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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hi, well stated, you have grown into a strong man. Beth <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Justin Salisbury via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 14, 2020 6:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT@alumni.ecu.edu><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [CT-NFB] Beth Rival<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Be well, everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Justin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Justin Mark Hideaki Salisbury<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>he/him/his<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 808.797.8606<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu">President@Alumni.ECU.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury"><span lang=EN style='color:blue'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury</span></a> <span lang=EN><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>ResearchGate: <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury"><span style='color:blue'>https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Lucida Console"'>“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Lucida Console"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Lucida Console"'>Cesar Chavez<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Gary Allen via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 14, 2020 4:57 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <<a href="mailto:Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">Ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Gary Allen <<a href="mailto:garyallenct@gmail.com">garyallenct@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] Beth Rival<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Hi,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>