[nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

Sat Jun 18 17:38:46 UTC 2011

The fact that the NFB has "alot of funds" is not the issue. The reality is
that we all know that National Convention happens once a year around the
July 4TH  holiday and if we  want to attend, we  need to plan well in
advance. Also, if we  need financial assistance then we  need to find out
from our   state affiliate what kind of financial assistance is available. 
Tina   

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 9:29 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

This is the NFB we're talking about here, they've got a lot of funds!

 Chris

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 ----- Original Message -----
From: Briley Pollard <brileyp at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:21:04 -0400
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

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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