[DSM-Iowa] [Nfbnet-members-list] Open Letter of Apology from President Riccobono

Janae Peterson janae.burgmeier at gmail.com
Thu Dec 17 17:01:18 UTC 2020 

I am really sorry that happened to you Cindy and I believe your story and
you are a survivor. If you had asked me 2 years ago, I would be completely
with you about coming together and putting feelings  aside. That is what I
did.  Let me provide some perspective, especially for new members that may
shed some light on this conversation. There has been a social media
campaign on facebook recently where many survivors came forward about
instances of abuse of varying natures by fellow federationists. During my
discussion with fellow members of the Iowa affiliate, it was brought to my
attention that the Iowa affiliate board allowed someone with a formal code
of conduct violation onto the nominating committee this year.  Jerad Nylin
had just completed his required "year away" and they opened up their doors
with open arms. We have a lot of perfectly qualified other members that
could have been invited to the table who haven't assaulted anyone who could
have been chosen to fill the spot. I know I wasn't called upon to serve in
any capacity. I keep waiting for someone to come forward and tell me that
this isn't true but unfortunately, nobody has. I don't need to throw pot
shots. This is gross all by itself.

When I wrote the Iowa student constitution 5 years ago, I had a lot of
concerns for our students. I expected trouble getting students involved. I
expected to have issues with fundraising, outreach and the usual drama that
comes with putting a bunch of twenty somethings in a room. But instead I
got a group of really amazing young leaders. Reliable motivated kind young
people. None of them are on the state board. Many of them do not feel safe
at the table. Can you blame them? I never thought I would regret starting a
student division because I couldn 't depend on the board to keep them safe.
I have feelings about that. Strong ones and I am not putting them away
to let the past is the past.

Two years ago I was a casualty of the crappy code of conduct system and I
took the right steps. I had an open dialogue with President Riccobono, I
served on a committee to improve the policy and I wrote the curriculum for
and executed a consent workshop at the national convention. Though the
circumstances were somber, we were excited about our work. The room was
PACKED. People were listening.  We got so much positive feedback after that
presentation. So taking to social media was not something we took lightly.
We didn't do it because it was a good option, we did it because we are out
of ideas. We are grasping for straws. Publically yelling into the internet
abyss is all we have left.



On Thu, Dec 17, 2020 at 9:04 AM Cindy Ray via DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I agree that the E—mail from President Riccoboino was well thought out. I
> think we all need to exercise compassion for one another and try to work
> together to change the feelings and make the National Federation of the
> Blind of Iowa a safe place. This can’t be accomplished at taking pot shots
> at one another. I for one do understand, but in the days when I experienced
> some of these same things, you never talked about it. A dear friend when I
> mentioned it told me I must have wanted it. That is a shock. Now people can
> talk about it. I have struggled with the knowledge that so many people
> everywhere, and especially here in the Federation, are suffering these
> kinds of horrors, for I know that the ramifications are lifelong. I think
> we all have to put one foot in front of the other to move forward, but we
> also need to help each know what we can do. We cannot change what we did or
> didn’t do in the past, but we can work together to move forward. The way we
> do that is to start with meaningful dialog. I hope we all read the open
> letter of apology from President Riccobono and then we begin to talk
> earnestly with one another to fix as much of the damage as we can fix and
> minimiZe at least and end at best the kinds of things that cause the pain
> that people are having here. I would say many of us are likely guilty of
> minimizing what has happened, but that is not because we don’t care.
> Sometimes when things are so overwhelming, we try hard to sweep them under
> the rug, or we simply do not know what to do, so nothing is done. All of
> these responses we need to change, and these changes need to include
> listening to one another and be the best  we can as we work toward
> resolution. Could haves and should haves are things that can guide us in
> the future, but they can’t be changed. Can we please try to have meaningful
> dialog here and pledge to do better? We will try to come up with ways to
> help our National Organization, I think, and we will also accept and
> appreciate their guidance as we move forward. We can surmount these
> difficulties and improve who we are individually and as a family.
> Thanks for your time.
>
> Cindy Lou
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2020, at 5:21 AM, Janae Burgmeier via DSM-Iowa <
> dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I think this is a very thought out and genuine message. It is a long
> overdue step in the process. It is a shame that local leaders do not share
> the same sentiment. President Riccobono’s outline of policy changes are
> especially important because in some places policies are the only thing
> keeping predators out of leadership roles. I stand with survivors and so
> should you. That is the right thing to do. Regardless of policy.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 16, 2020, at 20:41, Scott Van Gorp via DSM-Iowa <
> dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> 
> Sorry if you get this more than once. I sent from the wrong email the
> first time. FYI from our national president.
>
> Scott Van Gorp, President
> National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
> Phone: 515-720-5282
> Email <svangorp at nfbi.org>
> *Website* <http://www.nfbi.org/>
>  *Facebook*
> <https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts>
>  *Twitter* <https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa>
>
> * 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.
>
>
>
> *From:* NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 16, 2020 11:21 AM
> *To:* nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
> *Subject:* [Nfbnet-members-list] Open Letter of Apology from President
> Riccobono
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: []]
>
>
>
> [image: National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life]
>
>
>
> *Open Letter of Apology from President Riccobono*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Content warning: the following letter addresses sensitive topics
> regarding sexual misconduct and violence.Dear Fellow Federationists:Many
> NFB members, former members, and people within our blindness community are
> hurting. For some, the pain comes from their lived experience of being
> abused or violated by one of our members and/or made to feel like no one
> else was listening or came to their defense at a Federation event or
> training program. For others, what they feel is empathy for survivors who
> were harmed by participating in the National Federation of the Blind,
> recognizing that we have not done enough within our movement and
> systemically within our community. We are deeply sorry that this is true
> and apologize for where we have failed. As the elected President of this
> movement, Icarry the responsibility of this pain. I am profoundly sorry
> that anyone has been harmed by experiences in our movement. As a husband,
> father of three children, and leader who tries to live by a strong set of
> ethical values, I hurt for the survivors, and I deeply regret that I have
> made mistakes along the way. At each opportunity that I have to sit with my
> young children, I am directly reminded how fragile the balances are in our
> lives and how much our actions can have a lasting impact on others. I live
> with the regret and sorrow for the mistakes I personally made in dealing
> with inappropriate behavior in the past. Sometimes my mistakes have only
> been illuminated later through the honest reflection of a friend or the
> vulnerable sharing ofsomeone who has been harmed. How do you adequately
> write a letter to apologize for that? How do you spread this sentiment to
> an entire movement of people including those who have left our
> organization? How do we, collectively, create an adequate action plan to
> promote healing, prevent future incidents, and continue our development of
> a culture that is welcoming, safe, and eliminates the barriers to bringing
> concerns forward for resolution? This letter attempts to explore those
> questions, but this is merely a single moment in these needed
> conversations.Our hearts break for the survivors of abuse and sexual
> misconduct who have bravely shared incidents that have happened within our
> organization over the decades. During the past couple of weeks, a number of
> courageous individuals have shared painful stories about their experiences
> on social media and in individual conversations. We thank those brave
> survivors for sharing their stories because we recognize how difficult that
> is and how each story creates a unique set of emotions and challenges. We
> deeply regret that over our eighty years we have not handled each situation
> appropriately or been able to heal the pain that such incidents create. We
> do notreject these feelings of pain. In fact, we want to find and establish
> better ways to hear them and continuously eliminate the actions that caused
> them. We have no intention of debating the circumstances of any instance.
> Instead we acknowledge that if a survivor was left feeling the situation
> went unaddressed, then we have failed. The membership demands we do better.
> I, as President, demand this of myself and expect it from our movement. We
> will do better. In addition to calling upon all Federationists to listen
> better, honestly reflect upon your own biases, and to actively align our
> actions to our words, I call upon you not to dismiss those who cannot
> believe that our intentions are sincere or those who have had the courage
> to come forward.It is our individual and collective action, positively
> focused on making things better that will create belief. That is what has
> been true for us since 1940, and it will continue to be true for us going
> forward.Let us get down to the hard facts. Words appear to mean nothing
> without actions, so below I’ve outlined six steps that we are committing to
> in the near future. Before I list them, please understand that these are
> initial steps, and we are committed to exploring and implementing whatever
> policies, programs, trainings, or resources necessary beyond these steps to
> appropriately address these horrible situations.*
> *Improvements to Reporting of Incidents*
>
>
>
>
> *We are currently thoroughly reviewing the pathways for reporting
> incidents and how those paths are handled. We are open to revamping all of
> the reporting mechanisms we have. We are in discussion with outside
> consultants who are expected to do a complete review of our processes with
> a specialized emphasize on sexual misconduct and harassment. We will
> rebuild all of our procedures if needed. We expect our revised processes to
> involve a third-party entity, but since we do not yet know how that will
> turn into actionable efforts within our organization, we cannot be specific
> about that process. Our hope is to be more transparent about our
> partnership andtimelines for action during the first quarter of 2021. We
> hear you about the uncomfortable position some people feel is created by
> the current reporting system when a person must report through members they
> will later need to deal with personally. Regardless of the reporting
> mechanisms we maintain and create, we must be very clear on one point:
> Every elected leader of this organization must be prepared to take concerns
> seriously and to act upon information they are given as quickly and
> thoroughly as possible. Furthermore, the safety of blind youth who are
> under our supervision is our highest priority, and any incident that is
> discovered must be dealt with immediately.*
> *Open Meeting and Supporting Survivors*
>
>
>
>
> *We are committing to hold an open meeting or series of listening sessions
> to discuss these issues and solicit feedback on what support and resources
> victims and survivors need. We have not yet detailed what the open meeting
> and conversations will be. Because we do not want to unintentionally
> contribute to further pain among survivors, we want blind people with lived
> experiences and our consultants to guide that process. In the meantime, we
> continue to answer calls and emails from Federation members seeking clarity
> about these issues and offering solutions that we will carefully weigh as
> our learning continues. We are grateful to those of you who havereached out
> directly offering your personal experiences as a guide to future
> development. The members of the Federation are expected to shape what we
> do, and your readiness to bring solutions makes a big difference. Our goal
> is to provide support and healing to victims and survivors. *
> *Enhancing the Code of Conduct Work*
>
>
>
>
> *Prior to recent events and the stories that have emerged, we were in the
> process of considering and implementing several enhancements surrounding
> our code of conduct and its related procedures and programs. We have now
> paused those efforts. Why? Because we are listening. We have done horribly
> at messaging and sharing our internal procedures and our plans for
> effectively administering our organization's code of conduct. I say paused
> because we want to carefully evaluate where we are and our next steps
> guided by the expertise of anti-sexual-violence experts from outside our
> movement. If we must completely reset, that is what we will do. For now,
> ourcode and existing procedures are in place to set expectations within our
> organization. We will carefully evaluate current grievances to ensure that
> they continue to be safely and swiftly investigated even while our
> procedures are under review.*
> *Illuminating Expectations *
>
>
>
>
> *You may already know, but the board made its annual revisions to the code
> and procedures process on December 5, 2020. When we went to post the
> revisions, we realized that the FAQ we planned to post after the December
> 2019 review did not happen. No excuses, that was a pretty big dropped ball.
> That document is intended to answer questions like what happens when a
> grievance is filed, how is information kept confidential, and what
> communications can a filing party expect? Overall, we have failed to
> communicate broadly the procedures we have been using. For example, we
> allow for advocates to participate with parties who are involved with code
> of conductinvestigations. Moreover, these FAQs will also be informed and
> expanded based upon questions that continue to be raised. They will also
> evolve as we implement additional avenues for raising concerns and for
> training members of the organization. We take ownership for the
> misinformation that is now circulating. Please keep those questions and
> suggestions coming.*
> *Continuous Training*
>
>
>
>
> *Training on issues around misconduct and abuse is something we have only
> skimmed the surface of in the recent past. We have done a minimal amount of
> training for affiliate presidents and workshops at our national convention.
> We were not satisfied that our training was sustainable, so we have been
> seeking other partners. That has been unreasonably slow. No excuse, we
> understand. We are going to be putting together training with the specific
> goal of preventing misconduct and abuse at Federation events and to
> strengthen the level of comfort with reporting. We have also hired an
> individual to assist in a number of areas including
> coordinatingtraining­that person only started on November 30, which is why
> we had not yet introduced her to the membership. *
> *Consistency across NFB Training Centers*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *A lack in consistency in practices across the three training centers that
> are affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind has been raised as
> a concern. It is worth noting that only BLIND Incorporated, the Colorado
> Center for the Blind, and the Louisiana Center for the Blind have made the
> specific partnership commitments necessary to be formally and officially
> affiliated with the organized blind movement. On a regular basis, I have
> been meeting with our training center directors with the specific goal of
> better aligning our practices and policies. There is more work to do there.
> We expect these centers to fully commit to our code of conductpractices and
> set the highest standard of professional practice in all programs. During
> the most recent revisions of our code of conduct, we discussed the topic of
> consistency in handling and reporting concerns at our centers. We will be
> conducting a full review and implementing consistent training for the
> personnel at each of our centers. I stand with those who have been harmed
> by any employee, contractor, or volunteer at one of our centers, and I am
> prepared to help eliminate ineffective practices and urge the termination
> of those employees and contractors (as well as the exclusion of volunteers)
> who violate our policies in this area. Let me also add that our training
> centers have made a great difference in raising the standard of training
> for blind people in this nation and all around the world. As a graduate of
> one of our centers, I share that pride for the training I received but also
> the pain that even one person coming through one of our centers would have
> had a harmful experience. The employees at our centers are some of the most
> dedicated and thoughtful folks I know, and they are committed to the safety
> and wellbeing of program participants. However, that does not excuse
> harmful incidents that have happened in our training programs. I know our
> centers are committed to doingbetter. I know the executive directors and
> boards of each of these training centers will be prioritizing the
> advancement of these conversations. Most importantly, I know they feel your
> pain in a very deep and personal way.Again, these are immediate actions and
> commitments. This is not a complete roadmap for the years to come, but it
> outlines some of the forthcoming actions we are focusing on. We know that
> we need to examine more ways to support our members such as mental health
> resources and the expertise of crisis professionals. Members of the
> Federation have a right to demand information about what is being done, and
> Federation leaders are expected to share that information. When we
> committed to the code of conduct in 2018, we made a commitment to a
> much-needed journey. Our commitment has not wavered even if we have not
> been outwardly demonstrating a commitment that youcan trust. As leaders, we
> will continue to work to earn your trust and we will remain committed to
> continuous improvement and an open dialogue for organizational change. We
> are committed to finding ways to heal that pain, while preventing any
> future pain that results from unacceptable behavior. We are going to need
> the ideas and support of the members of this movement to do that in a
> meaningful and effective manner, so all are welcomed. You continue to be
> our wise teachers. You who have shared your personal experiences and who
> have dared to open yourselves continue to guide us. In the National
> Federation of the Blind, we value diversity, we strive to be fully
> inclusive, and we want to be the safe space for all blind people. Every
> blind person in this nation deserves what this movement has to offer, and
> we recognize we have work to do so that every blind person feels like there
> is a place here for everyone. We are going to get there together. We
> apologize that we have not yet made it all the way, but we pledge that the
> commitment is deep and it is real. We are not done with our changes.With
> love and commitment, we are #MarchingTogether.Mark Riccobono,
> Presidentofficeofthepresident at nfb.org
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19462&qid=4709062>*,
> 410-659-9314
>
> The National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors shown below
> requested that the President write an open letter regarding our
> commitments. By signing below, each of us affirms our support and
> commitment to the content of the letter above. Anybody with concerns
> regarding the content of this letter, the commitments that have been
> expressed, or potential incidents that may have happened at Federation
> events are welcome to contact any of the individuals endorsing this
> statement.
>
> Pam Allen, First Vice President and Board Chair,
> pallen at louisianacenter.org
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19463&qid=4709062>,
> 318-251-2891
>
> Ron Brown, Second Vice President, rb15 at iquest.net
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19464&qid=4709062>,
> 317-213-7031
>
> James Gashel, Secretary, jgashel0923 at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19465&qid=4709062>,
> 808-234-9259
>
> Jeannie Massay, Treasurer, jeanniemassay at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19466&qid=4709062>,
> 405-600-0695
>
> Denise Avant, davant1958 at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19467&qid=4709062>,
> 773-991-8050
>
> Everette Bacon, baconev at yahoo.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19468&qid=4709062>,
> 801-631-8108
>
> Amy Buresh, amy.buresh74 at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19469&qid=4709062>,
> 402-440-4722
>
> Shawn Callaway, callaway.shawn at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19470&qid=4709062>,
> 202-352-1511
>
> Norma Crosby, ncrosby at nfbtx.org
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19471&qid=4709062>,
> 281-968-7733
>
> John Fritz, president at nfbwis.org
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19472&qid=4709062>,
> 608-622-7632
>
> Ever Lee Hairston, ever.hairston at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19473&qid=4709062>,
> 323-654-2975
>
> Carla McQuillan, president at nfb-oregon.org
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19474&qid=4709062>,
> 541-653-9153
>
> Amy Ruell, aruell at comcast.net
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19475&qid=4709062>,
> 617-752-1116
>
> Joe Ruffalo, nfbnj1 at verizon.net
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19476&qid=4709062>
>
> Terri Rupp, terri.rupp at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19477&qid=4709062>,
> 702-524-0835
>
> Adelmo Vigil, nfbnewmexicopresident at gmail.com
> <https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19478&qid=4709062>,
> 575-921-5422
>
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