[Nfb-or] ocb

[T. Joseph Carter]

Don,

At the moment, the only activity with the Commission involves the 
Randolph-Shepperd vending program.

The vending program seems to be the source of constant conflict for 
the Commission.  Numerous Blind Licensed Managers have found need to 
file grievances regarding the Commission's actions over the past 
couple of years.  They end up winning them, too, only to report back 
that the Commission appears to be in violation of the legally binding 
agreements they sign.

Recently, the director of that program at the Commission retired, and 
a new person was promoted in house to his position.  The NFB-Oregon 
has a 2009 resolution opposing this, made before the decision was 
announced.  The new person has of course a six month probationary 
period in his new position, pretty standard.

The elected committee of the vending program has recently issued a 
statement of no-confidence in the new director.  The Commission has 
responded by moving forward with an effort to revoke the license of 
the chair of the elected committee, and the NFB-Oregon has issued a 
letter of support of the elected committee's vote.  I am told the 
ACB-Oregon voted also to support the elected committee, but thus far 
I've not heard that they have issued any public statement.

I was present for a meeting of the elected committee this afternoon, 
though I am not a vendor in the program (and based on what I have 
recently seen, I would not want to be!), at which the committee 
attempted to seek answers as to why they have been shut out of 
decisions they feel fall under the legal mandate that they be given 
full participation.  The new director was present for this meeting, 
but evaded most of the pertinent questions.

Also recent is that the director of the Commission for the Blind 
itself has outlined her plan to eliminate the portion of the vending 
program not operating on state facilities.  Ostensibly, the plan does 
not actually put the overwhelming majority of the vendors (who 
operate these in these state facilities), but it would eliminate the 
legal protections of which the Commission seems to run afoul so 
often.

It is my opinion that several of the vendors have allowed the issue 
to become personal, because the Commission's actions have direct and 
personal consequences to them.  All the same, from what data I have 
available to me, the Commission for the Blind appears to be operating 
improperly and seeking to cover their errors by compounding them, 
refusing mediation and forcing grievances, and wasting taxpayer 
dollars to justify their actions when brought under legal scrutiny.

For me, the issue is not personal.  I do not know the director of the 
vending program, Walt Reyes.  I have only met the director of the 
Commission for the Blind Linda Mock a few times.  I do see a problem 
in the administration of the Commission, and I look to see that 
problem resolved.  The vendors clearly have some long-standing and 
probably valid issues.  Rather than working with them, I see that the 
Commission is presently working against them.

Now, this describes only what I witnessed today.  I cannot say that 
the Commission has not tried to work with the vendors in the past, 
because I don't know that to be true.  I can say that the vendors did 
try to work with Mr. Reyes today.  Admittedly I didn't see from the 
vendors any expectation of cooperation, and they indeed got none.

The last time I was involved in a touchy situation between a client 
and the Commission, the agency operated with professionalism, 
patience, and a genuine concern for the life and livelihood of the 
client in question.  I was happy to work with them.

This is another situation, other clients, and (thank God) I am not in 
the position of advocate or mediator.  Still, I hope the Commission 
will live up to my previous experience.  The ball appears to be in 
their court now.  I'll be watching the issue, but it's not really my 
fight.

Joseph


On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 09:56:31PM -0500, don nepple wrote:
>
>hi what is going with ocb i like too keep up withthings their. all so how arethings going over in oregon.thanks don nepple frum idaho. 		 	   		
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