[Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
Dan Hicks
danjhicks at yahoo.com
Sun Jun 21 13:33:35 UTC 2009
This is just to say, Happy Father's Day, to all of the other fathers out
there. Enjoy your kids; enjoy your day!
Dan Hicks
"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: Monday, June 22, 2009 12:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
> 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
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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/oceanrls%40hotmail.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/danjhicks%40yahoo.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/oceanrls%40hotmail.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/danjhicks%40yahoo.com
>
More information about the NFBF-L
mailing list