[NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?

Fri Jun 9 01:28:56 UTC 2023

I could be wrong, but I understand that the Divisions who are paying to run Zoom during their meetings will still not allow virtual voting.  I understand the concerns, and I will take it up with President Riccobono, but this is not something we can change before the convention.  Let’s plan to have more discussion in the future.

 Carla McQuillan
Executive Director
Main Street Montessori 
President
NFB of Oregon

On Jun 8, 2023, at 8:06 PM, Doula Jarboe via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi Scott,

    Thank you for great questions.  Seems to me like the focus is on being in person.  That it's too much of an expense to run in person and have things fully virtual.  I know if people have the right training and equipment and work arounds, that that is a fixable issue.  When we discussed National Convention in the DEI committee meeting, there were a number of ideas to help make being in person more accommodating.  But those of us who keep trying to push for more virtual involvement only seem to receive push back.  Divisions are allowed to run their meetings virtually if they are able to do it on their own and can avoid the horrendous hotel fees.  How many people with multiple disabilities serve on the national board who might understand this?  To my knowledge Marci Carpenter is one of the few maybe.  This is our organization, so we need to get this figured out.
Warmly,
Doula

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Scott Davert via NFB-DB
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2023 7:56 AM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?

Stuart brings up an extremely important point. So I must ask: what happened to all of that talk during the pandemic about being more inclusive and all that stuff about how they discovered so many great things about having a virtual component? Where are said virtual components in 2023? Do they exist and I’m just not aware?

With curiosity,
Scott 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 8, 2023, at 09:42, Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi Tony, Stuart here.

Thanks so much for answering my question! I will stop paying dues and going to meetings in that case. If possible, please expedite removing me from counting in membership numbers.

As for the suggestion, I have no problem if others want to spend time on that. If I'm told there's a chance for change that's one thing, but I'm told there's no chance in this case and there are other organizations that allow me to fully have a voice so I'll focus there. Apparently this division is being reorganized yet still can't be bothered to seek opportunity for inclusion at a fulcrum point of potential change. Personally, I have more than enough people I need to write into all the time and convince to do the right thing in government, at businesses, in my neighborhood, for my medical needs, and even within my family. I'd rather spend my time advocating for DeafBlind rights with everyone else in the world than pleading with other DeafBlind to get them to care or value other DeafBlind with other disabilities that make them different. Doing the latter to me uses up limited energy and saps motivation to advocate for us all, because it really takes the wind out of my sails the most when other DeafBlind find a way to be at ease with a status quo discriminating against the next person for their differences. 

I appreciate the acknowledgement of frustration, thanks again very much!
EOM

On Jun 8, 2023, at 5:29 AM, Tony May <kg6sxy at gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Stuart,

No one seems to have answered your original question.  To leave a division, don’t renew your membership and stop showing up to meetings.  I know how frustrating it can feel when you can’t vote in person and can’t travel.  You can still sway the opinions of people that can vote ahead of conventions.  It’s not the same as a personal vote but it is better than nothing.

Take care,
Tony

> On Jun 8, 2023, at 2:27 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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