[Nfbf-l] NFBF President

[rjs059 at peoplepc.com]

Amen!
----- 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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