[Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB

Thu Dec 5 23:33:58 UTC 2013

Hi Steve and all,

Steve, I appreciate knowing about your experiences being in a state
that required two candidates, and your arguments about NFB being more
like a political party than a government. Your arguments are some of
the most compelling I've heard supporting the current system.
Again, I think my concern is more about the nuances of how procedures
are followed than it is about the procedures themselves. I think there
is often a lack of full transparency which makes rank-and-file members
feel they cannot advance candidates or views that contradict the views
of those at the top. For example, the use of nominating committees
which meet in a closed fashion may be part of the problem. I know two
individuals (in different states) who served with dedication on their
state boards for several years before a nominating committee decided
not to nominate them for another term, with little explanation or
discussion offered to them. While those individuals could still run
from the floor (one did and maintained her seat), their removal from
the nominating committee slate for seemingly no good reason gave them
the sense that their contributions to the organization were no longer
valued. Granted, an electoral defeat can still be demoralizing, but
there's something different about it coming from an elite, secretive
nominating committee which is essentially supposed to advise the
electorate about who they should vote in. If these individuals had not
fulfilled the president's expectations, I think it would have been
better if the president had spoken frankly to them instead of just
advising the nominating committee to not nominate them. I used to be a
supporter of nominating committees but now I am much less enthusiastic
about them.
I think there are probably other ways in which power can be
decentralized and procedures made more transparent so that members
feel free to exercise their democratic voice. For example, instead of
appointing committees, the president could appoint committee chairs
and allow the chairs to appoint their members or for members to sign
themselves up for some of the committee slots. As a psychologist, I am
well aware that members' perceptions of the leadership's behavior are
at least as important as the reality of how the leadership behaves.

Arielle

On 12/5/13, BrianMiller <brianrmiller88 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
> I agree... I really do appreciate the advanced notice about Dr. Maurer's
> intentions, and the openness with which he shared his thoughts about the
> needs for the organization and that he is confident in Mark Ricabono's
> capacity to carry out that vision.  It is also good that Dr. Maurer will be
> able to provide the mentorship that Dr. Jernigan provided him in 1986 and
> beyond until his passing in 1998.
>
> Best,
>
> Brian M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
> Jacobson
> Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 4:50 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB
>
> Brian,
>
> I would add that with any change in leadership comes other changes.  By
> that
> I don't mean that we should always sit back and wait for leaders to change,
> but for right now, I think seeing what happens with this change in
> leadership makes some sense.  And of course, people who feel strongly about
> various aspects of what we do should let whomever the new leader is know.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> On Wed, 4 Dec 2013 20:54:41 -0500, BrianMiller wrote:
>
>>Thanks David... I'm not sure what part of the NFB constitution needs
>>amending, as I understand it, it is plenty expansive to allow for
>>different approaches to leadership change.
>
>>I'm not advocating specific action, or complaining, or anything of that
>>nature... Just observing and discussing.
>
>
>>Thanks so much!
>
>>Brian M
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hyde,
> David
>>W. (ESC)
>>Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 9:03 AM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB
>
>>Brian, well stated. We make choices, and there will always be those who
>>decide if what they have is the will of the people. For those who want to
>>change how we do things it would require a constitutional amendment. If
>> you
>>feel strongly enough, and are willing to do the work to get it passed you
>>are free to do so. It isn't simple, but it can be done.
>
>>I was around when Dr. Jernigan decided not to run and told us  that Marc
>>Maurer would be his choice as the next president. A lot of this discussion
>>took place at the convention. The difference here is that we are all doing
>>it publicly on a list.
>
>>Like Mike Freeman, and others, I have been around when there was
>>disagreement within our organization. I have been on both the winning and
>>the losing sides. One thing I have learned is to always ask the question,
>>"what do I get if I win?" and also "Is the book worth the candle?" in
>> other
>>words, is the fight to win so important that I am willing to sacrifice
>>friends, and opportunities for the sake of it.
>
>>Change is good, but it should not happen only for the sake of change. If
> Dr.
>>Maurer's candidate is elected, work with that candidate to implement the
>>change. I know that he will listen. If he is not elected, I hope that the
>>one who is will listen to you, and to me equally as well. Of such stuff
>> are
>>good leaders made.
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> BrianMiller
>>Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 7:17 AM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB
>
>>Good morning all,
>
>>I certainly agree with Mike about term limits -- they are a blunt
> instrument
>>to deal with a complicated problem.  Term limits are unnecessary so long
>> as
>>there are effective and inclusive mechanisms for democratic change and
>>meaningful choices to be made on the part of the electorate.
>
>>It is true that nominations can always be offered from the floor, but the
>>reality is that they are rare, and no one can deny that when they happen
> the
>>response by the voting members is generally one of surprise and
> nervousness.
>>The vast majority of our slates at all levels of the organization are
>>elected without opposition and by unanimous consent.
>
>>This is not a value statement, but simply an observation.  This topic
> arises
>>with some regularity, there is some hand-wringing on the listservs, and
> then
>>it quietly goes away.  Again, this is not a value statement, but an
>>observation.  I think at some point we must recognize that this is a
>> choice
>>made at some level by the conventions that expresses a preference for
>>stability, unity, and clarity of message and purpose over change,
>> potential
>>uncertainty, and democratic competition.  I think most of us are cognizant
>>of the historical reasons for our organizational culture and practices,
>> and
>>that for some time the way leadership change occurs in the NFB serves as a
>>stabilizing force.  The degree to which this culture represents the will
>> of
>>the organization and its leadership may change, and other priorities,
>> other
>>practices may become the norm, but for now, and for some time, this is
> where
>>we are at.
>
>>We have a process, it's relatively open, and it appears to represent the
>>preferences of the organization overall.  Is it a process that emphasizes
>>choice, as reflected in campaigns between candidates with platforms and
>>alternative viewpoints about the direction of the organization?  No,,
>>clearly not.  It is a democratic process that values consensus over
>>procedures that preference the secret ballot and individual
> decision-making.
>>The expression of the slate is one of continuity, and confidence of the
>>skills and commitment on the part of those in leadership with respect to
>>those who might follow.
>
>>Choosing one preference over another is a value choice -- what is it as an
>>organization that we value most?  How well do our procedures and practices
>>serve these values?  I think these are the questions we need to grapple
>>with.  What do we gain, what do we lose by choosing one path over another?
>>And this isn't to say that the paths never intertwine and crisscross --
> most
>>organizations are a hybrid, and I think the NFB is no exception.
>
>>My preference would be to see the development of a more supportive
>>environment for the civil competition for leadership positions, where
>>individuals can make their interest in serving known and share with the
>>membership their vision for the future of the chapter, affiliate, or
>>national organization.  I appreciate that individuals can do this now, but
>>it is not a choice individuals can make without undue consideration of the
>>interests of the nominating committees.  I think there are ways to do this
>>without the undue risk of fractiousness and dissention, although there are
>>certainly some dangers of this occurring.  The flipside is that the
>>membership might feel more empowered by the process and less like passive
>>recipients of decisions made by those in leadership positions.  For now,
> the
>>process is more subtle -- there is no question in my mind that the
>>leadership carefully considers its choices, and would not propose a
>>candidate that is wildly at odds with the desires or concerns of the
>>membership.  It is just that the process of vetting is a more amorphous
>> and
>>less obvious one than that which might occur in the context of the kinds
>> of
>>campaigns that we see in the political system as a whole.
>
>>Just my thoughts,
>
>>Brian M
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike
>>Freeman
>>Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 5:12 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB
>
>>The President of the U.S. only got stuk with the term limit because the
>>Republicans were damned jealous of FDR and didn't think they could come up
>>with a viable candidate to oppose him.
>
>>As I say, term limits are a dumb idea and, in effect, say "choose for me
>>because I ain't smart enough to choose for myself".
>
>>Mike Freeman
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ericka
>>Short
>>Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 8:07 AM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Democracy in the NFB
>
>>Paul and all,
>
>>I like the idea of two candidates for each office.  When there is one for
>>each office as it usually is at my church the same people run and are
>>elected not because they are good still at what they do.  They are elected
>>because either nobody  wants o run against them or nobody feels like their
>>voice matters so why run.  Just one person changing off the board doesn't
>>change the attitude unless they are a very stong but tactful person.  I'm
>>still hoping my church finds that person. There should be an finite amout
> of
>
>>times someone can run and hold office too.  I see that as a problem in
> small
>
>>time politics.  If it's good for the President of the US, then nobody else
>>should have that opportunity to run two consecutive times and serve, take
>> a
>>year off then serve another two times after winning their terms back.
>> That
>>defeats the purpose.  Nobody should have a lifetime service spot.  I think
>>it  allows them to  stop speaking for the collective voice and  usher in
>>their personal agendas.  It's just a matter of  following bylaws.  It
>> might
>>make more attend the  conventions too.  I know I don't feel like I have a
>>voice in the NFB as a whole. Just here in listserves.
>
>>Ericka J. Short
>>262-697-0510
>
>>"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13
>
>>"No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ. Short
>
>
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