[Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] [Ct-NFB] Humanity ofthe National Federation of the Blind

Sat Jul 20 17:04:28 UTC 2013

Justin,

I’ll confirm that no affiliate funds are being expended on this baby and family, doctors, etc.  Our office is collecting donations as already requested, tracking them, and depositing them into our checking account; and all funds collected on the baby and family’s behalf will then be dispersed to purposes appropriate with the decisions already made.  It’s exactly like one of our restricted funds (it is in effect a new restricted fund).

Our office staff’s time spent on this has been minimal.  Our time as members, as volunteers, is an individual responsibility as well as a collective decision.  I will echo your suggestion to again contact Senator Murphy and our individual House of Representatives member to remind them of our legislative priority regarding subminimum wages and accessibility of college level E-books (which we call “T.E.A.C.H.”).  I know you yourself are working on an application for a grant to our affiliate, Rich and Ilene are working hard on chapter fundraising, Ed is leading our at-large chapter, etc., etc.

And I know many of us are looking forward to baseball tonight (and another opportunity for fundraising and publicity)!

Nathanael Wales

From: Justin Salisbury 
Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 9:16 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List 
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] [Ct-NFB] Humanity ofthe National Federation of the Blind

Then again, if we are using our human resources and time to do it, we are donating money to it. It's just not a direct donation.

It's what we economists call implicit costs instead of explicit costs.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 19, 2013, at 8:57 PM, "Justin Salisbury" <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:

  Well said, Trevor. Very well said.

  To be clear, I don't believe we are donating any affiliate money to the cause. We are still using our human resources for it, though.

  If we had already accomplished all of our goals as an organization and as a movement, the freedom to allocate resources to this cause might be different.  

  I certainly hope that all of us who have chimed in on this issue have already very thoroughly contacted our legislators about the items on our legislative agenda.  In light of their inactivity, I think it is important for all of us to contact them all again, anyway. While I don't believe that anyone should be repetitive on this listserv, I believe it is time again to begin circulating information about our legislative agenda.

  Yours,

  Justin

  Sent from my iPhone

  On Jul 19, 2013, at 6:52 PM, "Trevor Attenberg" <tattenberg at gmail.com> wrote:

    I can’t speak on the amount of money available other than it is not unlimited, especially at the local CT level, where we’ve been facing some financial difficulties since the start of the financial downturn. But This is most of all not very much a financial question as it is a question of purpose, principal, direction, and message. As an organization that puts great stock in a specific important message, we have to really steer our official activities so as to not cloud that message as we’ve done with this project.     As much humanitarianism as this project might represent, it has indeed created a negative portraiture of blindness, which is precisely what we don’t want. I believe there are better ways to deal with such cases as this with the child and family; but I also think such complex issues surrounding immigration and conditions overseas are not our strength or role to play. If this was a life or death thing where only we could help, it’d be a different story. In conclusion, I don’t think you necessarily need to tap into NFB resources in order to play a role in the pursuit of this family’s visas. There are other roads to take with such circumstances.

    Best       

    Trevor A

    From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terry Hulbert
    Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 6:09 PM
    To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'
    Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] [Ct-NFB] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

    Surely that the NFB with all of its millions of dollars available to the national office can certainly take this humanitarian act. Min, this should be done on a case by case basis. On this case, I vote YES!

    Terry<!--[if !msEquation]--><image002.png><!--[endif]-->

    From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Rival
    Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 12:02 PM
    To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'; 'Richard McGaffin'
    Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] [Ct-NFB] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

    We, NFB are not providing surgery or pretending that we have doctor knowledge, we are providing a family a new life in the U.S. and permanent membership of NFB parent and children division. Beth 

    From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin Salisbury
    Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 9:34 AM
    To: Richard McGaffin; NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
    Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

    I have no problem with individuals helping this mother and baby acquire surgery. I have no problem with that at all.

    We are in organization with a purpose, and this cause lies outside our purpose. Though it may be benevolent, it is not appropriate for our organization. I enjoy going to church, but I recognize that religion is not and will not be taught in public schools. It's the same concept.

    Again, since we have already made these commitments, I believe that we must honor them and be accountable for them, but I do not believe that we should go down this road again.

    Sent from my iPhone

    On Jul 19, 2013, at 9:25 AM, "Richard McGaffin" <rmcgaffin at snet.net> wrote:

      I agree Rob, look since I've been a member of the NFB, I've done everything from writing letters to Social Security to let them know that people have moved with theor new address, because they didn't know how to contact them, to giving out BESB's phone number and looking up things on the internet tor independent living adds, and phone numbers for people who need help, and not all the folks were blind. look it's as simple as this we're here to help. I know this is a gray area but hey who am I to deny anyone for help. Here's another example I received an e-mail from a woman who's six year old son is blind in 1 eye, but because he has normal visio in his other eye Besb refuses to help him. So do I tell the lady to get lost, or do I inviter her to a meeting. I chose to invite her to a meeting perhaps we'll be able to give her some assistance or perhaps not, but it's not my call, I believe it's hers so she comes checks us out, 

      Rich

      From: Rob Palaski <PALASKI65 at COMCAST.NET>
      To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List' <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> 
      Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 7:23 PM
      Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

      Hi beth

      I understand that it is the NFB’s policy to help people live more productively with blindness. But I think that in the interest of humanity I think that this woman needs help and that we should help her. My vote is yes

      From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Rival
      Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:05 PM
      To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'
      Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] [Ct-NFB] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

      National is the one that called me to help her. In India they don’t have the knowledge to do these operations. Beth 

      From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Stanley Torow
      Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 4:35 PM
      To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'
      Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

      I agree. We need to know how National stands on this issue. Being blind in America is not like being blind in India. We have resorces to help. Does India have the same help to its blind population? In India it is better to be visual than blind. It is a third world country and does not give great help to its disabled population.

      Get national's view on this issue.

      eileen

      From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Al Sylvestre
      Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 11:06 PM
      To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
      Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Humanity of the National Federation of the Blind

      NFB is an advocacy organization; it is not, to the best of my knowledge, a charity. The collection and disbursement of money for the benefit of the child who is the subject of this discussion is a charitable endeavor If this is to be an NFB-sanctioned undertaking, then it seems to me that NFB National's permission must be secured to proceed in its name.

      Al

      On Jul 16, 2013 10:50 PM, "Justin Salisbury" <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:

      Dear all,

      It has occurred to me that some here believe that part of the National Federation of the Blind’s set of operating principles, or “philosophy,” is inhumane.

      My knee jerk reaction was a laugh, but, now that I think about it, that means that there is a misperception or lack of understanding that exists about us.  

      I want to do my best to help correct that lack of understanding.

      Please help me by explaining what part of our philosophy appears inhumane so that it can be explained.

      Yours,

      Justin

      Justin M. Salisbury

      B.A. in Mathematics

      Class of 2012

      East Carolina University

      president at alumni.ecu.edu

      “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”    —MARGARET MEAD

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