Dear NOMC,
Since July, 2018, I have been in conversations with a number of individuals
who represent the field of O&M, including COMS and guide dogs. These
individuals are interested in creating a national membership organization
whose purpose is to advance the field of O&M. As part of this association,
they seem to be dedicated to the notion of including NOMC as an equal member
of the profession.
Attached is a document that explains the purpose and scope of this proposed
new organization.
I, like many of you, have doubts, concerns, and questions. Yet, I have been
involved in the drafting of the attached document and have been in
conversation with leaders in our field about the pros and cons of NOMC
participation in this process, and so I am currently moving forward with
cooperation.
Because I know that many of you will have similar concerns, questions, and
advice, I am scheduling a conference call for next week to discuss this
proposal and what it might mean for our profession.
The conference call will be Thursday, October 18 beginning at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
I will be sending out information on Monday on how to join this conference
call.
I will plan to record the call if I am able.
One additional piece of information that you should know right now is that
the persons leading this effort, (including myself) will be attending the
SOMA conference in Tampa, Florida, December 8-11, at which time this
proposal will be brought to the conference for consideration of adoption.
This new organization, if formed, could potentially be of no value to us on
the NOMC side of the field, however, there is potential for us to have
meaningful input, meaningful control, and a foot in the door of the
profession we have not had before
Look forward to sharing more with you all next week.
Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director,
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
600 Mayfield Ave / 210 Woodard Hall
PO Box 3158
Ruston LA 71272
Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259