[Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
Rachel Jacobs
oceanrls at hotmail.com
Mon Jun 22 04:01:44 UTC 2009
Dan:
I appreciate a response. In no way was I placing judgment on anyone. I was
simply responding to a concern. Thanks again for responding, and there was
no disrespect intended.
Rachel Jacobs
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
> Dear Rachel,
>
> You are most certainly right that the NFBF needs to raise more funds. This
> is a given, and something that is never far from the minds of any board
> member. The NFBF will be conducting a fundraiser at the convention. I hope
> it is a glowing success!
>
> This year, the NFBF board decided that our limited funds will be more
> well-spent if we help individuals, rather than give blanket grants to
> chapters.
>
> Please consider these points:
>
> 1. As you know, grants are being made to individuals who have a need, on
> an individual basis.
>
> 2. Blanket grants to chapters have never been large. Each chapter is
> responsible for holding its own fund raisers and managing its own
> treasury. It is one of the most difficult and time consuming thing a
> chapter does, but it is vital.
>
> 3. The NFBF does not require that chapters make donations to the
> affiliate. However, chapters who have an NFBF Board Member as a member do
> not have to worry about providing funds for that member.
>
> 4. While NFBF board membership does not require one to attend the NFB
> convention, such attendance is very important. NFBF board members enjoy
> NFB conventions as much as anyone, but we work very hard throughout the
> convention.
>
> 5. The amounts allocated to the NFBF board members may seem large, but
> they are not out of line with allocations which have been made in past
> years. Board members often return monies not used to the treasury. I will
> be returning all of the funds advanced to me, as most of my expenses will
> be covered by the national organization.
>
> 6. Most or all NFBF board members are members of the Affiliate Action
> Committee, which means additional demands are placed on us, including
> financial demands which I will not go into here.
>
> Rachel, while you are at the convention, you, as a scholarship winner will
> have a mentor every day. These mentors are members of the scholarship
> committee, and most of them are presidents of a state affiliate. I
> encourage you to discuss this issue with some of these mentors. As a past
> scholarship committee member and mentor myself, I can assure you, they
> will be happy to discuss this matter -- or any other issue -- with you. I
> can almost promise you that you will come away with a very different
> perspective on this matter.
>
> Of course, as a member of the NFB and the NFBF you have a right to have an
> opinion about the quality of the decisions made by the leadership at all
> levels. However, I would urge you not to be quick to jump to judgment
> without adequate information. Each NFBF board member tries to make
> decisions that will be best for the entire organization at all levels.
> Each board member puts in an unbelievable number of hours per week,
> working for the affiliate. This is in addition to the time needed to lead
> our chapters, and the time needed for family, sleep, and that nasty daily
> business of earning a living.
>
> If I sound like I am lecturing, please forgive me. I really don't mean to
> come across that way. I feel your concern warrants an explanation, and I
> hope you are at least partially satisfied with this attempt.
>
> I also hope that this puts this topic to rest. Again, I encourage those
> who are attending the NFB convention and need some help with funding to
> please write me privately -- that means off-list. All of this talk of
> transparency is one thing, but individual privacy and respect must also
> play a part.
>
> Thank you, Rachel, for writing, and thank you al for reading this lengthy
> message.
>
> Dan
>
> "If you are going to walk on thin ice,
> you might as well dance."
> - Inuit Proverb
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rachel Jacobs" <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
>
>
>> With all respect, I have to agree with Marion on this. I think that the
>> board should have maybe decided this well in advance so chapters could
>> figure out other ways to raise funds for national convention. I do not
>> feel that it is fair for the board to elect for themselves this large
>> amount of money especially when most people on the board will be sharing
>> rooms with one another. I think that it is really important that the
>> NFBF affiliate tries to find ways to raise money. If money is constantly
>> going out and very little is coming in, there will be no money at all
>> pretty soon. I think as members we all need to work together at figuring
>> out ways to raise funds for our state affiliate. I also feel that if the
>> board is going to elect that they each get 900 dollars each, they also
>> need to take the responsibility and find ways to raise funds. After all,
>> we did put our trust in each of you, and we all need to be able to trust
>> one another. I say all of this with respect for each of you.
>>
>> Rachel Jacobs
>> President of the Manasota Chapter
>> ----- 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
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
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>
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