[Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter

Sherri flmom2006 at gmail.com
Sun Nov 21 23:59:05 UTC 2010 

But David, you have to have willing people to replace them with! Rachel, 
please don't resign yet! Your state board and NFBF family are behind you.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter


>
> Dear Rachel,
>
> I can understand your situation.  I have been there once or twice too.
> It is true that you can not conduct a proper meeting without a Quorum of 
> Board members, but you can hold a meeting without them.
> If those Board members are not making meetings and have missed 3 meetings 
> in a row, I think that you are justified in using your position as 
> president to replace them by appointing someone else to that position.  I 
> am sure the State Board would support you in this.  I have had to do it 
> myself in the past.
> These appointees would serve out the term of the person they replace until 
> your next regular elections.  This is within your power as the president.
> The worst thing you can do is stop hold or attempting to hold meetings. 
> The chapter is the ultimate authority and if you need support, those 
> members meeting and present can vote funds and take action as long as all 
> members have been warned, through a notice that action will be taken for 
> non-attendance.    Under the constitution, a meeting and be called for and 
> held as long as 3 members agree and a good faith attempt is made to notify 
> the other members with at least 3 days notice.
> Get the membership list for your chapter from Gloria and call some of the 
> people yourself.  Find out why they are missing meetings and encourage 
> them to come.  You can make up some labels and send a one page meeting 
> notice under "Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped."  It 
> just needs to be printed in 14 point type or larger and you need to have 
> your address as the return address along with the words, "National 
> Federation of the Blind instead of your name above your address.  No 
> postage is required.
> Maybe you need to form a newer smaller chapter where the members live 
> closer together and can therefore meeting easier.  Maybe there are too 
> many barriers to them meeting.
> You are in a tough position and I know that you have a lot of forces 
> pulling on you and your time.
> I hope that you will find a way to pull it off.
> I am here to help in any way I can, just don't give up the ship.
> Remember that you must communicate with your members, If you are to fix 
> what is wrong, you need to know what is broke, ask them and then get out 
> the duct tape.
>
> Your friend, David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "rachel" <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>
>
>>I do appreciate all the suggestions very much. The problem is that a 
>>chapter can not run a meeting unless half of the board has shown up. My 
>>board has fallen a part. I am not going to be doing all of the work by 
>>myself. I have way too much going on as it iis and I can't continue to 
>>work with a chapter who does not want to do anything. Something really 
>>must change very soon, or unfortunately I will be  stepping down. Thanks 
>>all again.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:13 AM
>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>
>>> David, Great advise! I am sure she will appreciate this and start to 
>>> utilize
>>> your advise as well! KH
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
>>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 11:50 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear Rachel,
>>>
>>> This is a problem that every chapter faces from time to time.
>>> I would suggest that you ask for a copy of your membership list as it 
>>> was
>>> likely submitted to Gloria when your chapter paid it's dues this last 
>>> year
>>> This will give you a way around your membership person not responding. 
>>> .
>>> You, and or another member you still have contact with, may need to 
>>> share
>>> the list and make some calls to people.
>>> It always takes the most pushing to get the car out of the ditch, but 
>>> once
>>> it is out, it can get going on it's own again.
>>> First get some kind of list and share it with others.  Then 
>>> systemmatically
>>> begin building the chapter up over time.  You can not do it all over 
>>> night,
>>> so be patient, it will come with persistence.
>>> Run your meetings with whom ever shows up.
>>> Establish a regular meeting time and place and stick to it.
>>> You can advertise in your local news under sections called "Community
>>> Calendar" or "Club News."
>>> Submit pieces to the media 3 to 4 weeks in advance of meetings and get 
>>> the
>>> word out to people.
>>> Many churches and community centers have newsletters and ask them to 
>>> include
>>> a note about your meetings as well.
>>>
>>> Developed a "media list" of newspapers, radio stations, and TV station 
>>> in
>>> your area and cultivate contacts with them.
>>> I know you are a student and busier than a one armed paper hanger in a
>>> hurricane, but I know you can do it.  Seek help where you can and they 
>>> all
>>> don't have to be Blind people.  Having a sighted volunteer or two to 
>>> help is
>>> okay.
>>> Just make use of whatever and whoever you have at hand and you will get 
>>> the
>>> job done.
>>>
>>> My chapter limped along with just 7 members for several years until we
>>> established our own chapter newsletter and began sending it out under 
>>> the
>>> "Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Law"
>>> If you need more info on how to do this, I can supply it to you.  It 
>>> cost
>>> almost nothing to do this each month and is a great way to communicate 
>>> and
>>> build your chapter.  .
>>> We found ways to get transportation for our members , over time, and 
>>> then we
>>> just took off and grew.
>>> You know NFB philosophy and so just continue to spread it everywhere you 
>>> go
>>> and to whoever you meet.  BE the example, the role model and just 
>>> believe in
>>> yourself and in the philosophy.
>>> If transportation is an issue, and I bet it is.  Ash some local 
>>> community
>>> service club, like the Lion's Club, to help your chapter members out by
>>> driving them in to your meetings.
>>> You could also ask if they could help you with a small grant to pay for
>>> telephone bill coverage to help you communicate with your board and 
>>> members
>>> or to publish your monthly newsletter.
>>> It can all be done as long as you do not give up looking for a way.
>>> If I can be of help, I live in Boca Raton in Palm Beach County and have 
>>> been
>>> a chapter President and Board member since 1987 when I helped found the 
>>> Palm
>>> Beach County Chapter.
>>> My contact info is as follows:
>>> David Evans
>>> 19601 Carolina Circle
>>> Boca Raton, Fl. 33434
>>> Home: (561) 482-5684
>>> E-mail: drevans at bellsouth.net
>>>
>>>
>>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "rachel" <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
>>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 6:02 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>
>>>
>>>> Thanks so much. I have spoken to my vice president and he informed me 
>>>> he
>>>> is going to something else tomorrow during the same time as our 
>>>> meeting. I
>>>> can't get a hold of my membership persoon, and the fund raiser quitt. I 
>>>> am
>>>> unable to even run a meeting tomorrow. It's really not good!
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> From: "Judith Hamilton" <jrhamilton51 at earthlink.net>
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 5:33 PM
>>>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>>
>>>>> Rachel,
>>>>>
>>>>> Above all, do not panic.  I have been there quite a few times this 
>>>>> year.
>>>>> It is not easy, but please hang in there.  Have you tried 3-way
>>>>> conference
>>>>> calling for your board meetings, prior to the actual meeting?  I know 
>>>>> a
>>>>> lot of folks, especially the elderly ones may not know how to do it or
>>>>> may
>>>>> be on such a fixed income that they cannot afford the charges for it 
>>>>> and
>>>>> will probably have a fit when they see a $2 charge on their phone 
>>>>> bill.
>>>>> Right now that is the charge for AT&T; soon to increase next year to 
>>>>> $3
>>>>> per
>>>>> 3-way call next year.  I know on the Florida west coast there is a
>>>>> different monopoly telephone company, but most older people may hang 
>>>>> on
>>>>> to
>>>>> their landlines and you might be able to use this as an option.  Of
>>>>> course,
>>>>> there is free conference call, which are usually long distance numbers
>>>>> and
>>>>> that might set them off also depending on what plans they have.  I 
>>>>> know
>>>>> this probably is not much help, but I just wanted to let you know that 
>>>>> I
>>>>> understand what you are going through and that you are not alone.
>>>>> Judy
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> [Original Message]
>>>>>> From: rachel <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
>>>>>> To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Date: 11/19/2010 1:25:17 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello. I am having major problems with my chapter and I'm not sure 
>>>>>> what
>>>>> to do! I think I have lost my membership pperson now Raigan! I have
>>>>> e-mailed him and called him and he will not respond to anything. He 
>>>>> has
>>>>> all
>>>>> of the member information. At this point  I don't think I can run any
>>>>> meetings. I am supposed to have ameeting tomorrow but without members 
>>>>> of
>>>>> the board showing up I can't run the meeting. What should I do at this
>>>>> point!
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>> Rachel Jacobs
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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