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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I travel the country pursuing my education, I am always proud to tell people that I’m from Connecticut. Please don’t change that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every organization has internal politics. Every board has something going on where people are fighting. A key difference is how much the general members and especially the newcomers see it. I have made the mistake of airing my grievances
with a board on which I served in front of the entire membership, and I learned a hard lesson about the importance of not doing it again. I don’t want people to have to learn that lesson the hard way like I did.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here's what I think matters most:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I was a brand-new member in 2008, the year that Al DeLucia passed the torch to Beth Rival, I did not see any grief or bad blood between anyone in the organization. I saw a group of happy blind people who were working hard to make the
world—and specifically Connecticut—better for blind people. Realistically, I’m sure there was some internal board drama then, just like with any other organization at any other time. Because I didn’t experience any of that, I was able to be captivated by the
beauty that is the National Federation of the Blind. I was able to be uplifted by the speakers, especially the national rep (Parnell Diggs). When I go to state conventions today, I don’t pretend that I think there is no drama between any leaders in that affiliate,
but I don’t look for it. I don’t want to think about that. I want to focus on the positive message and feeling of family with the Federation.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I want that experience for all the newcomers right now. Please don’t take that opportunity away from them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s all have a great rest of the convention!<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"><span style="color:#0563C1">President@Alumni.ECU.edu</span></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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Maryanne Melley via CT-NFB<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, October 31, 2020 12:42 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Maryanne Melley <mvcmelley@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [CT-NFB] Thank you, and the way I see it.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wow, you still don’t understand the rules for what can go on this list serve, and you voted on it! Perhaps you should read them again.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Facts and positive comments that bring our affiliate together over a common goal, not negativity and division. I wish you well Phil.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">President <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">the Blind of Connecticut <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">“Live the life you want”<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Oct 30, 2020, at 11:52 PM, Phillip Magalnick via CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As elections near, I wanted to just tell my federation family that it has been my distinct honor and pleasure to serve as your first VP. As a newbie, electing me to this position demonstrated your trust in my work ethic, my ability to
serve, and my tenacity to advocate on behalf of the blind of Connecticut. Together, we were able to not just survive, but thrive through the commencement of the pandemic. all of you worked hard to stay informed, offer support where needed, and just keep an
eye on each other. It was a great experience to behold. I regret that we have been unable to achieve certain goals. These include making our office, fundraising, and our website accessible. I also wish that we were able to organize a Ddivision four the parents
of blind children, veterans, and seniors. These divisions exist on the national level and I feel that we are under serving the blind, especially the children, of Connecticut. This must change. I take the pledge and the One minute message seriously, and to
heart. We are the civil rights movement ofthe blind, and we must continue this work! As The late Congressman Lewis proclaimed,” We must often get into trouble, good and necessary trouble”. Well, I found my share.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is up to the membership to hold their leaders accountable, transparent, And Consistent with the ethics of the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both Honorata and I were quite humbled to have been Selected personally by President Riccobono to attend Leadership Seminar 88, which took place during March 2019. For five days we immersed ourselves in the Federation history and philosophy.
We Attempted to bring back that spirit to Connecticut, but we were Dismissed as being new members and unfamiliar with the affiliate.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We must always ask ourselves who we are as Federation members, What is our purpose, and if we are actually helping the blind of Connecticut. Yes, we are a support Group, but first and foremost we are the advocates and activists ensuring
equal rights for the blind.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have been informed, and believe this to be true, that many of the board members actually hold extreme hostilities towards me, and some actually have done so since I was elected. Apparently, insecurity and fear that I would soon run for
the affiliate presidency caused people to act towards me in a manner which was negative, before they even knew me. I was told that there was great disappointment when I was elected, because I was not one of the select few who wished to maintain control.
But, I was indeed elected, but kept Far from the inner circle. Quite simply, I was ignored and not included in discussions of Federation business.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> My health prevents me from seeking the presidency at this juncture, But it does not matter who sits at the head table or has a title. What matters is that leaders step up, lead by example, inspire others, mentor the new, and bring about
positive change to enhance the life of the blind. As the September 2020 board meeting was just underway, it was stated not to believe rumors. I believe that this Was simply a smokescreen to divert attention away from miss management and favoritism. Extreme
nepotism is precluding talented, hard-working, capable, and deserving members to run for leadership positions. I poured my heart, time, treasure, and attention into the affiliate, yet I have been ostracized, vilified, and marginalized. often, silence
Speaks the truth.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> this message is to not only thank you for The privilege of serving the affiliate, Bbut an opportunity to defend myself from the venom being spewed at and against me and Honorata.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Credible sources have confirm the above information, and it is very troubling, as it should be to all members.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We must choose our leaders with trustworthiness,ethics, transparency, diversity, inclusion, Confidence, compassion, Competency, kindness, And integrity in mind. We should desire leaders who are committed to all of us, not just a select
few well discounting the remaining members.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> I hope that all of us will use our minds and hearts when casting our ballots this Sunday. We must all, especially leaders, hold ourselves to a higher standard. This is your affiliate, and you must decide how we move forward. We are not
just building the Federation, we should be building it the right way.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">In solidarity,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phil<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.A. Magalnick,JP<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">203-912-5783</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt">Justice of the Peace, CT</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">President, N<span style="font-size:13.0pt">ational Federation of the Blind-SWCT Chapter</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">1st VP, National Federation of the Blind-CT Affiliate<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Vice-Chair, Stamford Committee on Accessibility<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">_______________________________________________<br>
CT-NFB mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:CT-NFB@nfbnet.org">CT-NFB@nfbnet.org</a><br>
<a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for CT-NFB:<br>
<a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/mvcmelley%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/mvcmelley%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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