[blindlaw] NationalFederationof theBlindRejectsNelson-CollinsAmendment

[ckrugman at sbcglobal.net]

I too am on many email lists and to give the NFB credit of the lists that I 
was on it was the first organization to post information about the 
Nelson-Collins amendment. It seems that many of the other disability 
advocacy organizations did not post it until later or not all. Had an 
legislative action been in place along with the alert emails members could 
have clicked on a link in the email and generated an email or fax to those 
Senators acting on this amendment. While my background is not in web design 
I have much experience in political and community organizing and in that 
regard I am familiar with how these systems work. If this goes forward I 
would be willing to be involved in the process.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 3:23 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] NationalFederationof 
theBlindRejectsNelson-CollinsAmendment


> Probably the fastest way to reach people is via email.  I received no less 
> than five emails about the Nelson-Collins amendment in the span of about 
> nine hours.  But then, I am on the right lists and check my email 
> frequently.
>
> To that extent, what can be easily done is already being done.  What more 
> could be done is a complex problem, I think.  I am not surprised it has 
> been on the back burner waiting for someone with the energy and drive to 
> step forward and make it happen.  You might have successfully volunteered 
> yourself to be that person.  *grin*
>
> My point in discussing this particular amendment is that is that there 
> wasn't time to discuss it.  We had pretty much one day to take whatever 
> action was to be taken.  And we did, based on what time we had.  There's 
> not much that can be done when a near supermajority starts trying to cram 
> legislation down our throats with hundreds of pages and dozens of 
> amendments unless you are right there and watching it constantly.  You 
> don't have time to get the word out, and the people you want to get the 
> word out to probably haven't got time to respond.  It's unfortunate, but 
> this is what we've got.
>
> Joseph
>
> On Sun, Feb 08, 2009 at 11:50:03PM -0800, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>> I'm not sure that I understand this logic in that the issue here is 
>> methods in which members can effectively be mobilized to take action to 
>> support the NFB philosophy when advocating for legislation. When chapter 
>> meetings are held once a month and state bulletins and publications such 
>> as the Monitor are published once a month this does not provide for 
>> timely action on the part of members. The Nelson-Collins Amendment is not 
>> really the issue here it was the means that the broader issue came to 
>> light as there was a need for immediate action to be taken by members and 
>> an inadequate method of members to take such action. While many questions 
>> have always been raised regarding the quality of VR services limiting 
>> funds for such services will not improve them on any account. Perhaps the 
>> NFB needs to spend some time and money on modernizing the way it relates 
>> to members and how effective existing methods of communication are in 
>> mobilizing its members. Is the current method of distributing legislative 
>> information through audio tapes played at chapter meetings the most 
>> effective method? I for one would prefer to receive legislative email 
>> alerts as is done with most other advocacy organizations as it is much 
>> more expedient with regard to use of time at chapter meetings and the 
>> fact that it is available in an accessible format for immediate action by 
>> members. This does not preclude the use of information published in 
>> Braille but it would result in a greater degree of member participation 
>> and involvement.
>> Chuck
>
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