[nabs-l] NABS Leadership Update

[T. Joseph Carter]

Nijat,

One look at the vote counts—so conveniently all multiples of 
ten—calls their accuracy into question.  That students in the room 
report different counts isn't surprising, until you note that their 
reports indicate higher counts for losers than were reported to us in 
a few races, including your runoff, actually.

Personally, I decided not to participate after that point.  We don't 
have 100% agreement on the counts, but there's enough discrepancy 
often enough to call the whole thing into question.  I'm not saying I 
won any of those elections, but I am saying I'm not quite sure in a 
few cases who should have.  I am honestly not sure how many people 
were getting involved trying to do something about it, but there was 
more than three or four.

There are only two things I am sure of: First, no good is likely to 
come of any effort that group might make.  Second, a member of the 
board telling us not to worry our pretty little heads ... just isn't 
going to make things better.  Both sound disastrous to me.

This isn't about who did or did not win an election.  It's about the 
membership of this organization believing a real election actually 
took place.  If even a significant minority doubt that, then it is 
bad for NABS, even if you assume every one of them will age-out of 
NABS in a few years.  We reflect the NFB as a whole, and we should 
reflect it well.

I serve the organization, not the board.  I will yet see two boards 
serve while I remain a student.  It is in the organization's interest 
to make sure what we saw last Saturday does not happen again.  I have 
a solution, but it's not a complete solution yet.  It does result in 
a paper trail, or at least a box full of index cards.  Still working 
out how to handle runoff elections.

Joseph


On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 04:05:04PM -0600, Nijat Worley wrote:
> Greetings Joseph,
>   I believe that there is little doubt about the legitimacy of the 
> current NABS board and the process by which they were elected. Those who 
> are angry, and those who want to grumble about it, and still those who 
> want to take action about it, have little ground to do so. Besides, what 
> kind of action would be appropriate at this point? The former board and 
> Terri did their best to make sure that the elections were fair. They did 
> almost every vote by a hand count at your request. I am utterly surprised 
> that you are still dissatisfied about the outcome of the elections. I 
> understand there were some mistakes made in the election process, and the 
> board has made note of them. We will take proper action to make sure that 
> those mistakes don't happen again. I do agree with you that to try to do 
> anything  that might divide the organization at this point would only 
> counter your intentions. NABS is an ever changing and evolving 
> organization simply because of the fact that many of its members both on 
> the board and off the board come and go so quickly. Nobody stays in NABS 
> forever. We are all new to this organization, and we all make mistakes. I 
> appreciate you expressing your concerns and telling folks to stay united, 
> because only united, can we make change and strengthen this organization 
> for the benefit of all. I always tell our members both at the state and 
> national level that one does not have to be on the board to help out the 
> organization and to be a leader. I think Arielle intends to get everybody 
> involved in the development and growth of NABS. I am very pleased to say 
> that I saw many of you at the Monty Carlo night helping us put it 
> together and wrap it up at the end. We couldn't have done it without you. 
> Thanks to B. J. Sexton, Caron Anderson, Willie Black, Jim, Jedi, and many 
> others for staying and helping with Monty Carlo Night. Let us put behind 
> us any hard feelings that may be in our chests and move on to bigger and 
> better things for the sake of NABS if for nothing else.
>   At your service,
>   Nijat