[Massachusetts-NFB] regarding recent concerns of board meeting

[sharawinton at gmail.com]

Dear Members of NFBMA,

The purpose of this email list is to share information about meetings,
affiliate activities, and matters of interest to our membership. We have an
open list, meaning anyone can subscribe, including vendors, donors,
students, researchers and   prospective members. It is not intended to be a
forum for airing grievances, discussing confidential matters, or publicly
criticizing individual members. We encourage members to address concerns
through the appropriate channels so that issues can be resolved
constructively and respectfully. We urge anyone with such an issue to
individually discuss or discuss in a group setting with officers and or
board members.  

Since this was put on the email list, we, your board, felt that we should
respond in this way, as well. However, any further discussion of this matter
will be  done in a more private manner.  

In responding to the concerns outlined in the June 17, 2026 email. We
appreciate your willingness to share your perspective, and we agree that
transparency, accountability, and respectful communication are essential to
the work of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts.

We would like to provide additional context regarding the board meeting
referenced in your message. The meeting was scheduled to include an open
session for members followed by an executive session for board business.
While it was believed that this information had been communicated
beforehand, it is clear that confusion arose regarding access to the meeting
and the transition between the open and closed portions.

We want to clarify that no special permission or preferential treatment was
given to any attendee. Those who participated accessed the meeting using the
affiliate's regular board meeting Zoom information, which has been used
consistently for affiliate board meetings. We regret any misunderstanding
this may have caused.

It is also important to note that board members worked diligently throughout
the meeting to address the issues that were raised. During executive
session, the board reached resolutions and identified paths forward that
were acceptable to all board members. As a result, the concerns discussed
were addressed more comprehensively than may have been apparent from any
single account of the meeting.

To improve communication going forward, we will ensure that meeting notices,
access information, and expectations regarding open and executive sessions
are communicated more clearly and consistently. We also remind members that
all regularly scheduled affiliate board meetings use the same Zoom link.

Board meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. The remaining board meetings for 2026 are:

*	August 19, 2026
*	October 21, 2026
*	December 16, 2026

Regarding concerns about the discussion involving the treasurer, the
president and first vice president were not attempting to interrupt or
silence anyone. At several points, it appeared that statements had concluded
or questions had been posed, and responses were offered based on that
understanding.

At the same time, we recognize that participants may have experienced the
discussion differently. As is often the case during difficult conversations,
perceptions can vary, particularly when important and sensitive matters are
being addressed. What is clear is that the discussion became challenging for
everyone involved.

We believe that every member of our Federation family deserves to be treated
with dignity and respect and to have the opportunity to express their views.
Productive dialogue requires active listening, patience, and a willingness
to consider differing perspectives. These are standards to which we should
all aspire.

To help reduce misunderstandings in future meetings, the board will
implement a practice whereby speakers clearly indicate when they have
finished speaking before responses are offered. We believe this simple
procedural improvement will help ensure that all participants feel heard and
understood.

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts remains committed to
transparency, respectful communication, and continuous improvement in our
governance practices. We value the engagement of our members and will
continue working together to strengthen our affiliate and advance our shared
mission.

Sincerely,

 

NFB of Massachusetts Board of directors

 

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