[Community-Service] SAFE Fund Resolution Stronger Together!

[mostelloworks at comcast.net]

Greetings Fellow Federationists:
I have reviewed the proposed Resolution from Cheryl Fields, a Member of the Survivor's Task-Force, and I have the following questions:
1.  Why does a separate dedicated fund have to be created to address this type of issue, when the NFB has the SUN Fund, to which Members and State Affiliates have contributed for years?  
2.  What is the present balance in the SUN Fund?
3.  Will $250 thousand be an adequate amount to address all substantiated claims by current and former Members of the NFB?
4How many Claimants presently comprise the class of individuals with claims?
I look forward to discussing these and other aspects of the proposed Resolution at the National Convention next week.

Sincerely

David Mostello, Secretary
Capital Chapter
NFB of NJ, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Community-Service <community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cheryl Fields via Community-Service
Sent: Friday, July 2, 2021 6:58 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Cc: Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Community-Service] Join me in support of SAFE Fund Resolution! Stronger Together!

Greetings federation family, I’m Cheryl fields, a member of the Survivors Task Force and I urge you to support the SAFE fund resolution. Many of us are working hard to ensure that members that are harmed will have axis to the support they need to heal. passage of this resolution is an important step in the right direction to secure a safe and  healthy  organization. Further development and details, such as, eligibility requirements and administration will be forthcoming after passage of the resolution. I strongly believe that each of us has the right to  know they are safe anywhere and everywhere NFB branding and philosophy is used. Please ask questions, have discussions so you can make an informed decision. We are Stronger Together and SAFE is our commitment to stay together. Read the resolution, discuss it, ask questions and I hope you will support it by voting YES at the convention.


National Federation of the Blind
Board Resolution

Adopted June 10, 2021

The Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind supports and recommends the below policy for consideration and adoption by the 2021 national Convention.

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind was established in 1940 as this nation’s civil rights membership organization of blind people; and

WHEREAS, our organization places a high value on welcoming in all blind people to membership and creating a safe space for the exchange of information and ideas in order to work collectively toward our common interests as blind people; and

WHEREAS, on January 26, 2018, the Board of Directors reviewed existing Federation policies and established a national integrated Code of Conduct to more clearly communicate consistent expectations for appropriate behavior throughout the membership and to detail processes for receiving, investigating, and addressing violations of those standards; and

WHEREAS, the organization’s board of directors has committed to at least annual review and updating of the code and the processes supporting the code including incorporating feedback from members to ensure the Federation community is as safe and supportive as possible; and

WHEREAS, the organization acknowledges the courage of survivors in bringing forward their stories and the pressures that may make it difficult for survivors to feel safe in utilizing the code of conduct process; and

WHEREAS, individuals who are harmed by those who violate the Federation’s Code of Conduct may require additional support in order to heal from those incidents and fully participate in the organized blind movement: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the organization establish the Survivor Assistance to Facilitate Empowerment (SAFE) fund in an initial amount of $250,000 as a dedicated financial resource for providing therapy support to survivors of incidents where the Federation’s Code of Conduct is known to have been violated; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of directors will have responsibility for overseeing the fund including but not limited to reserving financial resources for the fund, maintaining adequacy of the fund, reporting the fund financial status to the convention, assuring confidentiality of individuals who receive support, establishing and communicating eligibility criteria, engaging stakeholders in the fund planning, selecting and overseeing a third party claims administrator who will maintain the confidentiality of eligible survivors, and taking such other actions as may be necessary to develop and advance the fund program over time; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, consistent with the organization’s Code of Conduct, all steps will be taken in administering the fund to ensure that survivors are protected from retaliation based upon their use of the resources of the fund.



Live the Life You Want!

Cheryl E. Fields

216-566-4317


A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.
--D. Elton Trueblood

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