[NFB_of_Georgia] {Disarmed} Fwd: (Time Sensitive) Invitation to Enroll as an Eligible Voter for 2020 National Convention
Dorothy Griffin
dgriffin at nfbga.org
Fri Jul 3 16:49:25 UTC 2020
Please read in its entirety for important information. Share with chapter
members that are registered for the national convention.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: National Federation of the Blind <postmaster at nfb.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 2, 2020 at 4:36 PM
Subject: (Time Sensitive) Invitation to Enroll as an Eligible Voter for
2020 National Convention
To: National Federation of the Blind <postmaster at nfb.org>
[image: National Federation of the Blind logo: Map of United States with
many brightly lit points and connected lines; text reads 2020 National
Convention]
*NFB20 Voting Enrollment Details: Time Sensitive Information*
This message is to invite you to enroll as a voter for the 2020 National
Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Please read and act on
this email in a timely fashion. Note that voter enrollment is optional but
all eligible members are encouraged to participate actively in the
Convention proceedings. One of the most important components of our
democratic organization is the voice of its members. One way in which we
make our voices heard is by voting—electing our leaders and passing
resolutions that guide the organization’s activities.
Because you are a member of the National Federation of the Blind and have
registered for the 2020 National Convention, you are eligible to vote
during our general sessions. We have arranged for a voting platform that
will allow you to vote via SMS (text message) or by phone. However, before
you can vote during the convention, you must first enroll the phone number
you’ll use to vote. This is necessary to ensure the integrity of our voting
process. Similarly, because only convention-registered members are eligible
to vote, you should not forward or share this email with others.
*Enroll Today*
The enrollment process is straightforward and can be done in three easy
steps using a web browser.
1. Visit https://www.nfbvote.org
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17647&qid=3886722>.
2. Enter your first name, last name, and the phone number from which you
are planning to vote. Please use the same form of your name you used to
register for the convention (e.g., Robert or Bob). While the phone number
doesn’t need to match the one listed when registering for the convention,
it is imperative that you enter the phone number you’ll be using to vote
during the convention.
3. Click the submit button to finalize your enrollment. You will be
redirected to a confirmation page indicating a successful enrollment.
That’s it. That’s all there is to it. But wait! There are two additional
important details. First, you MUST enroll to vote by 12:00 p.m. EDT on
Sunday, July 12. No late enrollments can be processed. Second, you should
read the proposed principles of engagement being recommended to the
Convention by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the
Blind. This document, which follows below, is being proposed to the
Convention as the voting process during our virtual convention this year.
This proposal will be offered to the Convention for consideration. As it
proposes a number of procedures that are different from the process
followed in our in-person conventions, we urge you to read it carefully.
Once the enrollment window has closed, enrolled voters will receive
additional information about the voting process to help prepare for the
floor votes that will be held during the convention.
*National Federation of the Blind Proposed 2020 National Convention
Principles of Engagement*
These principles of engagement were adopted by the National Federation of
the Blind Board of Directors on Thursday, June 25, 2020, for recommendation
to the Convention.
Nothing in these rules of engagement is intended to change Article V,
Section A of the Federation’s constitution. The Convention remains “the
supreme authority of the Federation. It is the legislature of the
Federation. As such, it has final authority with respect to all issues of
policy. Delegates and members in attendance may participate in all
convention discussions as a matter of right. Any member of the Federation
may make or second motions [and] propose nominations.” These procedures
simply implement the method for following the constitution in an electronic
convention.
The below principles and procedures are intended to provide clarity and
advanced notice on how the convention will be managed in 2020. This
document will be read at the NFB board meeting on July 15 and then a second
time on July 16 after the roll call of states. The intention is for it to
be voted on the evening of July 16. Those eligible to vote on this proposal
will be any enrolled voters present and voting at the session on July 16 as
described below.
A subcommittee of the Board of Directors comprising those who are not
standing for election this year shall deal with questions and issues of
credentials for voting. The subcommittee will include Denise Avant,
Illinois; Everette Bacon, Utah; Norma Crosby, Texas; Ever Lee Hairston,
California; Joe Ruffalo, New Jersey; and Terri Rupp, Nevada. Everette Bacon
shall chair the subcommittee.
*Voting*
1. Every member in good standing who registered for the convention by
June 15, 2020, will be offered an opportunity to enroll in the NFB20 voting
system. All voters must be enrolled by July 12, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. EDT.
2. All individuals who are members, are registered for the convention,
and who opt into the voter enrollment system by the specified time, will
constitute the pool of convention voters.
3. All voting will be done via SMS (text message) or by phone.
4. Any matter must receive 51 percent support of the votes cast by the
convention voters present and voting in order to be affirmed.
5. Present and voting will mean the subset of convention voters who
actually cast a vote on a given question. Thus, voters who are indifferent
to a matter cannot block its consideration by the Convention by choosing
not to cast a vote.
6. All votes will be allocated two minutes for vote time.
7. After two minutes, if the outcome to the question under consideration
is unclear, the chair will poll the delegates by voice vote for a
definitive outcome.
8. If voting indicates 75 percent support for or against a question
prior to the two-minute period elapsing, the chair may elect to move to the
next order of business.
9. An opportunity to practice voting will be offered in the convention
on a question that has no impact on the policy of the organization.
*Motions and Nominations from the Floor*
1. Only delegates will be able to make motions, second motions, and
nominate candidates from the floor during the convention.
2. Should a member of a delegation wish to make a motion or nominate a
member for election by the Convention, their delegate must bring it forward
on their behalf.
3. A member may petition another delegate to support their motion,
especially if the delegate from their own state will not support the motion.
*Resolutions*
1. Resolutions to be presented to the Convention must proceed through
the resolutions committee process as usual.
2. Resolutions being recommended to the Convention by the committee will
be posted to the web at http://www.nfb.org/resolutions
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17648&qid=3886722>
by
8:00 p.m. EDT or three hours after the committee meeting (whichever is
later) on July 15, 2020.
3. Affiliate delegations will be encouraged to discuss resolutions
during their state caucus on July 17.
4. Those wishing to speak for or against a resolution on the floor of
the Convention must submit their interest in doing so by sending an email
to resolutions at nfb.org
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17649&qid=3886722>
by 5:30 p.m. EDT on July 17. The email must contain the individual’s full
name, state affiliate, the number of the resolution they wish to discuss,
whether they are for or against the resolution, and a phone number where
they can best be reached in case there is an issue with the Zoom platform.
5. Reminders will be given at each of the general sessions prior to the
deadline regarding the above process.
6. In determining the amount of debate a resolution requires, the chair
may use the Zoom polling option to get a sense of the crowd, ask the
delegates for their feeling on cutting off the debate, or engage some other
strategy outside of the voting system to gauge the sense of the Convention.
[image: Facebook Logo]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17650&qid=3886722>
[image: Twitter Logo]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17651&qid=3886722>
[image: Instagram Logo]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17652&qid=3886722>
[image: YouTube Logo]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17653&qid=3886722>
[image: Email Icon Image]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17654&qid=3886722>
[image: Donate to the NFB Icon.]
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17655&qid=3886722>
*National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | 410-659-9314 *
*Unsubscribe
<https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=14538&qid=3886722&h=def764c92bd00725>
| Opt Out
<https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=14538&qid=3886722&h=def764c92bd00725>
| Sign Up for Our E-newsletter
<https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17656&qid=3886722> *
*.. *
--
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
More information about the NFB_of_Georgia
mailing list