Welcome friends and colleagues, fellow leaders in the collective action of the National Federation of the Blind. It is sincerely my hope, and that of everyone who has contributed to The Reference Guide for Leaders, that, no matter whether you are just now beginning on your journey as a leader or are far along that path, you will find this guide of use to you, your chapters, and affiliates.
The original version of what was then known as the “Guide for Local and State Leaders,” written by Ramona Walhof in 2008, offered new and existing leaders information about the National Federation of the Blind, it’s organizational structure, leadership, and programs, and included suggestions on how to strengthen and grow chapters and affiliates. Mrs. Walhof has been a member and leader in the Federation for many years. The thought behind the necessity of a guide of this type was timely. In the last ten years the Federation has grown and changed while the world around us has done the same. In this updated version, we have updated the previous guide’s information and have added new information in order to best provide new and existing leaders a living document that we will update when necessary. We have provided live links throughout the guide for ease of use.
President Riccobono stated in his 2015 banquet address The Federation at Seventy-five: The Determination of Value and the Reflection of Hope, “The Federation is built on a bond that we, the blind, are in this together and that the cultivation of our value demands our knowing each other, sharing with each other, and pushing each other to test the limits of our value. Testing the limits of our value—that has characterized the next and current phase of our movement. We have come together to determine our value and to reflect our hope; we have pushed against the institutional and social pressures that suppressed our value; we have cultivated value and put it to work; and we have implemented an aggressive program to eliminate the barriers that prevent us from giving our full value. While this is a great start, our work is not done. We have not reached the limits of our value.”
Indeed, our work is not done. This guide is not intended to be the beginning or the end point of your journey as a leader in the Federation. While it is a good resource for information, examples, and resources, it cannot replace the learning and strengthening of our family bonds that we share. Get to know fellow leaders. Communicate regularly with your chapter president, your affiliate president, and with President Riccobono. The spaces that we share together will encourage and facilitate growth far more than any guide or directive can do alone.
You'll find this guide filled with practical advice on many of the issues we all deal with as we seek to improve our affiliates and chapters such as the basics of our organization, our programs and initiatives, our publications, communication guidelines, fundraising, public education, and increasing our membership, along with loads of other relevant information and resources. We are most effective as a movement when we share our knowledge, advice, and wisdom with one another; therefore the tips, ideas, and suggestions in this guide have been collected from Federation leaders across the country. I hope that they will prove useful to every affiliate and every chapter across the United States as we continue to work together to not let blindness be a defining characteristic, to live the lives we want, and to help others do the same.
I am filled with hope, energy, and love by participating actively as a leader in the National Federation of the Blind. Because my expectations are raised, my contributions make a difference to me and to others, and I can celebrate the realization of our dreams with my Federation family. I hope this for you as well. Thank you for your time, your passion, and commitment to the members and future of our Federation family.
Jeannie Massay, Treasurer
National Federation of the Blind