[Nfbf-l] Happy Father's Day
Merry Schoch
merrys at verizon.net
Sun Jun 21 16:48:46 UTC 2009
Happy Father's Day to all you Dads. I know there are some out there who
don't have their children on this earth to share this day. I held in my
arms at church today a 12 year old whose just lost her Dad last month. So,
parents and children embrace each other!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Stipend for Convention
> 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
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
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