[Greater-baltimore] [Greater-Baltimore] Greater-Baltimore Digest, Vol 94, Issue 10

Tue May 21 00:27:33 UTC 2013

Chris,

I don't think your tone was too harsh at all, and I don't think you should shoulder any of the blame.  We, each of us who uses the kitchen, is an adult, and we have been entrusted with the property of the entire organization's membership.  If folks don't know how to use certain appliances, they should ask for help.  What happened this weekend was dangerous, it was reckless, and it was unacceptable.  If we had been using a commercial space at which we paid rent, we'd have been evicted, and we'd have deserved it.  Thank goodness the NCB staff and leadership has decided to be generous and allow us to stay on-site.  I for one, wouldn't blame them if they refused to allow us to use their equipment ever again.

Just my thoughts.

Ronza

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-baltimore [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 8:20 PM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Greater-baltimore] Greater-baltimore Digest, Vol 94, Issue 10

Thanks Maryellen, for the help you have provided in the past and the help you will no doubt provide in the future. I realize that my first e-mail on this topic took on a scolding tone, so I want to say that ultimately, as chapter president, I am just as responsible for what happened as those involved, in the sense that I needed to do a better job of monitoring what was going on. The point is not to assign blame but to prevent similar incidents in the future. We are just lucky that this one did not result in damage to life and property I do believe that a moratorium on use of the kitchen is in order at least until we can get a system in place for making sure that the facility is properly cared for and, most importantly, that all appliances are turned off and things are left in a safe condition. That may involve drafting staff volunteers to be on hand to make sure all runs smoothly, or preparing a checklist of everything that must be done, cleaned, and/or put away before those preparing any meal leave the kitchen or dining room. If anyone believes that my reaction was too strong, please remember that cleaning up is one thing, albeit a very important one, but leaving an oven on is potentially very dangerous. I am sure that it was not done intentionally, but it was done nonetheless and it must not happen again.

Chris

On May 20, 2013, at 7:47 PM, <maryellethompson008 at comcast.net>
 wrote:

> 
> 
> Chris, this is a deplorable situation. I am very sorry I wasn't able to assist with the picnic. I intend to be on hand next year. We have been working on showing chapter members the workings on the kitchen, but to no avail, obviously. Perhaps it is best to not use the kitchen (and maybe the dining room) for chapter breakfast.  I suggest that we begin to use the lunchroom since we will be serving predominantly bagels, donuts, fruit, and the like.  It should also prove to be less expense for the chapter to have a less expensive menu. And with the coming nicer weather people can eat on the deck off of the lunchroom.  I am sorry it has come to this. We should talk about this at the chapter meeting. It is obvious that our chapter doesn't understand the privilege we have of using the National Center. 
> 
> 
> 
> Mary Ellen
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
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> Subject: Greater-baltimore Digest, Vol 94, Issue 10
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>    1. Chapter use of National federation of the Blind kitchen and 
>       facilities (Danielsen, Chris)
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> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 12:14:23 +0000
> From: "Danielsen, Chris" <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
> To: "Greater Baltimore Chapter (greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org)" 
>         <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: NCB Staff <NCBStaff at nfb.org>
> Subject: [Greater-baltimore] Chapter use of National federation of the 
>         Blind kitchen and facilities
> Message-ID: 
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> <0A478175428EF04095FD2F9D8BC0105E3B7F882B at BL2PRD0710MB361.namprd07.pro
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> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 
> 
> Dear fellow Federationists: 
> 
> I have recently received reports from our staff at the NFB Jernigan Institute that the kitchen has been left in a state of uncleanliness after chapter breakfasts and after the chapter picnic. In addition, after the picnic, the oven and industrial dishwasher were left on, posing a serious safety hazard. At the meeting on Saturday, we also discussed the fact that we cannot continue to have events like the chapter breakfasts, and even the picnic and repast, if people are not willing to take responsibility for them. As all of you know, our staff compliment has been reduced due to finances, and that means that staff at the NFB can't go behind everyone using the kitchen to make sure that things are left in order and that there are no safety hazards. For the time being, I am asking that those who have volunteered to deal with breakfast not plan to cook anything on Center premises and to use the actual kitchen as little as possible. In other words, plan to bring donuts, fruit, bagels, and other items that are premade and can be easily served with existing chapter supplies. We will also soon discuss how we can implement proper procedures to make sure that events like the picnic and repast are conducted safely. We have conducted such events safely in the past and I suspect we can do so again, but if we cannot find volunteers willing to take full responsibility for making sure that our facilities are returned to the state of cleanliness that existed before the event, and that all appliances are turned off and all other safety precautions taken, then we may need to reconsider whether we can have such events, or at least whether we ought to scale them down significantly. 
> 
> I am copying my colleagues on staff on this message as well. As chapter president, I am ultimately responsible for the chapter's activities, so I apologize on behalf of the chapter to you for leaving a mess for you to clean up and for the risks to our personnel and property posed by the recent incidents. 
> 
> Sincerely: 
> 
> Chris Danielsen
> 
> 
> Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further. Donate your car to the 
> National Federation of the Blind today!  For more information, please 
> visit www.carshelpingtheblind.org<http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org> 
> or call 1-855-659-9314
> 
> Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D. 
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street
> Baltimore, MD 21230
> Office: (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> Mobile: (410) 262-1281
> E-mail: cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>
> www.nfb.org
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