[nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

Darian Smith dsmithnfb at gmail.com
Fri Jun 17 23:07:17 UTC 2011 

I think that Voting is but a  small part of what we do in the
organization. It's important, but   by no means is it the biggest
thing.  the business of  an organization always gets done at meetings,
this is always,   universally the case.
 If you  really think about it  within the Federation, business on a
local level is done by way of chapters, on the state level  by
affiliates, on a kind of  organized, but consintrated level by the
divisions (nabs, nagdu, nopbc) but on an ultimate national level  by
our national convention.
 once  the dicisions get done here,  then we take  it out  into the communities.
  if you really don't think we are doing  the work we need to do, I am
a believer  that you should find your nitch and get it done in that
way.   I say this, because sometimes the challange is to take the
plans we have and make them reality.
 So people don't believe we get  things done? show them we do.  Show
them that students can be successful, can pull in great grades and
then become   great  contributers in society just like our sighted
friends  do.  Show them that we are putting on programs that  effect
blind parents, seniors, children, sighted parents of blind children,
guide dog users.   Feel  empowered to empower others, because that's
what  we do here in the NFB.
 you don't need to  vote to do these things, you don't really need  to
be in leadership to di it, either.
  But  to conventions and their  importance, you  would be hard
pressed to find a person who says that  these conventions arn't vital
and that voting in personisn't the best way to get  the feel of what
the organization needs.

On 6/17/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
> no not really.
>
> Do you realize we're cutting off votes that way?
>
>
> I've seen the attacks calling us radical, and a militant organization, and
> attacks from people saying that "no one can do anything in the NFB unless
> there in the convention".
> And those words don't come just from the ACB by the way, but from other
> blind people who have no affiliation to any organization in the field.
> I've seen a ton of stuff--and we're losing members because people think they
> can't do anything without having to go to convention.
> That is a wide spread belief.
>
> I actually got the question:
> "What does the NFB even do these days?" from one particular person.
> No one knows what we do anymore because those people who haven't grown up in
> states where the NFB is strong don't know our mission, don't know a drop
> about us.
> And that can only be contributed to our lack of things we can demonstrate to
> others externally to prove we're not just another organization.
> You realize we have to prove to those non-affiliated people that we will
> listen to them?
> Because the attacks aren't coming just from the ACB or from ignorant sighted
> people. They're coming from within the blind community too.
>
>
> If we pass this amendment, it would strengthen our organization both from an
> internal and external standpoint.
>
> It would further strengthen the democratic principles of our constitution
> and give further power to our recruiting efforts.
>
>
> That's why I'm proposing this.
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 17, 2011, at 6:34 PM, Chris Nusbaum wrote:
>
>> I agree, Jorge.  But, hey, what an incentive to go to convention!
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>> To learn more about Camp Abilities and find a local camp near you, just
>> click on this link to their national Web site: www.campabilities.org.
>>
>> The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in Maryland have
>> the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click on this link to learn
>> more and to contribute: www.icanfoundation.info.
>>
>> Sent from my BrailleNote
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:52:57 -0400
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution
>>
>> I understand,
>> which is why that particular article violates our membership rights.
>> That is exactly what I'm trying to get fixed.
>>
>>
>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 12:41 PM, Darian Smith wrote:
>>
>> George,
>> in the constitution, the language states  clearly that there is to be
>> no "proxy voting".  I have pasted the language for your review.
>> "Officers and board members   shall be elected
>> by a majority vote of the members of this Association present and
>> voting.  All officers and board   members must be in school for one
>> year following their
>> election.  There shall be no proxy votes."
>>
>>
>> As the constitution of this division, and of our national  body
>> prohibits  this,  we are indeed not in violation of our constitution.
>> The constitution odes  provide for an   amendment to be  submitted
>> for  consideration and review by the  membership.
>> The text of  this provision follows:"This constitution may be amended
>> at any regular meeting of the   Association by an affirmative vote of
>> two-thirds of the active   members present and voting,
>> provided the amendment has ben   submitted to the President in
>> writing, at least one day in   advance of the regular meeting.
>> "
>>
>> Marsha,
>> Nothing prohibits a student from runningin an election if they are
>> not present- in fact this has  happen before.  It's really a matter of
>> if the people present  believe the   individual seeking an office
>> would  end up working  out better  for the organization than the
>> people who are  currently in the room and seeking that same office.
>>
>> I hope this was helpful,
>> darian
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/17/11, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>> In theory this is a good suggestion.  But lets be realistic here.  This
>> would
>> be a complicated process of tallying the votes.  If the students were to
>> do
>> this, the general convention would want this too.  Its sad that those who
>> can't be there can't vote, but that is where those who can't be there,
>> should get involved to elect those who they feel would do the best job
>> possible.
>>
>> Say if you were to have a online way to take votes, how are you going to
>> distinguish from those who are really not going to those who are going to
>> convention but who want to vote and add votes to a particular person
>> running.
>>
>> Now correct me someone if I am wrong, isn't it true that you can run, not
>> necessarily be there, and be elected? Or must you be present? Different
>> divisions do this differently.
>>
>> Marsha
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Jorge Paez
>> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 11:57 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution
>>
>> Hello all:
>> I want to propose the following amendment to the constitution, to article
>> IV.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>>
>>
>> Voting
>>
>>
>> Due to the fact that there are people who will not be present at the
>> convention due to issues beyond the membership's control, but who have
>> paid
>> dues and do therefore, retain their right to vote, the NATIONAL
>> ASSOCIATION
>> OF THE BLIND shall henceforth recognize
>> these members by allowing them to vote, in such methods as are legal and
>> of
>> good practice, in all elections pertaining to the business of this
>> organization.
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>>
>>
>> end of amendment.
>>
>> The defense I put forth for this amendment is simple: if we are to be a
>> democratic organization, and if we are truly the "voice of the Nation's
>> blind" we must realize there are students who will not be able to attend
>> but
>> who have paid dues, and these students must be recognized and given the
>> chance to vote in elections.  If not, we are violating our own
>> constitution
>> as article IV is doing as of this writing, by eliminating those members
>> who
>> cannot attend convention, and therein setting only a certain portion of
>> the
>> student membership to vote.
>>
>>
>> Jorge
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/marsha.dr
>> enth%40gmai
>> l.com
>>
>>
>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>> signature
>> database 6217 (20110617) __________
>>
>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>> http://www.eset.com
>>
>>
>>
>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>> signature
>> database 6217 (20110617) __________
>>
>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>> http://www.eset.com
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb
>> %40gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Darian Smith
>>
>> „My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.‰
>>
>> ˜ Shaquille O'Neal
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/computert
>> echjorgepaez%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nu
>> sbaum%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/computertechjorgepaez%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Darian Smith

“My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.”

— Shaquille O'Neal

More information about the NABS-L mailing list