[Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention

Thu Jun 18 16:34:55 UTC 2009

Sherri,
    With the same respect you offer me, I attempted to conduct a fund raiser 
for the NFBF that had the potential for substantial revenue. Unfortunately, 
the venue was not responsive. furthermore, when Merry and I made a 
contribution to the Affiliate as part of our tithes, this contribution was 
treated so lightly as to not be tendered until it was questioned as to why 
it had not been deposited after six weeks. In addition, when we try to raise 
monies for our members to go to convention and to support the march for 
Independence, we are accused of unethical behavior by the President and, 
when we object, are accused of trying to pick a fight!!
    Since our inception, the East Hillsborough Chapter has generally made 
contributions to the NFB after our fund raising efforts. Merry and I have 
given 1/3 of our titheds to the NFB, either to the chapter, the Affiliate or 
to the National level, nearly every month since we have been maried.
    I am still of the opinion that, if the Board is really responsive to the 
membership and is actually concerned with the fiscal health of the 
Affiliate, they would exercise more restraint than to vote themselves $8100 
from our treasury and nothing for the grass roots membership! Perhaps the 
Board should tighten its belts and make an investment in their own 
attendance at national convention rather than using our treasury to give 
themselves a free ride! This would provide funding that could help those who 
need it and would use it responsibly!
    The Board has a feduciary responsibility to its members and they are 
breaching our trust! It makes policies and conducts itself in a manner that 
is in violation of the very constitution we all pledge to abide by!
    If the Board believes in transparency, why have the minutes not been 
posted since January? Why did the Board not let the membership know how much 
it gave itself while not supporting the Chapters? Why was there not a 
complete Treasurer's report given to the membership at convention? How does 
the Board expect the membership to trust it when they do not trust the 
membership!
    I have very little confidence in the Board, as a body. It seems to make 
arbitrary decisions with little accountability to the members who elected 
them to conduct our business. When we question their decisions, we are 
either ignored or given a non-answer. We are told that "everyone needs to 
get along", but at what cost? If you want the membership to support the 
Board, let the Board support the membership! Remember who elected you and 
who you serve!

Sincerely yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
East Hillsborough Chapter
National Federation of the Blind

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; "Dan Hicks" 
<danjhicks at yahoo.com>; "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>; 
<minichiellog at comcast.net>; "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>; "Joe 
Minichiello" <jbmini at comcast.net>; "Gloria Hicks" <gloria at irescue-tax.com>; 
"Dwight Sayer" <REPCODDS at aol.com>; "Betty McNally" <bethmac at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention


> Marion, With all due respect, I concur that transparency is important, 
> however, it should be strongly noted that we have not had a fund-raiser 
> for the last several years. It takes a tremendous amount of funds to 
> operate the affiliate, as I am sure you are aware, and so because we are 
> all part of the NFB family, we need to step up and organize a viable and 
> workable fund-raiser. As a member of the NFBF board, I would certainly 
> like us to have the means to help send many people to the National 
> Convention.
> Sherri
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
> To: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>; "Sherrill O'Brien" 
> <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>; <minichiellog at comcast.net>; "Kathy Davis" 
> <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>; "Joe Minichiello" <jbmini at comcast.net>; "Gloria 
> Hicks" <gloria at irescue-tax.com>; "Dwight Sayer" <REPCODDS at aol.com>; "Betty 
> McNally" <bethmac at bellsouth.net>; "NFBF List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 10:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
>
>
>> Dan & Board,
>>    I find it very interesting that, with only about two weeks left before 
>> convention, the board has made a decision to not support a Chapter's 
>> eforts to send members to convention. Though you mention that, as NAGDU 
>> President,  I could ask NAGDU or national for monies to attend 
>> convention, this is not an option for Tom Goldman or Merry Schoch.
>>    In adition, I also find it interesting that the Board has taken care 
>> of itself first by authorizing to give itself $900 per person well in 
>> advance enough to make arrangements while forcing Chapters to wait for 
>> word on your support. I think it is important for the membership to know 
>> that I have figured that one person can attend national convention, 
>> including air fare, hotel room, banquet, and registration for  about $830 
>> and, if a room is shared between two people, for under $1100 or $550 per 
>> person! It is my understanding that, with the exception of three Board 
>> members who will be sharing rooms with their families, each of the other 
>> Board members will have another Board member as a room mate.
>>    I feel it is fiscally irresponsible and borders on a breach of trust 
>> for the Board to vote to pay itself such an amount while not supporting 
>> the Chapters' efforts to get their members to the convention, the supreme 
>> voice of the organized blind movement. The treasury belongs to the 
>> stakeholder members and it is my opinion that they should be concerned at 
>> the lack of transparency and accountability that is being exhibited by 
>> those we have elected to manage our affairs and entrusted with our 
>> treasury!
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> East Hillsborough Chapter
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>  From: Dan Hicks
>>  To: Marion & Martin ; Sherrill O'Brien ; minichiellog at comcast.net ; 
>> Kathy Davis ; Joe Minichiello ; Gloria Hicks ; Dwight Sayer ; Betty 
>> McNally ; NFBF List
>>  Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:24 PM
>>  Subject: Re: Stipend for Convention
>>
>>
>>  Hello Marion,
>>
>>  The NFBF Board voted not to provide a blanket stipend for chapters this 
>> year. Chapter Presidents -- or individuals -- are free to contact me if 
>> they are attending the NFB Convention and have a financial need. As 
>> president, I can always approve individual grants on a case-by-case 
>> basis.
>>
>>  As NAGDU president, you may be able to get funding from the national 
>> office or from NAGDU itself. I don't know how the organization handles 
>> such things; I'm just offering this as a suggestion.
>>
>>  Dan
>>
>>
>>  "If you are going to walk on thin ice,
>>   you might as well dance."
>>                          - Inuit Proverb
>>    ----- Original Message ----- 
>>    From: Marion & Martin
>>    To: Sherrill O'Brien ; minichiellog at comcast.net ; Kathy Davis ; Joe 
>> Minichiello ; Gloria Hicks ; Dwight Sayer ; Dan Hicks ; Betty McNally ; 
>> NFBF List
>>    Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:34 PM
>>    Subject: Stipend for Convention
>>
>>
>>    Dear NFBF Board of Directors,
>>        I understand that the NFBF Board met via teleconference last 
>> night. One of the items of business that we were told by President Hicks 
>> was on the agenda to be discussed was the amount of the stipend to be 
>> provided to Chapters to assist members planning to attend the National 
>> Convention in Detroit. I would like to know what the decision was in 
>> regard to this. Furthermore, in the interest of transparency, can you 
>> share with the membership what amount each member of the Board of 
>> Directors will receive for this purpose?
>>
>>    Marion Gwizdala, President
>>    East Hillsborough Chapter
>>    National Federation of the blind
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Nfbf-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/flmom2006%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbf-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/swampfox1833%40verizon.net