[Nfbf-l] Happy Father's Day

Mark markspark at bellsouth.net
Sun Jun 21 17:24:13 UTC 2009


Yes, embrace each other, love each other with all your soul and heart, and a 
very happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.
Mark Tardif
You can't hug your loved ones with nuclear arms
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Merry Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:48 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Happy Father's Day


> 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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>
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