvin Lumbardy" 
Subject: Re: DILLON COUNTY NFB an
> From:          Mike.Freeman@NFBnet.org (Mike Freeman)
> Date:          19 May 97 19:31:24 GMT
> Subject:       Re: DILLON COUNTY NFB an
> To:            NFB-Talk@NFBnet.org (Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk 
Mailing List)
> Reply-to:      NFB-Talk@NFBnet.org (Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk 
Mailing List)
> Organization:  NFBnet -- Telnet to NFBnet.org
> 
> 
> 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
> /* PGP2.6.2 Public Key available via my ".plan" file */
> ... 0x20 -- the final frontier.
> ___ PCRR QWK 1.60
> 
> 
> Thanks Mike, I am working with a member of the state chapter 
development group now. Perhaps we will try again.   Deb
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