[Nfb-idaho] FW: [RSVENDORSCOMMITTEE] Rest Area Commercialization

[Colleen McFadden]

From: Travis Beck [mailto:Oasisvending06 at aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2017 8:11 AM

From: Terry C Smith <terrysmith at EPBFI.COM>
Date: October 4, 2017 at 4:56:44 PM MDT
To: RSVENDORSCOMMITTEE at LISTSERV.ED.GOV
Subject: [RSVENDORSCOMMITTEE] Rest Area Commercialization
Reply-To: rsvendorscommittee list <RSVENDORSCOMMITTEE at LISTSERV.ED.GOV>

Dear Committee Chair:  Please see the message below from NABM President Nicky Gacos.  Rest area commercialization is still on the table and we need to keep the heat on Congress.  We are hearing that our message is getting through and that members of Congress are questioning some of the public / private partnership initiatives being floated about.  We need to make sure our issue is at the forefront of their thinking.  Help us generate as many letters as possible to Congress.  I know that when we first sent out th link, some had problems.  If anyone has a problem using the site for any reason, they can email their name, home address, email address, and telephone number to me and I will take care of it. 

Thanks!

Terry Smith 

 

Hello All: Several weeks ago, we circulated a link that would allow you to send letters directly to your members of Congress expressing concern over proposed legislation to allow commercialization of the interstate rest areas. Such legislation would be devastating to blind vendors who operate vending at interstate rest areas and to SLA’s who rely on funds from third party vendors at these sites to operate their program and to offer benefits to their vendors. Rest area commercialization would result in almost 400 lost jobs, the loss of fringe benefits for hundreds, and lost revenue with which to operate the programs.

We’ve had a good response so far; however, with summer over, the kids back in school, and BLAST out of the way, it is time to ramp things up again. Please go to https://nfb.constituentvoice.net/nfbaction/us-nabm_online_letter_to_congress_commercialization and register your concerns. It will take you less than 2 minutes.

Once you have sent your letters, please:

1. Ask friends and family to do the same;
2. Post it on your Facebook page and/or Twitter account and ask all of your social media friends to log on and send letters;
3. Forward this email to every vendor in your state and stress the importance of letting their voices be heard. 

Together, we can make a difference. ACT NOW!

Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants