[nabs-l] Behavior...

Tue Jul 14 01:19:38 UTC 2009

Dear Joseph and all:

	I have now posted four replies  to this thread, and in each reply I
have apologized on behalf of NABS for any ill will that was created by
the elections. However, for the record, I will  apologize one more
time. It was never my intention to come across as arrogant or as
denying the validity of anyone’s complaints. In fact, if you reread my
posts (as I just did), you will discover that I have repeatedly stated
my commitment to make the elections process run as smoothly and fairly
as possible. I have admitted to specific mistakes we made and proposed
specific suggestions for improvement, such as making sure to allow
adequate discussion of constitutional changes,  properly selecting and
training vote counters, and perhaps incorporating a paper trail into
the voting process. I’ve also offered to set up some focus groups so
the members can give us suggestions on how to improve the election
process. In all of this, I am failing to find any evidence for your
allegations that I “emphatically denied that anything was wrong” or
that the board is unwilling to give these issues “careful
consideration”.

	The NABS board will be meeting by phone on Thursday, and we will
decide what the best method is for soliciting member feedback about
the elections, and will let all of you know immediately what we
decide. Again, we are willing to open all channels of communication so
that respectful, honest dialogue can occur. I’ve also stated that all
of you are free and welcome to engage in conversation about this with
national NFB leaders if you so desire. So in all of this, I’m failing
to see in what way we are “silencing dissent”.

	Joseph, I know you have been in the organization for about as long as
I have. I have talked with you on the NABS list for years and I know
that you are passionate about changing what it means to be blind and
fighting discrimination against blind students. I sincerely hope that
you can direct this energy into solving these problems with us,
instead of making heated and unsubstantiated accusations against the
NABS leadership. If you can find specific evidence from what we’ve
written or said to back up your claims, then I’d be glad to have a
respectful discussion about it, and come to a compromise. Otherwise, I
am going to remove myself from this discussion for now so we can focus
on growing our organization and doing the work that happens between
elections. Once we’ve set up a forum for all NABS members to voice
their opinions about specific solutions, we’ll make that forum widely
available so dialogue can continue in a mature, productive and
respectful way.

Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students

On 7/14/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
> Jeannie,
>
> Unfortunately, it's starting to look like certain people are not
> welcome to contribute unless they sit down and shut up.  That's
> funny, since the number one complaint about the election is an
> attempt to silence dissent.
>
> Those who are not silent about what happened (including those who
> call for looking forward) are being attacked and disregarded by the
> new board.
>
> There will be no going forward as long as the new board perpetuates
> the very actions they would never allow.  I tried to stop this before
> it got started, but the board has shaken even my faith.  I do not
> believe Arielle genuinely wants to fix anything for next time,
> because she emphatically denies there is anything to fix this time.
> Nijat went further in telling those that believe the election was
> mishandled that there's nothing they could do about it anyway.
>
> The arrogance of the new board is appalling and they've been in
> office less than two weeks.  I can no longer advocate moving forward
> with this board with a clear conscience because thus far it seems to
> have no conscience of its own.  Neither can I advocate the measures I
> tried to prevent, because I still think they may only do harm.
>
> In a nutshell: Have fun, everyone.  I'm sitting this one out until I
> see some evidence that our board has enough integrity to admit that
> there were serious issues in our last election that warrant careful
> consideration for the future.  In the meantime, I have nothing else
> to say, except that I am ashamed of NABS and its board.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 03:59:14PM -0500, JMassay wrote:
>>Ashley,
>>
>>
>>
>>Hello. I was not running the election. I ran, once, for a numbered board
>>position and didn't win. That is not a problem for me., Additionally, I do
>>feel that everyone has a right to their voice but many of the voices at the
>>NABS meeting and election could not be heard above the din of others. Many
>>people were carrying on side conversations, others were just plain rude:
>>booing and talking very loudly. I strongly feel that we need to show an
>>elevated level of class and decorum. I agree with whoever else mentioned
>> the
>>fact that anyone new could have been scared off and put off by the display
>>of our membership.
>>
>>
>>
>>So.that being said. We do need to speak with a unified voice.  There is
>>unity in diversity. Everyone is allowed to have a voice and everyone
>>deserves to be treated with dignity. We have a lot of work to do and
>>regardless of whether you have, or don't, a title with regard to the
>>organization, if you are a part of the blind movement, you are a part of
>> the
>>blind movement and will rise above to change what it means to be blind.
>>
>>
>>
>>Jeannie
>
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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