Dr. Bell, I agree with most of my colleagues in that opening the discussion could bear fruit as long as the conversation does not dissolve into SD bashing! I also think that we definitely need to keep our own safe space! Sharing our 2020 view on Blindness, Ron Brown MA/NOMC From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Edward Bell Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 5:51 PM To: NOMC Mailing list <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: [Nomc] Question about zoom participants Hello, First, my apology for the dropped zoom call today. I now know what the problem is and will work for that not to happen again. My question is about participation in any future of these zoom meetings. At national convention we open our conference to anyone interested, but we keep this NOMC list primarily restricted to only certified NOMC. Last week, I mostly only allowed NOMC onto the zoom call list. This week I am getting increasing numbers of requests to participate by O&M people who are not NOMC. So far, I am adding them to the registration list; however, I do realize in these times you all are discussing somewhat sensitive information, some of which others may not agree with. My question to those who are NOMC: From next week forward for as long as we do these weekly zoom calls, are you all comfortable with conventional O&M joining this conversation or would you rather I restrict it to only NOMC at this time. I am glad to do it either way 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 ebell at latech.edu www.pdrib.com http://www.pdrib.com ************* "I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops." -- Stephen Jay Gould