[CT-NFB] Regarding Gary's apology

Phillip Magalnick philmag at optonline.net
Fri May 15 22:14:32 UTC 2020


Edward,
Yes, the matter is dealt with, and over. I did, however, have the right to not only defend myself, but correct  inaccurate information. My reputation was publicly tarnished, and I suspect that you would agree that a public apology to the affiliate for bringing this garbage  to the list-Serve would be Not only appropriate, but well received. We all make mistakes, but when we make public comment without the entire story, it is only harmful to all involved.
Stay healthy and well,

Respectfully,
P.A. Magalnick,JP
203-912-5783
Justice of the Peace, CT
President, National Federation of the Blind-SWCT Chapter
1st VP, National Federation of the Blind-CT Affiliate
Vice-Chair, Stamford Committee on Accessibility



> On May 15, 2020, at 4:33 PM, Edward Shaham via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hey Phil.
>  
> I hope you are well.
> You mentioned in your below email that Gary had apologized to you privately. You also stated you accept Gary’s apology. I think this should be the end of the matter. Therefore, all other communications regarding this issue should be directed to Gary and not the list.
>  
> Warmly,
> Edward Shaham
> 860 597 3210
>  
> From: CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Phillip Magalnick via CT-NFB
> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2020 2:04 PM
> To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Phillip Magalnick <philmag at optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [CT-NFB] Beth Rival
>  
> Fellow Federation members,
> I am overly concerned and disappointed with Gary in sending an email to the list-Serve regarding a matter which most of you are unaware of. The board of directors, together with a member of the national board, is working through some concerns. Gary, while trying to make peace and help, Has takin  it upon himself to make an impression that I have made personal accusations against Beth with respect to an incident regarding a Chapter member. In fact, it is a chapter member who came to me with concerns that I have conveyed to our president and the board. I am only the messenger and have no stake in the complaint as I am not the aggrieved party.  If Gary would have spoken with me, Or the aggrieved party, then  perhaps  he would not have posted this email to the entire member body. Instead, it appears that he only spoke with Beth, a long time friend, and he himself utilized second and third hand information to form his opinions and therefore make this message. It was not only irresponsible, but harmful to me, my family, and to the affiliate.
> To the credit of Edward, poor communications and a lack of transparency have once again lead to opinions and actions negatively impacting our affiliate.
> Honorata and I have worked tirelessly on behalf of not only our chapter and affiliate, but the Federation at large in order to fulfill both  our Federation  pledge and    the essence of our one minute message.
>  
> While Gary did apologize to me privately,  I believe that  Gary ohs a  similar Public     apology  to me, my family, and to the affiliate.
> It is also quite necessary that our affiliate president likewise involve herself in not only condemning this type of public misinformation, But actively monitor and respond to similarly troubling emails, Such  as those  most recently made public or put onto the List – Serve.
> Of course, we do enjoy  freedom of speech, but when the information is untrue, In accurate or biased, it does nothing but cause harm.
> I likewise share with Gary a sense of friendship, in addition to me considering him as a mentor and the reason why Honorata and I joined the Federation. This was a serious error in judgment, but I do accept his apology and Believe that his intent was not to cause harm. Nevertheless, harm was done, but I’m confident that we could move past this.
>  
> In solidarity,
>  
> Phil
>  
>  
> Respectfully,
> P.A. Magalnick,JP
> 203-912-5783
> Justice of the Peace, CT
> President, National Federation of the Blind-SWCT Chapter
> 1st VP, National Federation of the Blind-CT Affiliate
> Vice-Chair, Stamford Committee on Accessibility
>  
>  
> 
> 
> On May 15, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Elizabeth Rival via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Ester, such sweet thoughts, thanks so much and of course we will stay steady and you stay well, always, Beth and Harlow
>  
> From: CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Esther via CT-NFB
> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 10:06 PM
> To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Esther <elevegnale at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [CT-NFB] Beth Rival
>  
> hi, everyone, I would like to weigh in on this topic. I have had the pleasure of knowing Beth for many years and she is one of the  most competent, kind and affable people I've known.and her personality sparkles.  She had the quality of "telling it like it is", but in a really good way.  She has been in the NFB, both state affiliate and national, for many years and when she was our state president, she ruled with an iron hand, but very well.  Whatever she planned, her plans were carried out with great competence.  I've known both Beth and Charlie since they joined NFBCT and both have worked very hard to make our affiliate very successful and we all worked together cohesively.
>  
> As an organization, we grew into a very prosperous and successful affiliate and it has been an honor for me to be a part of the NFBCT for many years.  We as an affiliate have accomplished a great deal and it is my hope we can continue to do so and we all must work together to keep the affiliate a mainstay in Connecticut.  We can't, especially during this horrible pandemic, afford to lose what we have and we  must all work together to keep our blessed affiliate the success it has been since its inception.
>  
> I joined the NFB of CT way back in 1987 and have never regretted my decision to be an integral part of it.  Back in around 1990, I was the first president of the Waterbury Chapter and was proud to serve.  If I had not been a part of this very successful affiliate, I would have never met Beth and known her as long as I have.
>  
> I sincerely hope that she will continue to be in our  affiliate and we all need to strive to work together  to keep NFBCT the most wonderful and successful affiliate that it  is.
>  
> Thank you, Beth, for all that you have done for us  and please continue to be the strong and genuine person you have always been.
>  
> My sincerest thanks,
> Esther Levegnale q
> 
> Sent From Esther's Amazing and Awesome iPhone 7+
> 
> 
> 
> On May 14, 2020, at 6:36 PM, Justin Salisbury via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi everyone,
>  
> I don’t know the background on this, but I do feel compelled to chime in just to make a note about why I’m proud to say that I’m from Connecticut. When we move to other parts of the country, as I have a few times, we tend to realize things that are special to our home state that we always took for granted and never questioned.
>  
> In Connecticut, we have an undying belief in the human ability to learn, grow, and change. This is not the case in many other places. It is part of what has helped me as a teacher, and it is part of why we, in Connecticut, value education so highly. In Connecticut, we don’t become skeptical of people who want to continue their education. We also believe that anyone can know anything. It is perfectly normal for a carpenter who is mending a porch to stop and have a conversation with a kid learning Shakespeare just inside the window. We don’t put up barriers on people’s ability to contribute. Part of this ability to grow and learn means that we give second chances better than any place I’ve ever been. Whatever people do wrong, they can change so that the problem discontinues.
>  
> Gary and I both served, at different times, as First Vice Presidents for President Beth Rival. I’m sure we both appreciated the opportunities. I’m also enjoying getting to know Phil. I don’t know the drama, and I am not going to go out of my way to look for it, either.
>  
> Another part of our culture in Connecticut is the emphasis on productivity. Many of our cultural rules are based on the implications for productivity. For example, if we have information that can help the group, that other people do not seem to have, it is our responsibility to come forward with it, not to quietly be seen and not heard. When someone is new in one of our circles, we want to find out what skills and talents that person brings to the table so that they can help the group and help us advance as a community and as a state. I always appreciate the willingness of our people to step up and contribute because we expect it. As a kid, I remember seeing a sign on the way home from school every day that read “Let ‘em work, Let ‘em live.” That’s what we do.
>  
> Unfortunately, societal expectations for the blind are still low. A negative part of our culture ends up working in tandem against the blind, and it is up to the NFB of Connecticut—no other organization—to fix that. We also have a cultural value that, if a person cannot or will not contribute, they should get out of the way. I would be lying if I said that I did not feel that way toward some people sometimes, though I think it happens less often as I age. I have learned it from our community and culture. The problem really comes in when we assume that blind people cannot perform and cannot learn to perform, so then we must get out of the way. I felt this a lot, even as a kid. I think it has led me to have a fear of missing out, which the college kids today call “FOMO.” I think we all have that to some extent. Now that I know I can be included, I always want to be included. Coming to understand that required that I leave Connecticut, travel west of the Mississippi River, and attend one of the training centers operated under the direction of the National Federation of the Blind. If I had not done that, I would likely still be holding back, for fear of getting in the way and being less competent than the next person.
>  
> One of my dreams for this organization is that all of our members can overcome that toxic societal message and the feeling that lingers in us until we drive it off. I dream that all of our members can come to the point of truly being active so that we can achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind in Connecticut and across the United States.
>  
> I think one thing that creates a strain on our affiliate—and always has—is the fact that many of our members are still struggling to reach that point where we can contribute at our fullest potential. The more hands we have to carry the load, the easier it is for us to experience success and the less stressful that success is.
>  
> Whatever happens and whoever is in charge, I hope that we can show the entire NFB what Nutmeggers can do and make Connecticut a model state for strong expectations for the blind.
>  
> Be well, everyone,
>  
> Justin
>  
>  
> Justin Mark Hideaki Salisbury
> he/him/his
>  
> Phone: 808.797.8606
> Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu
> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury  
> ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury
>  
>  
> “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.”
>  
> Cesar Chavez
>  
>  
>  
> From: CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gary Allen via CT-NFB
> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 4:57 PM
> To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <Ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Gary Allen <garyallenct at gmail.com>
> Subject: [CT-NFB] Beth Rival
>  
>  
> Hi,
>  
>          I am writing because for whatever reason, disruptive and negative things have been said about Beth Rival.   I have known Beth for over 20 years.  I do not believe that Beth did what she is being accused of.   Beth has been an important part of this affiliate for a long time.   She served as president for six years and has been on the board in Different positions for many years.
>  
> At the same time, I have known Phil Magalnick for four or five years and He is someone that I like and consider a friend.
>  
>          I believe that Phil did not get accurate information about what Beth was doing or trying to do to help Julie.  Receiving second or third hand information can easily become misconstrued.  I do not believe that Phil would have done anything to hurt anyone. Beth has gone out of her way to help numerous people in the Connecticut affiliate including Julie in the past. Beth does not deserve to be treated this way.  If we had better communication in the Connecticut affiliate this could have been prevented. This has caused hurt feelings that did not need to happen to both families. I hope we can put this ugly incident behind us and move forward.
>       
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