[nabs-l] NABS Leadership Update

Mon Jul 13 01:21:09 UTC 2009

Listers:

As far as vote counting goes, I'd really like to see a method that can 
be run completely by blind people since we're a blindness organization. 
In most cases, voice voting works well enough provided that the 
membership is mature enough to use it correctly. I'd be willing to use 
a balloting system if it can be handled efficiently.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Hi Joseph and all,

>         While this was explained at the meeting, I’ll reiterate for those who
> weren’t at convention. The voice vote, in which people say “I” if they
> support a particular candidate, is used only as a preliminary voting
> method. The voice vote determines the election outcome only when one
> candidate receives an overwhelming majority of the vote. If the voice
> vote sounds at all inconclusive, the election leader will call for a
> hand count and the candidate receiving more than half of the votes
> wins. Even if the election leader believes the voice vote is
> conclusive, a candidate who disagrees can always call for a hand
> count. We have these protections in place to prevent races from being
> decided by “which group screams the loudest”. Any candidate who
> garners a significant amount of support will receive enough “I’s” to
> render a hand count necessary, and again, the candidate always has the
> right to ask for a hand count regardless of what the election leader
> decides. In fact, last weekend, almost every contest was ultimately
> decided by a hand count, even though we started off with a voice vote.

>         You are right that the NABS constitution says nothing about voice
> voting. I need to find out if there is a national policy that
> overrides our constitution, making voice voting necessary. There are
> definite advantages and disadvantages to starting off with a voice
> vote before preceding to a hand count.

> Arielle Silverman
> President, National Association of Blind Students

> On 7/13/09, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> Joseph and all:

>> I was present at the election and even made a go for an office or two.
>> In my opinion, the election did have integrity simply because those
>> running it tried to make it as fair as they knew how. Elections are
>> tough especially if you've never run one before. I rmember trying to
>> arrange Washington State's constitution. Arielle was there. Arielle
>> well remembers how chaotic that was and how unhappy some folks were.
>> Hell, some members even got upset because they said the presence of Dr.
>> maurer swayed the vote over whether or not we should vote members into
>> our organization or just let them in once they've paid their dues. In
>> fact, didn't we have to redo that one twice just to make everyone
>> happy? I remember that day and how stressed everyone was. This last
>> election at the national level reminds me of that chaos.

>> I guess the reality is that there will always be those who wished the
>> election happened in their favor. Take, for example, all those who
>> grumbled when Barack Obama won this last year's U.S. presidency. And
>> don't forget the fiasco over Bush vs. Gore in 2001. In other words, our
>> craziness last Saturday isn't unique to NABS, the NFB, or to blind
>> guys. It's just what happens sometimes. But as Arielle said, there are
>> ways we can curb the craziness a bit. I have also given some thought to
>> how we might smooth the process for future NABS participants and their
>> officers. And like you, joseph, i'm trying to work it out in my own
>> mind. Having focus groups is a great idea, and I hope to be informed as
>> to when they occur.

>> Respectfully,
>> Jedi
>> Original message:
>>> 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

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> --
> Arielle Silverman
> President, National Association of Blind Students
> Phone:  602-502-2255
> Email:
> nabs.president at gmail.com
> Website:
> www.nabslink.org

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