[DSM-Iowa] Expressing My Feelings.

James Omvig jhomvig at gmail.com
Thu Aug 6 20:45:33 UTC 2020 

Dear Mary:

This is Jim Omvig.  I'm so glad that your work schedule has 
changed so that you can attend monthly Chapter meetings again!  
Sharon and I, and our table crew, will be glad to have you join 
us again!  We will speak TO and WITH you, and we will give you 
rides to and from meetings if you like!  I am assuming, of 
course, that FACE TO FACE will resume again soon!

Fondly,

Jim Omvig



 ----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Barber via DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org
To: "'Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa'" <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 6 Aug 2020 14:37:45 -0500
Subject: Re: [DSM-Iowa] Expressing My Feelings.

Mary:  I beg to differ with you on one point.  When you came to 
the meeting a year ago, Kim and I sat with you and did our dead 
level best to make you feel welcome.  You’ll recall that it was 
I who proposed your membership in the chapter.  I’m also pretty 
certain that there were a few others at the table at which we 
sat.



I realize that virtual meetings using Zoom may not be the most 
ideal way to have meetings, but it’s what we have to deal with 
right now for safety sake.  We’re all learning proper etiquette 
when it comes to conduct in virtual meetings, so we need to learn 
to be patient.



In person meetings are definitely the best, and I miss them a 
lot.  Hopefully we’ll return to them sometime in the near 
future.



Michael



From: DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mary 
McGee via DSM-Iowa
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2020 2:07 PM
To: 'Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa' <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org
Cc: Mary McGee <mmcatitude at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [DSM-Iowa] Expressing My Feelings.



Thank you for your prompt reply.  To be perfectly honest, this is 
the first contact info I have had for you.  So, of course, I 
couldn’t reach out.  That’s why I was surprised I didn’t 
receive some kind of notice with officers’ contact information 
or something.  I didn’t know how to get on any of the websites 
either except nfb.org and, until I heard about this legislation, 
I had no knowledge of any chat or list.  I would appreciate it if 
you would track down whatever happened, if not for me, because 
you don’t want to lose members for lack of contact.

I haven’t felt welcome at meetings, because a year ago when I 
attended a meeting, no one was there to greet me, and no one I 
knew came over to me.  Therefore, I was afraid to say anything.  
I also don’t like Zoom because it burns up my iPad.  Plus, 
everyone talks over me if I try to timidly say anything.  
Everyone else is so comfortable and I’m scared to talk because 
I fear I’ll say the wrong thing.  This is why I stated that I 
think some introduction is appropriate.

I am 65 years old.  Perhaps that’s too old to appreciate Zoom.  
I must prefer phone conversations of in-person relations like we 
used to have years ago.

I check my message and I’ve not had one from you.  The only 
member who has ever called me is Jim.  No one else has seemed 
interested and that’s why I have been of the opinion that there 
is no “NFB Family.”  I would like to change that and I hope 
this is a start.  Please call or email me back.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Mary L.  McGee





From: DSM-Iowa [mailto:dsm-iowa-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
Michael Harvey via DSM-Iowa
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2020 1:04 PM
To: Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org 
<mailto:dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org
Cc: Michael Harvey <mharvey at nfbi.org <mailto:mharvey at nfbi.org
Subject: Re: [DSM-Iowa] Expressing My Feelings.



Dear Mary,

I am happy to speak with you about your feelings and thoughts.  
You are more than welcome in the chapter.  I feel like I've told 
you that every time you have been at a meeting.  Futhermore, you 
just mentioned you got covid 19.  That's why we have not been 
doing anything.  no one has done things other than virtually for 
almost the last 5 months.  I have been home since late March 
until this week.  I am more than happy to speak with you and I'm 
not sure what happened with your welcome information.  I will 
look into it for you.  Feel free to call me out all you want, and 
I am happy to answer you.  It has not been safe to get out and do 
things socially or fundraising in person over the last few 
months.  Please use any of contact info below and reach out.  I 
feel like I tried to call you after a meeting, but I am happy to 
talk to you.

Sincerely,





Mike Harvey, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Des Moines Chapter
615-554-0695 <tel:615-554-0695
Email: mharvey at nfbi.org <mailto:mharvey at nfbi.org
Website: www.nfbi.org <http://www.nfbi.org/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa
-372681823082570/posts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa
Des Moines Chapter Facebook:  
<https://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblindofiowadsm> 
https://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblindofiowadsm
Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of 
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the 
nation’s blind.  Every day we work together to help blind 
people live the lives they want.



On Aug 6, 2020, at 12:11 PM, Mary McGee via DSM-Iowa 
<dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org <mailto:dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org> > wrote:



Dear Des Moines Chapter,

              The experts say the only way we can succeed in life 
is to acknowledge and express our feelings, then move forward.  
Therefore, I’ll express how I feel since joining the Des Moines 
Chapter and I’ll wait for the reaction because the same will 
tell me in which direction to move, whether than be toward the 
chapter or away from It.

              First, I’ll provide a little history.  I’ve 
been blind all my life, but I’ve struggled with it because I 
have some vision and Vinton taught me early that I was 
“partial” rather than blind.  I attended public school the 
last two years of high school and college without any 
accommodation because that was before IDEA or the Rehab Act.  I 
attended the Orientation Center.  I went to Drake University and 
practice law for over 25 years.  I participated in the Des Moines 
Chapter actively a few years ago, felt I contributed to it, and 
enjoyed the activities and the people.  I made a bad mistake when 
I supported Richard Sorey as Director of IDB and I acknowledge 
that and have apologized for same.

              Now I’m working for Wells Fargo and I feel 
shunned by the chapter, even though several fine people have told 
me there are no hard feelings from the past.  I’ve had mental 
health issues and those people have told me they don’t matter, 
that I’m OK.  I have changed my schedule since catching COVID 
so that I can be available to attend meetings in future, but I 
don’t know whether I’m welcome or not.  There are many who 
will welcome me, but I wonder about the elected officers because 
they’re the ones who have apparently ignored me as a new or 
re-joining member.  I have received NO introductory materials 
from the National Office, the State Affiliate, or the chapter.  I 
receive a few emails, but nothing I would call an official 
welcome or briefing on what’s available for me to use or add to 
the organization.  There have been NO social activities.

              Isn’t there a Membership Committee?  Isn’t 
there a Fundraising Committee?  Does Des Moines do anything aside 
from play Presidential Releases, and, while these are important, 
I would think a local group would want to act on them in some way 
rather than merely sit and listen.

              I have some vision and I’ve had a mental 
breakdown and COVID.  I have made mistakes.  If the Des Moines 
Chapter wants my membership, I’ll be glad to return and 
participate.  If not, I will oblige.  But I’m calling out the 
officers and Board Members because this lack of communication 
will lead to the end of the chapter as members grow older.  Mail 
starts with “Dear Federation Family”.  What family?  I feel 
like the odd person out.

              I’ll freely admit I don’t answer the phone when 
I’m working forty hours a week.  But I’ve been home since 
July 15th.  I DO read emails and I know there are chapter members 
who have my contact information.

              I also have discovered through my own investigation 
that the Chapter President lives in the same apartment complex as 
I.  Come on, Mr.  Pres., are you so overworked that you 
couldn’t contact me at all?  What about the Vice-President?  
What about the Secretary or the Board?  I don’t remember the 
chapter being like this when I was active; we had social events 
for new or returning members where they were given copies of the 
constitution, contact information, convention information, and 
recording of significant speeches, etc.  What happened?

              There you have it—my feelings converted to words.  
Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Mary L.  McGee



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