[NFB-DB] Suggestions for inclusion

Fri Jun 9 07:53:22 UTC 2023

1. Ten days before a scheduled meeting, circulate a detailed agenda to all on the mailing list. Identify any items that may come up for a vote, along with major discussion topics. Encourage anyone unable to attend to submit their votes or short comments on agenda items  to the Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting. Submitted votes and comments to be included at the meeting.

2. After the meeting, make a list of all items voted upon at the meeting, send it via email to all entitled to vote who did not attend, and allow 72 hours for such members to cast their votes by email.

3. Use  Zoom or CART to create a meeting transcript, and circulate this to all on the mailing list immediately after the meeting.

4. Circulate regular communications to all on the mailing list exclusively devoted to sharing Division information. Try to identify ways of making this entirely identifiable as as separate from "discussion", so that these important messages will not be lost in the traffic.

5. When the President communicates with the membership, include in the footer the names and email addresses of all Board members so that they can be contacted by members "off list".

6. Possibly appoint someone on the Board who will be responsible for monitoring accessibility issues and be the contact person if access issues occur.

7. Be aware at meetings that communication via tactile means can be especially tiring for both the interpreter and the consumer. 5-minute breaks are  very helpful.

8. Ensure that it is clear who "has the floor". Relying on recognizing the speaker's voice is a very poor way to do this. Identify at the outset who is p[resent and the state they are from.

9. Try to keep a voice recording in addition to a transcript from Zoom or CART.

10. Anyone using a braille device may want/need access to an electrical outlet. Running unprepared for a battery outage is a disaster for the user.

Others can add to make this a long, comprehensive list.

Rod
----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB  <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
To:  nfb-db at nfbnet.org
CC: stuartsalvador at gmail.com
Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:06 pm
Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?

>
>
> Hi everyone, Stuart here.
First, Lisa and Doula: thank you for touching our lives, being
vulnerable to others about one's medical condition is never to be
taken for granted. No one should dare label you "absent" with your
contributions to what apparently seems like today's impromptu
follow-up meeting. I certainly felt your presence here in my home and
in my heart! I can relate, and personally I'm going to be wishing you
both well and praying for your recovery! I so appreciate your sharing
part of yourself and your life with us today. Proof we can reach out
and touch others' lives from afar!
Second, thank you Rod, Tony, Scott, Tracie, Lisa, Diane, Doula, Carla
and Rocky for the discussion since I last made a peep on here: it
sounds like Rod, Tony, Scott, Tracie, Lisa and Doula are in full
support, with Diane and Rocky partially supporting but encouraging
more patience with no quantitative timeframe until reaching equal
participation and voting rights, and Carla indicating this cannot
happen before the convention meeting, but voicing understanding of the
concerns.
Third, Doula, it sounded like in Carla's estimation of what's
possible, NFB won't be inclusive of voting as the relevant votes have
to be taken at the convention meeting to reorganize and not at another
time? So, even giving the ability to participate or provide input or
feedback would take a vote still at the meeting and only of the
"first-class" citizens able to be physically present if they deign to
help us it sounds like? Or is even that part of the reorganization
still beholden to President Riccobono's wishes alone? If not, Shelia
and Carla may be able to take something back to what I'm understanding
is the NFB Board, and you are also able to take something to DEI to
advocate for all to gain equal representation? Is the timeframe on
that possible to be effective for the convention meeting if either of
those meet before it? What is the Multiple Disabled group doing for
their meeting at the convention if they vote on anything?
If the organization can't or won't be allowed flexibility and
inclusion at its formal inception (at least insofar as NFB permits or
tolerates it), since it's being reorganized anyway, might there be a
way to give it an inception where/when it won't be under duress? I
don't want to diminish in any way whatsoever the immense value and
contribution of each and every individual who will be able and allowed
to attend the convention and this meeting in-person nor minimize the
voice of anyone who can't attend. If a way to at least allow remote
participation, asynchronous or retroactive thought it may be, could be
permitted; then, feedback on the constitution upfront here can be
given before the convention, treating the convention meeting
effectively as a Working Group or Task Group meeting with a specific
purpose, but officially as a founding meeting, and then have a
follow-up to give life to the reorganized group after the convention?
In doing so, it may be possible to pay homage to the organization
hosting the division, yet give all members the opportunity to at their
own pacing think and contribute to the best of the collective's
ability to reorganize what will be the best to represent and advocate
for DeafBlind. For example, here are some ideas how it could be
structured:
1. Discuss the constitution we were all sent earlier this afternoon
after all can review it.
2. Review what Carla sent as the Recording (which, looks like a
transcript of sorts).
3. Discuss leadership roles in advance to ensure covering all the
intended roles so there aren't vacancies to start (though it may be
possible to plan vacancies potentially that would be filled later by
the Board and then fill those positions with informal votes that the
Board can then officiate with representative formal appointments
similar to how our republic here in the U.S.A. works).
4. Prepare a second draft or other items during the Working or Task
Group meeting where those in-person can use the time and resources
available to communicate and assure anyone who can't or don't
communicate well in text has every opportunity to contribute fully
their thoughts.
5. Have someone move and a vote be taken at the Working or Task Group
meeting to take a Final Vote in Principle (or a Final Vote Pending
Confirmation), if possible, on everything NFB demands must be met in
the meeting. If necessary, the result of the Working or Task Group
meeting could constitute an Agreement in Principle consisting of the
Constitution and any other documents deemed necessary to develop as
well as a Leadership and Succession Plan meeting the bare minimum that
division members could all vote on by mail or email at their choice at
a later time to finalize.
6. Most organizations have provisions for "cleanup" of an editorial or
minor nature for most things officially to be approved as a finalized
record, which might be reviewed at actually the next meeting to recap
an editorially correct version that everyone approves and agrees was
what happened and/or what was intended by all stakeholders to an
extent or simply be "finalized" 7 days after a specified vote is taken
for instance. So, an informal Post-Meeting Wrap-Up, Confirmation
Hearing or Validation Meeting may occur where any editorial or minor
things can be "cleaned up" for what was intended to prepare to be
passed into formal record. If that resulted in anything not agreed as
minor or editorial, then someone can move at a subsequent meeting to
restate what was officially passed or amend it accordingly so long as
there's at least an honor system that input from everyone, present
in-person or not and technologically savvy or not could have equal
input and time as each needs and receive a final copy my email or mail
as needed/preferred.
When I attended the last virtual NFB convention proceedings, I wasn't
fully aware how this would revert last year and this year, and I was
too ill the whole time leading up to and during last year's convention
anyway to note much of anything that occurred with the situation. I
apologize if my lack of capacity to address any of the matters going
on at that time escaped me when that time might have been put to good
use over the past year to the benefit of this group instead.
Thanks again and a good night to all!
EOM
On Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 11:31?PM Doula Jarboe via NFB-DB
<nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Rod,
>
>      I thought with at least some caption platforms one is able to control
> how the Braille display interacts.  I have enough hearing that I don't use
> closed captioning or interpreters.  Last night's meeting was captioned so
> there should be a transcript.  Keep in mind that the women who were running
> the meeting aren't used to working directly with us, the DeafBlind division.
> Hopefully you will get a transcript soon from last night's meeting.  I don't
> know everything about what works best for different people.  What I see as
> inclusion may not be enough for someone else with different circumstances.
> That's why we need everyone's voice and experience to come up with something
> that is fully inclusive.  I am on dialysis for kidney failure as well as
> needing oxygen for my lungs, so traveling isn't much of an option for me
> right now.  I'm not saying that my situation and inability to attend
> convention in person makes me less of a member.  But the conventions from
> 2020 and 2021 showed that we can be much more inclusive by using other means
> than just being in person.  So, what do we want for solutions?  Both Carla
> and Shelia are on this list and can take these back to the board.  I'm on
> the national DEI committee which is another place to take ideas about
> inclusion.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Rod and Ele Macdonald
> via NFB-DB
> Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2023 9:27 PM
> To: nfb-db at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Rod and Ele Macdonald <erjmacdonald at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?
>
> Doula,
>
> Excuse me, but I do not have equipment that can provide a virtual solution
> for me; I have not had computer training in over 20 years, and do not have
> access to it; and Zoom does not have features that support braille access.
> Add to that I will soon be 82, cannot physically handle a 4,000-mile trip,
> and do not have SSP support or the stamina to use an interpreter if I did.
> In other words I can not participate in a Zoom meeting and I cannot attend a
> convention.
>
> Does that exclude me from participation? Not even a transcript to follow
> along after the fact?
>
> Rod
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Doula Jarboe via NFB-DB  <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> To:  nfb-db at nfbnet.org
> CC: doula.jarboe at gmail.com
> Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 3:04 pm
> Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] Membership Cancellation?
>
> >
> >
> > 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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