[nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

Briley Pollard brileyp at gmail.com
Sat Jun 18 02:21:04 UTC 2011 

If you actually read my response, you'd see I addressed the issues bring up. Of course I understand the financial burden, which I mentioned. But there is a lot of assistance available, and not just from the NFB itself. If people want to come, funding can be found. I'm in no way suggesting that people who can't attend aren't federationists or don't care about the organization. But proxy voting is not allowed for some very good reasons. Perhaps there could be an Absent-T system instituted similar to what the government has for legitimate circumstances. But, I'm not sure we as an organization have the funds or the resources necessary to take on that undertaking. It is an idea though.

Best,
Briley
On Jun 17, 2011, at 10:14 PM, Jorge Paez wrote:

> Right,
> but tell me,
> does everyone have the money to spend around $1,00 on convention costs?
> 
> You specially as a student should know that.
> 
> And as for me,
> I have so far been a strong supporter of the federation, yet  only have gone to one national convention.
> So if I don't show up this year are you suggesting that I am not a "true federationist?" Because that's where your  language is pointing towards.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 17, 2011, at 10:04 PM, Briley Pollard wrote:
> 
>> I'm hesitant to even weigh in on this debate since most relevant arguments have already been made. However, it is important to note that being present at the Nabs meeting every year indicates a certain amount of investment in the organization. I know convention is expensive, but there are multiple ways to procure funding outside of paying for everything yourself. I know that as students we don't have much expendable income. However, the yearly meeting of the organization as a whole and the division shows the membership and is a chance for us as members to make our wants and needs known by how we vote. If one cares enough about the organization to make that kind of time investment, then one has earned that right to participate in organizational positions and decisions.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Briley
>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 9:52 PM, T. Joseph Carter wrote:
>> 
>>> Right, and I will be sure to cast my vote for as many people whose names I happen to know as possible.  No, you’d need to manage passwords and data security.  There would be issues such as validity and integrity of the ballot (who’s observing to ensure the votes are not tampered with, etc.?)
>>> 
>>> What you are looking for is not proxy voting, but to change NABS elections from being held at convention to being held online.  That means the elections process would need to happen (along with any runoffs and revotes) prior to convention so that the newly elected board members can meet with the old and arrange the transition plan as best they can.
>>> 
>>> If elections, why not resolutions and other business as well?  Why would we then send delegates from the states to vote?  This would be a fundamental change to the organization as a whole, and one that could be exploited by those who have an axe to grind against the NFB.  Without becoming too confrontational, suffice it to say that such individuals exist.
>>> 
>>> It would also degrade our national convention from a policy-making body to the status of a trade show for blind ghetto tech.  I’m not sure you’re going to find support for that amongst Federationists at large—particularly since in order to do so you must first convince those Federationists who will be attending Convention because it is a policy-making body they wish to be part of that it should no longer be so.
>>> 
>>> You would not have my support, even though I have only been to two non-consecutive conventions now, because I wouldn’t want to see what naturally comes from the application of your suggestion.  To me, going to convention is ABOUT something, whether I can attend or not.  I for one am not willing to give that up.
>>> 
>>> That said, though I may attend the NABS meeting if I am not needed elsewhere, I will not be voting.  I am not a student anymore, as I said, and NABS policy should IMO be set by those who are.
>>> 
>>> Joseph
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 12:54:10PM -0400, Jorge Paez wrote:
>>>> So would I.
>>>> 
>>>> And, security measures such as comparing someone's name against a database can easily be developed as well with some php.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 12:41 PM, Ignasi Cambra wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> A web based system could easily be developed, that's for sure. I would be willing to help with that.
>>>>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 12:32 PM, Jorge Paez wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Marsha:
>>>>>> This is only theory to be aprooved--the web team would have to be in charge of developing some authentication method.
>>>>>> I'm sure we could make sure only absent people vote in some way such as having to enter with your name, and the site disqualifying you when you enter your vote if it sees that you're present.
>>>>>> This is where the database of contact information would come in handy.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 12:07 PM, Marsha Drenth 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
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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