[blindlaw] NationalFederationoftheBlindRejectsNelson-CollinsAmendment

Mon Feb 9 21:45:54 UTC 2009

the technology for such a program is already developed. The question is 
getting NFB to use and pay for its use.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <chatter8712 at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] 
NationalFederationoftheBlindRejectsNelson-CollinsAmendment


>I guess the real question here is whether someone is willing to
> develop this, or whether we are asking the major disability advocacy
> groups to do this. I have a background in web design and would not
> mind helping out on something like this, and I think it would be a
> great idea.
>
> On 2/9/09, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> 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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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> -Shane
> Website: http://www.blind-geek.com
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> Skype: chatter8712
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>
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