[Nfb-or] Fwd: [oregon-l] RE: Commission for the Blind needs your support in order to stay a separate agency

[Bill]

I received this  message on the ACB of oregon list.

Bill, VP
Oregon Association of Blind Students
cassonw at gmail.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Deb Marinos <dmarinos at runbox.com>
Date: Fri, May 15, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Subject: [oregon-l] RE: Commission for the Blind needs your support in order
to stay a separate agency
To: oregon-l at acb.org


This bad news was given to me tonight @ 5PM.  The official note is below my
message.  I would like each of you to take the time to call Leaving messages
on voice mail is fine, just be sure to state your name and address for the
record, and your connection to this issue or write personal notes with the
same information.  At the end of the message I will list the members of the
Ways and Means committee, and please also remember to talk your senators and
house legislators. The web site to get information is www.leg.state.or.us.

The talking points includes the fact that no cost savings will be realized.
The same managers would be hired, same counselors, same buildings. The
commissioner would be the only savings, and we don't get paid. We are just a
few hundred dollars each year for travel expenses only ( no lodging, etc).
The admin cost for DHS has traditionally been higher than our admin
expenses. The cost per client rehabbed has also been higher, as well as the
average wages earned by the clients upon closure.  Our agency  has
successful closures of about 110 people each year, DHS is in the 1000's,
what chance would we have to be "special" and get the training needed to be
fully competitive in job market.


Start official message:

I was just informed by the Governor's office that the Governor is
recommending that the Commission for the Blind be "suspended".  This would
mean that the agency would cease to operate effective July 1, 2009 and the
services we provided would be provided by DHS.

It is important to note that the legislature will make the final decision.
This will most likely occur within the next few weeks.

It is imperative that we share this information with all interested parties
so that they can contact the legislature about the value of our services.
Contacts should be made with the Ways and Means Human Services Sub-committee
and the Full Ways and Means committee.

It is important to explain to legislators the need,  value, and cost benefit
of the specialized services we provide to blind Oregonians.  The amount of
state general funds in the Commission's budget is less than 1/2 of 1%.

This is a very serious threat to existence as an agency.

End official message: List of ways and Means representatives   Please share
this information with any who care...family, friends, etc. We need a serious
outpouring of objection to joining the Commission for the Blind with
Department of Human Services
General VR

Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE.,  Salem, OR, 97301

Sen. Margaret Carter, Co-Chair 503-986-1722  Rm S-209
Rep. Peter Buckley, Co-Chair   503-986-1405   Rm H-286
Sen. Betsy Johnson, Vice-Chair  503-986-1716  Rm S-215
Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair  503-986-1413  Rm H-280
Sen. Alan C Bates  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703    RM S-20
Sen. Fred Girod   503-986-1709   Rm S-421
Sen. Rod Monroe  503-986-1724  Rm S-409
Sen. David Nelson   503-986-1729  RM S-211
Sen. Joanne Verger  503-986-1705  RM S-205
Sen. Vicki L Walker   503-986-1707  RM S-309
Sen. Doug Whitsett    503-986-1728  RM S-303
Sen. Jackie Winters   503-986-1710   RM S - 301
Rep. David Edwards   503-986-1430   RM H -384
Rep. Larry Galizio    503-986-1435  RM H-282
Rep. Bill Garrard     503-986-1456   Rm  H-480
Rep. George Gilman  503-986-1455  Rm  H-493
Rep. Bob Jenson   503-986-1458  Rm  H-481
Rep. Betty Komp  503-986-1422  Rm H273
Rep. Tina Kotek    503-986-1444  Rm  H-281
Rep. Dennis Richardson   503-986-1404  Rm  H-373
Rep. Chip Shields   503-986-1443  Rm H-276
Rep. Greg Smith    503-986-1457   Rm H-482

 Please let me know if you need further information or for questions?

Thanks,
Deb Marinos