[Nfbf-l] NFBF President

Mon Apr 27 14:30:03 UTC 2009

Craig,

This is wonderful news!!  I appreciated that you were willing to listen to 
my situation and guide me into resolving it when you attended one of our 
state conventions when you were still with DBS.  Your approachability was 
impressive.

I would consider it an honor and priviledge to give you my vote and to serve 
under your leadership.

Sincerely,
Merry C. Schoch
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "craig kiser" <sckiser55 at earthlink.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 9:32 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] NFBF President

>   I am announcing my candidacy for President of the National Federation of 
> the Blind of Florida.   I was saddened by President Kathy Davis' decision 
> not to seek another term.  Kathy has been a strong and able advocate for 
> the blind and a true and loyal Federationist.  I believe I have the 
> ability to continue building and strengthening our affiliate into one of 
> the NFB's best.
>  My association with the NFB goes back 40 years to my experience as a 
> student at the Iowa Commission for the Blind when Dr.  Kenneth Jernigan 
> was its director.  Learning at the foot of the Master, I gained a deep and 
> abiding understanding of blindness, discrimination, stereotypes and the 
> low self-esteem they produce in blind people.  I learned that teaching the 
> skills of blindness is not enough to gain independence.  Though these 
> techniques are essential, their value is diminished without 2 more 
> factors-adjustment to blindness and public awareness of the true nature of 
> blindness, unsullied by stereotypes and assumptions based on ignorance.
>  Until a blind person properly adjusts to being blind that person is 
> likely to have low self-esteem because one tends to accept common 
> stereotypes and public beliefs, notwithstanding obvious facts to the 
> contrary.  Everyone knew the Earth was flat and many continued believing 
> it even after Christopher Columbus proved it round.
>  Adjustment to blindness isn't simply accepting the fact that one is 
> blind.  It involves accepting and truly believing that blindness can be 
> reduced to more of a nuisance than an absolute block to accomplishing 
> whatever one desires of life.  A gut level belief that blindness is much 
> akin to other nuisances such as being left-handed, wearing glasses, being 
> too tall, too short, too heavy or too thin.  It is believing and carrying 
> out our lives without constantly questioning our ability to do what we 
> want, when we want and in a manner at least as as efficient as our sighted 
> counterparts.  Believing independence is our God-given right.
>  Public awareness of the true nature of blindness is our responsibility. 
> If we don't want government or the public to limit our freedom, we must 
> educate them, in a non-threatening  way about the true abilities and 
> competence of the blind.
>  Throughout the 40 years since leaving the Iowa Commission for the Blind I 
> have tried to conduct myself in accordance with the above principles. 
> Whether it was in my career as an attorney, as City Attorney for 
> Davenport, Iowa, General Counsel for the Florida Department of Banking and 
> Finance, practicing before every level of court from County Court to 
> Appellate Court, the Florida Supreme Court or the U.  S.  Supreme Court, I 
> never shirked my responsibilities  because I am blind.  As Deputy 
> Comptroller of Florida I was the primary regulator of banking, finance 
> companies, the sale of securities and cemeteries.  As Director of the 
> Division of Blind Services I infused these principles into every aspect of 
> the division.  I took what was commonly viewed as one of the least 
> effective agencies for the blind in the country and made it one of the top 
> 5 in just 6 years.  This I did with the support and assistance of the 
> organized blind.  It couldn't have been done without the NFB-BOTH 
> nationally and especially the NFB of Florida.
>  I want now to devote my time and energy to continuing the work of the 
> Federation.    We have much to do and I want to lead the NFBF in making a 
> difference.  Together we can move mountains.  We can change the thinking 
> of government and the public so accessibility will not be an afterthought, 
> but will be a part of planning any construction project or software 
> program.  We can better our transportation situation.  We can convince 
> educators that Braille is essential.  Full independence for the blind 
> truly is within our grasp.   I want to take us there, so I am asking for 
> your support for Craig Kiser as President of the National Federation of 
> the Blind of Florida.  Thank you.
>               Craig Kiser
>               256 Cocoa Lane,
>               Venice, Florida 34293
>               941 244-0236 home
>               850 345-9122 cell
>               sckiser55 at earthlink.net
>
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