[Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB

Mon Dec 2 01:12:30 UTC 2013

Seems to me that is a very balanced and frankly sensable aproach to this matter.  
Sent from my Mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in!

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!

On Dec 1, 2013, at 7:02 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> For the record I am an active NFB member and I agree with Ray for the
> most part. I do think that NFB could take steps to become more
> democratic without sacrificing program strength or efficiency. The NFB
> has developed an organizational culture of uniting around a strong
> president and supporting that individual unanimously for decades. I
> think there was a time early in NFB history when that kind of
> leadership mentality was essential for the organization to survive.
> Historically, there has been enough threat on the organization from
> outside the blind community that any internal dissent could cause the
> organization to crumble. I do think that those times are changing,
> though, and that we can afford to become more democratic, to set term
> limits on our leaders or at least to train multiple people for the top
> leadership positions.
> This kind of shift would not only be in line with American values in
> general, but could also allow more diverse opinions and ideas to make
> their way up to the top where they can be acted upon. The
> super-democratic "other organization" Paul spoke of isn't what we want
> either, but I think there is a balance that is more democratic and
> transparent than where we are. However, in order for these changes to
> occur, there needs to be a shift among the thinking of the membership
> and not just at the top. Right now, no one wants to nominate an
> alternate presidential candidate because the organizational culture is
> really opposed to that kind of behavior.
> Best,
> Arielle
> 
> On 12/1/13, Cherylandmaxx <Cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> X FYI his title is Dr which he got as an honorary and earned it from him
>> alma Mata from college.
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S®4
>> 
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Lauren Merryfield <lauren1 at catliness.com>
>> Date:12/01/2013  6:50 PM  (GMT-05:00)
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List' <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [Nfbv-announce] Retirement of Dr. Maurer
>> 
>> Hi,
>> I do not see Mr. Maurer's supporting Mr. Riccobono and his subsequent
>> election as a formality. Whoever leads us when Mr. Maurer steps down needs
>> to have many of the qualities Mr. tenBroek, Dr. Jernigan, Mr. Maurer and
>> others had, plus a thorough understanding of how to lead the NFB. Any of us
>> out here might not possess those qualities and we certainly do not know the
>> inner workings of the NFB.  It would be scary, and possibly disastrous,  if
>> someone were elected President who wasn't fully prepared and ready to lead
>> us.
>> 
>> Personally, I'd like to see an open-minded  female finally lead the NFB,
>> but, then, I'd like to see a liberal female run the USA, too, for a change.
>> But that isn't happening yet.  So we're still behind the times.
>> 
>> I am thinking that Mr. Riccobono, though I do not know him, is probably the
>> best one to lead us in the future. I do trust Mr. Maurer's and the National
>> Board's thinking on most things, therefore, I do not feel as if Mr.
>> Riccobono's stepping up to the Presidency as  only a formality. I'm sure he
>> has been being prepared for this for some time, so it is no overnight
>> decision on Mr. Maurer's part.
>> 
>> I'm sure glad it isn't me. I am happy to let someone serve in that position
>> and I do feel that my vote would count, were I able to attend the National
>> Convention next summer, which I won't. Not unless I rob a big bank, haha.
>> Many blessings,
>> Laurenthe
>> 
>> For my new book go to:
>> www.TheresMoreThanOneWay.com
>> curious about thirty-one? Go to:
>> www.LettingTheCatOutOfTheBag.com
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ray Foret
>> Jr
>> Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2013 3:17 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [Nfbv-announce] Retirement of Dr. Maurer
>> 
>> Paul, You seem, with respect, to be implying that one must choose between
>> lack of transparency and a good program for the blind or else full
>> transparency and a bad program for the blind.  I do not agree.  Here is what
>> I think will go down.  Maurer will support Riccobono and then, when it comes
>> convention time, and time to elect the next president, Riccobono will be
>> chosen by acclamation without any competition.  Now, if one were to take
>> this process strictly in parliamentary terms, it would be impossible to
>> quarrel with its legitimacy.  My concern, to speak frankly, is this.  That
>> looks too much like a mere hand off instead of a legitimate election.
>> Smooth?  Yes.  Efficient?  You'd better believe it.  Morally right?  Well,
>> that's where I have a slight problem.  I'm not saying that this way of doing
>> it is completely wrong:  however, when you have a process that looks too
>> much like you're just handing it off, you might as well not even bother with
>> the formality of election.  Just might as well go ahead and crown Riccobono
>> king of the movement.  I just do not feel terribly comfortable with the way
>> things look like they're going to happen.  Call me a traitor to the movement
>> if you will:  but,  'Tain't no skin off my nose.  Look, this procedure just
>> don't set to well with me.
>> 
>>        I ain't sayin that President Mauer can't support whom he pleases,
>> and I ain't sayin he can not publically say whom he supports nor that he
>> can't urge the members to back his choice:  But, to just do a hand off and
>> have the election as a mere formality really bugs me.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my Mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind
>> built-in!
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
>> 
>> On Dec 1, 2013, at 5:01 PM, Paul Wick <wickps at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Ray that's how things have always been in the Federation In the world
>>> of the organized blind there is an organization that while it lacks
>>> transparency has a strong program, while another has democratic forms,
>>> but is kind of an empty suit when it comes to the programming
>>> department; I would rather be part of the former than the latter. I
>>> wish President-designate Riccobono well, and may he reach out to all
>>> the unaffiliated blind people rather than just preaching to the choir.
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> 
>>> Paul
>>> 
>>> On 12/1/13, Ray Foret Jr <rforet7706 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> I should like to pint out that there seems to be an assumption upon
>>>> the part of the top NFB leadership that Mark
>>>>> 
>>>>> Riccobono will sort of just be given the presency of the federation.
>>>>> That strikes me as not being the proper democratic way to do things.
>>>>> To assume that just because Doctor Maurer personally supports Mark
>>>>> Riccobono for president he will just sort of be handed the
>>>>> presidency by Dr. Maurer and the election of Mark Riccobono a mere
>>>>> formality strikes me as being very improper.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my Mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the
>>>> blind built-in!
>>>> 
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
>>>> 
>>>> On Dec 1, 2013, at 12:44 PM, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>>> Mark
>>>>>> Riccobono
>>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
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