[Nfb-krafters-korner] To all members

[blindhands at aol.com]

I have spoken to President Riccobono and I had hoped to speak to those who
had some questions and comments on Monday Night Chat.  Only a few folks
showed up and it wasn't the ones that were making the most comments.

I will try to give you the basics of what he had to say.

Our Constitution was created in 2008.  It was read at our first NFB Krafters
Division and was voted on and accepted by the 30 plus people that was
present at that meeting.

Since the people that was running for our board and those who went and
attended that meeting it had been decided that we wanted this to be a
division.  We were given a copy of a constitution of our National board and
that is the example we used.  We had to turn in our Constitution and list of
elected board members before the end of that Convention to Dr. Mauer's
assistant.  That was done.  The division and officers were accepted and
approved by the National board and that is when we became a division.  I had
worked on starting this, organizing it for 10 months prior to that first
meeting.

When I spoke to President Riccobono and my first concern was having enough
people to hold a meeting at Convention and to be able to vote.  President
Riccobono told me that we needed 10 paid members at the meeting in order to
run the meeting and have elections.  We didn't need 4 of them to be
Officer's of our board.  His comment was out of 2000 expected people we
couldn't get at least 10 people to show up for the meeting?

We did have a discussion on being able to vote if we were not physically
there.  He told me that is in the Constitution.  I asked about doing an
Amendment and sending it to our members 10 days prior to our meeting and
questioned him if it could be voted on at our meeting at Convention.  His
reply was we can do that, but it would need to be sent in to National and
voted on to be accepted.  He told me, National would not vote it in as that
is why they put it in the Constitution of National, they want blind people
coming together and that is why they have an annual convention.

I asked him about other options instead of a division.  He told me [as I
asked about: Group status] and he told me Groups do not have an elected
board and they do not have a treasurer.  So if we switched to a group status
we wouldn't have to vote, we would have to give National all our money and
we wouldn't have any "say" on anything.

At this point there is not enough time to do much of anything except go
through with what is planned for Convention.  The Craft Show will take place
on June 30th.  They are trying to get people to help out at the Braille Card
table and spread the word about our meeting.  They are trying to get people
on Friday & Saturday to sit in the exhibit hall to spread the word and
encourage folks to come to our meeting on July 2, Saturday 7 PM to 9 PM.  I
have a feeling this meeting will not last 2 hours.  We just need enough
people to come to the meeting.

Lisa Maria is stepping down from the board, so there is an open spot on the
board.  I had sent an email regarding some folks on the board wanting to
reposition their spots on the board and if they decide to stay where they
are or move   There will be a list of nominations as soon as I touch base
with Ramona and Jill and Cathy as  they are the ones that might be switching
around.

Joyce
 We will deal with that.

I will plan a meeting via telephone the end of July or in August, no later
then mid September.

I will be at Monday Night chat so if you would like to come and chat I will
be there.

Joyce