[Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Justin Salisbury PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu
Tue Jun 16 04:26:45 UTC 2015


Hi Rob,

It is true that knowledge is power. I recall that we have always had vendors, but I do definitely remember when you blew it up into the big “NFB Unlimited” extended vendor fair at the 2013 convention. Chris Foster did a great job, and so did Pam and Roland.

Is this tax person supposed to be a part of the exhibit hall? I think that would be a more fitting setup than devoting a whole session to the tax deduction.

Take care,

Justin

Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rob Palaski via Ct-nfb
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 10:35 PM
To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'
Cc: Rob Palaski
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Justin, you said it. that is exactly what I am trying to do here, give people the choices and tools to grow and become who they want to be. That is why I originally brought in the vendor fair a couple years ago. I am not sure if you remember but one of those vendors happened to be a gentleman from blind inc. last year it just so happened that we had pam and roland from the Louisiana center.  I am doing my absolute best to give knowledge to new members and veteran members as well. this is why I wanted to bring in someone to talk about tax issues, and resume writing and interviewing skills. I believe that we all need to contain the knowledge to empower us to not only be stronger blind people, but to be stronger people and knowledge is power.

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 10:52 PM
To: Gary Allen; Kathryn Webster
Cc: Justin Salisbury; NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Hi Gary,

Please don’t take this as harsh because it’s in written form, but I really am struggling to agree with you here.

Why do you assume that chapter building isn’t fun?

Why do we want presenters to be employees from BESB? Why shouldn’t we first look at the talents of our current affiliate members, national representative, invited training center representatives, etc.?

If we do want someone to talk about orientation and mobility, there is nobody with an NOMC (National Orientation and Mobility Certification) currently employed by BESB. I would be honored to lead such a session since I am scheduled to finish my NOMC in early August. With that said, I think the angle taken on O & M is pivotal. I would rather we not do it at all than do it with the wrong angle.

I have been one of the lucky ones who has attended one of our training centers and is now even teaching at one. With this privilege comes a responsibility. I try to share what I have gained  so that it still benefits the rest of my Federation family. A lot of members who haven’t had the opportunity to attend one of our training centers or otherwise really embrace the philosophy of our movement have a tendency to focus on the itemized skills, such as how to read Braille or use a cane. I used to think about it the same way before training. However…

These are the trappings of independence, not the substance of it. They should be learned, and used when needed—but they should be regarded only as means, not ends. Our indepen­dence comes from within. A slave can have keen eyesight, excellent mobility, and superb reading skills—and still be a slave. We are achieving freedom and independence in the only way that really counts—in rising self-respect, growing self-confidence, and the will and the ability to make choices. Above all, independence means choices, and the power to make those choices count.

We don’t just need magnifiers, canes, dogs, Braille books, screen readers, and talking voting machines. We have the opportunity with every single component of our convention to help blind people climb higher in self-respect and confidence. That’s why people want to come to our events.

Does this make sense?

Justin


Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

From: Gary Allen [mailto:garyallenct at gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 8:20 PM
To: Kathryn Webster
Cc: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List; Justin Salisbury
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

I am not on the committee. There is nothing wrong with having someone talk about the  tax benefits.  Self advocacy is an ok idea but NOT chapter building we are trying to try get people to come to the convention that  are not involve in the NFB.  maybe someone from BESB can talk about assistive technology or oritation & mobility.  But we should have some ideas to make it fun.

On Monday, June 15, 2015, Kathryn Webster <kathrynwebster.nfb at gmail.com<mailto:kathrynwebster.nfb at gmail.com>> wrote:
If t Brady is there, I'm so there.

Kathryn C. Webster
(203) 273-8463
Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 15, 2015, at 7:34 PM, Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','ct-nfb at nfbnet.org');>> wrote:
Hey Gary,

Is that the only reason? If so, we can come up with many other options that empower blind people and provide variety.

Just to throw out a few ideas:

Self advocacy workshop
Chapter building workshop

If we all believe and take pride in what we do in the national Federation of the blind, people respond to that.

If we do it right, the selling points can be what we do in the Federation and the sense of community that we have together. We don't need to invite Tom Brady in order to make people want to come.

I think tax deductions are a great thing, but they are not a key component of what we do in our organization. I'm also not sure how many people Wood, whole day early just to talk about tax deductions if that's the only reason they would come.

Have a good one,
Justin

Sent from the iPhone of

Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','President at Alumni.ECU.edu');>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin


 First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller


On Jun 15, 2015, at 8:37 AM, Gary Allen <garyallenct at gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','garyallenct at gmail.com');>> wrote:

The reason why it is important to have someone talk about taxes is because it is important to have a lot of different topics.  If someone who is blind already has a job they will have another reason to come to the convention on Friday.  If there is a new business devision it gives people yet another reason. To come to the convention.



On Saturday, June 13, 2015, Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','ct-nfb at nfbnet.org');>> wrote:
Hey everybody,

I am really grateful for the discussion that this has generated. It has sparked a new idea for me.

I had initially interpreted Rob’s message the same way Gary did. If I can take another crack at articulating my point, the employment-related topics really focus on empowering blind people to go out and participate in the world in a way that we all want to do it. The tax deduction part is nice, but it doesn’t accomplish the same thing. I always take advantage of tax deductions when I can get them; I want everyone to do the same, but I don’t think something like that should be given the same degree of priority as the employment topics. When we look at our agenda (and I don’t just mean the general session, I mean the whole schedule of our convention) our priorities as an organization are reflected in it. I want us to give more attention to employment, which reflects first-class citizenship, and less attention to the tax deductions, which reflect second-class citizenship.

Anne West has sparked an idea in me that, if I may say so myself, is a great one. I either hadn’t realized or had forgotten that Anne was a business owner, but I am a major believer that we need to start a Connecticut Association of Blind Merchants at this year’s convention. There are state merchants’ divisions across the country, and I had a great conversation with the Lousiana Association of Blind Merchants president in April. Now, I hadn’t figured out when to try to schedule the formation meeting at the convention, but maybe this time slot would be appropriate. I say so because the other topics would be about being employed by someone else, and the merchants’ division would be about being the employer yourself. Both would be on employment, but one from each perspective.

What do you think, Rob?

I am working with Edward to gather merchants in Connecticut, very few of whom are currently affiliate members. Earlier this year, when we had to advocate for vendors’ rights, it was really hard to do because we didn’t know them ourselves. We need to have an organized voice for our vendors to inform our affiliate. If anyone is interested in helping with this, please let me know!

Thanks, all!

Justin

Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Allen via Ct-nfb
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 5:37 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Cc: Gary Allen
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Rob was talking about personal. Tax deductions that have to deal with the blindness deduction

On Thursday, June 11, 2015, Anne West via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
I'm a business owner and I don't understand all of the tax deductions both
state and federal.  You need a professional such as an accountant to sort
all that out and there is no way tax deductions can be totally presented at
a job seminar.  A general outlook is great and should be noted but a
complete discussion. No.

Anne West
Ct.daffodil at snet.net<mailto:Ct.daffodil at snet.net>



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