[NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?

Thu Jun 8 18:14:59 UTC 2023

Hi Frank, Stuart here.

My understanding from Marsha Drenth was this list will always be open to advocates and DeafBlind. I have no intention of leaving our discussions here or leaving anyone out in the cold if there's anything I can do to help. I can render opinions here, and I do best in text anyway as I'm very limited verbally; but, honestly I don't have any choice whatsoever to attend this upcoming meeting. I attended the Zoom meeting remotely last night, but I was very limited to understand what was going on and get captioning information. I had an aide helping me as I'm trying to learn a new Braille display I got last month and it's still very challenging in anything synchronous like real time speech. I came away from the meeting having almost no idea what the constitution actually said even though the entire thing was read aloud with painstaking effort as many voices they also didn't get it. I already had communication with the organizers of the convention and was told they were only allowing some quite limited remote viewing, but not commenting or interacting; and, I thought bringing it up last night there may be some opportunity to change that, but instead the response I got was to be grateful for the magnanimity of NFB to be given any chance to  participate remotely the past couple years as no other organization ever has done that in the US (though of course I've just provided examples that do just that but I'm trying to represent what my helper and I understood from it). I would love to be able to participate in person with others so I could learn how to even interact in person, because for four years I've not really been interacting in person with anyone as I've significantly lost the capacity to do so due to my condition. I will always do my best to participate in advocacy and keep writing though truthfully sometimes I can't do that as I get sick. Since 2019, I haven't been out anywhere, and in 2020 I became homebound even before the pandemic. So, this is a long-term issue for me that it's not possible for me to go somewhere and even with medical transportation it's really risky and dangerous for me. Right now I'm not able to participate in the meetings, but not for lack of asking or wanting to do so. I have no idea how I could do anything in a leadership role even if someone did nominate me, because it would absolutely have to be done by staying at home. I don't have a choice about that. If that can't be respected that I have to do whatever I can from home, I would be at a major disadvantage and viewed as a burden I feel. I don't even physically go to doctors offices since 2020 so it's not like I'm going out for other things here. That's what it means to be homebound. I hope that is understandable for you as I'm not saying I will leave you, but that I can't make a commitment and monetary support showing to an organization that is costing to limit myself and other DeafBlind like me. I don't see how being a member I would in any way be afforded anything that I can't communicate here already because of restrictions placed upon me. I hope that I helped clarify for you.

Thanks again!
EOM

On Jun 8, 2023, at 12:48 PM, Frank Skogsberg <skogsbergf at gmail.com> wrote:

I am sorry that you feel that way, but here is the point when if you can not be in meeting, how can you have any say number two we do not have a Deaf and Blind committee or a group at the moment sent the first of the year because the group is being re-organize, show that why we had meeting last night that’s why we are reelecting all new officers re- re-how can you nominate yourself if you do not have a boys in the place I do understand what you’re saying and I’m sorry that you feel that way but please remember the officer Hass to be passion after third have to do something can’t be done by staying home just like the board members of national they’re doing things are going places  I know LANY is getting very tight disability very tight hard but it can be done. You cannot have a voice if you’re not passionate that good have a boys. Hope you should reconsider and we’d love to have you in the group I have as I know I would like you can you still be in the group if you can’t be physically there because that’s why we have this still running so we can stay connected and help each other lol we’re all the times I hope this dictation come out right and we all understand.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 8, 2023, at 1:27 AM, Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all, Stuart here with a clarification.
> 
> Proxy voting enables a vote in absence. An inclusive perspective may
> posit we can establish a presence to effect change, exert influence
> and advocate as best we're able, even when conditions or capacity make
> travel untenable. Homebound, like me, are now able to contribute more
> than ever, if allowed.
> 
> As an example: at one time, only landowners who maintained a residence
> were permitted to vote. If instead only travelers can vote, it seems
> the opposite extreme. Hypothetically, if someone came on the news
> today to declare all who couldn't be physically present at a specific
> US voting location somewhere in the country during a specific period
> of time would now be prevented from voting entirely by any means, I
> can't see how NFB could in good faith argue against it when that's the
> practice NFB is apparently following for voting itself. I would want
> to advocate against that, and I'd not want to be undermined in my
> messaging by being a member of an organization favoring or practicing
> it as the right to vote is foundational and fundamental.
> 
> Thanks again!
> EOM
> 
> 
>> On Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 12:34 AM Peter Donahue via NFB-DB
>> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello everyone,
>> 
>>       Proxy voting has been a no-no in the federation for years.
>> 
>> Peter Donahue
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 10:35 PM
>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Stuart Salvador <stuartsalvador at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?
>> 
>> Doula,
>> 
>> I'm sorry if I have anything incorrect. I understand that somehow I could in some way have someone physically at the meeting move to elect people who aren't present, but that's not my greatest concern. What I understood was that, regardless of that, there's no provisions to allow voting for anyone that can't physically travel or attend and no chance to change that. Is that correct?
>> 
>> If so, my understanding was it doesn't matter what the constitution says now or in the 1940's, who received it in advance, who is elected to serve, or who is on a Board when, no matter what the organizational division does, it will never permit voting by anyone who can't physically be present wherever the meeting is located because it's required to be in the constitution because it's what President Riccobono and/or the Board of NFB says. Is that correct?
>> 
>> If yes to both, then as for my feelings on inclusion, what you are hearing from me is accurate I think on my feeling. Basically, I have more than enough challenges with discrimination already in my daily life, and I already have everyone else in the world it feels like attacking me these days. So, while I want to advocate for DeafBlind like myself whenever and however I can, my feeling is I should not be a member if persons with multiple disabilities who are DeafBlind that prevent them from being in person to have a voice, yet are paying dues, enter into a "taxation without representation" relationship where they never actually vote in anyone who represents them because it won't ever be allowed.
>> 
>> So, my thinking was to figure out how do I not be a member since NFB isn't including myself or others like me anyway. Otherwise, I basically am giving a +1 to its practices as per its membership number when I would feel like I'm doing something really wrong even if I'm only a drop in the bucket.
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> EOM
>> 
>>> On Wed, Jun 7, 2023 at 10:03 PM Doula Jarboe via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Stuart,
>>> 
>>>    What you are saying isn't correct.  The people at the in person
>>> meeting can move to elect people who aren't present in person.  If
>>> that motion passes, and you have someone there in person who nominates
>>> you, then you may be elected without having to be there in person.  I
>>> hear you saying that this goes against inclusion, and I think that's
>>> something that needs to be worked on.  I hope that clears this up for you.
>>> Warmly,
>>> Doula
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Stuart Salvador
>>> via NFB-DB
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 7:28 PM
>>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Stuart Salvador <stuartsalvador at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?
>>> 
>>> Hi all, Stuart here.
>>> 
>>> It came up on the call tonight that there's no provisions to allow
>>> voting for anyone that can't physically travel or attend and no chance
>>> to change that. I've enjoyed communicating on the list-serv, but how
>>> does one stop being a member?
>>> 
>>> Thanks!
>>> EOM
>>> 
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