[Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
Sherri
flmom2006 at gmail.com
Tue Sep 18 04:25:38 UTC 2012
Thanks for the explanation of the resolution.
Sherri
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Hicks
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 11:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
Hello All,
I was a member of the Resolutions Committee that approved Resolution
2012-04, the Resolution pertaining to Dining in the Dark, which was later
passed by the convention, in which some of us took part.
It was controversial in the meeting, in the convention, and it remains so,
now.
When Peter Cerullo asked me how I felt about the Daytona Beach's chapter's
taking part in the CVI's Dining in the Dark, I told him that I don't think
that the CVI's event as I know it would violate NFB's national or NFBF state
policies - before or after the passage of Resolution 2012-04. This
resolution condemns Dining in the Dark "when it is conducted in a way that
diminishes the innate normality and equal status of the blind in society." I
don't think CVI would conduct the invent in such a negative manner.
Some of the Dining in the Dark activities which have been conducted by
various organizations - hopefully not our own chapters and affiliates - have
not done the blind any good. The example that I gave Peter told of one DiD
flyer which emphasized that all of the food was prepared by sighted persons
working in well-lighted kitchens. This is not something we would want
included in the promotional literature for any of our events.
I believe that Dining in the Dark events, if properly planned, promoted, and
carried out, can leave a positive impression of the capabilities of blind
people in the minds of the sighted and the blind alike. I also believe that
a majority of those voting for the resolution in Dallas would also agree
with that idea. At least, that was how I interpreted what took place on that
day.
I would, however, be interested in knowing if anyone has an opposing view on
this subject. Discussions like this are what this list is for.
Thank you all.
Dan Hicks, President
NFB of Florida
"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."
-Garrison Keillor
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lenora J. Marten
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 6:40 PM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
I think this is a subject that is going to generate some strong opinions and
emotions all the way around, but just to give you all a little insight as to
how NFB National came to writing and then passing this resolution.
As Dr. Mauer read this resolution during general session, there were a lot
of mixed opinions. It was very surprising to hear and really seemed like
such a dramatic approach, to actually condemn the practice of Dining in the
Dark. He did explain that the resolution came about as a result of several
NFB members complaints concerning DID. A blind man in California attended
one of these events as a diner and was told he couldn't enter the
establishment with his cane, as it would give him an unfair advantage over
the other 'sighted but blindfolded' diners. Also, in addition to the article
in the Times that is mentioned in the resolution, he talked about another
article written about DID titled "Dining in the Dark Helps You Appreciate
Your Sight" in which a particularly disturbing statement "For those
assembled, a half hour in the dark was a humbling, and bumbling, reminder of
the magnitude of the gift of sight." And let me tell you, we were very
surprised to find that this article came from our own state of Florida right
from the Tampa Bay Times. The article was from a DID that happened in 2010
hosted by Foundation Fighting Blindness. Below, you will find a link to the
article and a copy/paste of the text.
http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/dining-in-dark-helps-you-appreciate-
your-sight/1078656
ST. PETERSBURG
You knew your plate had been set before you only by sense of smell. It
smelled like beef, something braised and hearty. On your right a voice asked
what you do for a living. You turned and lobbed an answer in that direction.
Tuesday night was the Foundation Fighting Blindness's first Tampa Bay
Dining in the Dark event at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. More
than 200 people, dressed fancy and sipping cocktails, took seats in the main
ballroom and eventually donned something called a Mindfold face mask,
impervious to light and lined with foam. The lights dimmed and as emcee Dick
Crippen of the Tampa Bay Rays goaded the crowd, the group endeavored to
enjoy "the first meal you will never see."
Other senses were heightened, texture became paramount. But more
important, it gave all of the assembled a greater window into the world of
the sightless. Many had come because their lives had already been touched by
degenerative retinal diseases. Briana Pompilus, 24, was there as a volunteer
with her mother Veronica Floyd, 44, who was diagnosed with retinitis
pigmentosa at age 22. Still driving now, eventually her vision will close up
as if looking through two drinking straws.
Mary Lou Johnson Evans was there for a similar reason. Her 14-year-old
son, Josh, suffers from the same disease.
One of the evening's speakers, April Lufriu, a former Mrs. Florida America
pageant winner and president of the Tampa Bay area chapter of the
foundation, spoke of her sister's retinal disease and, more haltingly, about
her two children's recent diagnosis.
Degenerative retinal diseases affect more than 10 million Americans. As
keynote speaker James Minow described it, the foundation's aim is to put an
end to retinal disease by replacing defective cells in the retina, replacing
defective genes and by developing new treatments to protect degenerating
retinas. The obstacle? As is so often the case, it's money.
According to Kim Marlow, regional director of development for the
foundation, the evening in St. Petersburg will raise $100,000 for the cause.
The most successful Dining in the Dark event to date, in New York, raised
$500,000 in a single evening.
The evening's honorees, doctors James Gill and Stephen Klasko, were
feverishly optimistic about conceivable cures for blindness. For those
assembled, a half hour in the dark was a humbling, and bumbling, reminder of
the magnitude of the gift of sight.
Laura Reiley can be reached at lreiley at sptimes.com or (727) 892-2293.
Lenora J. Marten
NFB-Florida Secretary
FOPBC President
NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
bluegolfshoes at aol.com
904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554
-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia A. Lipovsky <plipovsky at cfl.rr.com>
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Mon, Sep 17, 2012 6:16 pm
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
Well said Kathy. Looking forward to this event in October.
Give MS Cloey a big hug for me.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>
To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
> Hello Everyone,
> Let me begin by saying that I am the co-chair of a dining in the
> dark fundraiser for the Center for the Visually impaired located here in
> Daytona Beach Fl. I am totally blind and a founding member of this
> wonderful
> organization. We have never put on such an event so this will be our first
> such activity.
> I did not even know about the resolution that was passed at the
> national convention this summer. I can see where some of the supporters
> are
> coming from; however I do not agree with the fact that dining in the dark
> fundraisers are demeaning for the blind.
> The first Dining in the Dark (DID) fundraiser I attended was
> sponsored by Carolyn Lapp's rehabilitation agency, the Florida Outreach
> Center, in West Palm Beach. It was most informative and fun too. Having
> been asked to be a guest speaker, I was able to address the supporters by
> sharing some of my accomplishments as a blind woman. I will not go in to
> detail about all of that here because most of you are acquainted with me
> since I served on the NFBF Board of Directors for many years and held the
> position of President of the Florida Affiliate for two terms as well as
> founding President of the Greater Daytona Beach Chapter. DID fundraisers
> are
> a marvelous opportunity just to give patrons a brief sense of what it is
> like when someone loses their vision. The really neat thing is that blind
> attendees are able to help out the sighted by serving them more iced tea
> or
> coffee, pouring salad dressing if they have not a clue how to do this and
> the like. In addition, I will be a guest speaker at our own event
> scheduled
> for October 17 and there will be many other blind people in attendance.
> There is great enthusiasm about our forthcoming DID event and I am certain
> that it will be a huge success. Not only will we raise needed funds for
> the
> Center for the Visually Impaired but we will also do lots of educating
> about
> blindness. Naturally I will share with the audience that those of us who
> are
> blind have undergone specialized training plus simple life experiences to
> become as competent as we are. They will understand that we can cook,
> travel
> independently most anywhere we wish, hold varying positions of employment,
> and raise a family.
> Thank you Patricia, Kathy and Toni for chiming in on this matter.
> I'll be the first to let the list know how our Dining in the Dark
> fundraiser
> goes. Believe me, sighted attendees will leave the dinner having a new
> respect for blind people!!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Kathy Davis and new Seeing Eye Dog Chloe
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Mark Tardif
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 10:42 AM
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>
> Hello, Lenora. I was one of the ones not aware of this resolution. I
> think, however, that it is a good one. Obviously, promoters of this kind
> of
> activity have major stereotypes about blindness and the abilities of blind
> people. For example, the idea that blind people cannot cook for large
> numbers of people, and the idea that somehow blind people must have a hard
> time with their table manners, because we cannot see when or if a piece of
> food ends up on the table. I could go on and on. I think maybe the worst
> of these misconceptions is that eating in darkness for the first time
> ever,
> is somehow like blindness for someone who has lived it for many years. In
> fact, those of us who have been blind for many years no better. But the
> worst thing by far, is these promoters, who probably have never talked
> with
> a real blind person, shamefully use this approach to get people to feel
> sorry for blind people and therefore provide funds for their agencies.
> That
> is unethical and atrocious!!!
>
>
>
> Mark Tardif
> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lenora J. Marten
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 5:58 AM
> To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>
>
> Hey everyone,
>
> For those who are not aware, NFB passed a resolution at National
> Convention
> in Dallas that condemns the
> practice of Dining in the Dark.
> You will find a copy/paste of the resolution below.
>
>
> Resolution 2012-04
> Regarding Dining in the Dark
>
>
> WHEREAS, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of
> eyesight but the widespread public misconception that the blind are not
> equal to the sighted in society; and
>
> WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind categorically
> rejects the myth that the blind are not equal to the sighted; and
>
> WHEREAS, programs of the National Federation of the Blind teach
> and promote a positive understanding of blindness, that the blind are
> normal
>
> and equal members of society, and that blindness does not mean
> inferiority;
> and
>
> WHEREAS, an activity known as "dining in the dark" is being
> promoted and used to raise funds by having sighted people experience
> blindness by eating in the dark; and
>
> WHEREAS, an article published in Time magazine entitled "Dining
> in the Dark" assures would-be diners that the cook "works in a well-lit
> kitchen"; and
>
> WHEREAS, the Dining in the Dark
> website--www.dininginthedark.org--states: "you will pick from a specially
> prepared menu (designed by a sighted local 'star' chef)" and "In darkness
> everyone becomes equal. Our opinions can't be molded by dress, mannerisms,
> or makeup as none of it can be seen. You learn that without sight your
> other senses become more acute"; and
>
> WHEREAS, these statements lay bare the underlying philosophy of
> dining in the dark, that sight means superior ability, and that, when
> sight
> is removed in the dark, the blind and the sighted are equal: Now,
> therefore,
>
> BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
> Convention assembled this fourth day of July, 2012, in the city of
> Dallas,
> Texas, that this organization condemn and deplore the use of dining in the
> dark in a manner that diminishes the innate normality and equal status of
> the blind in society; and
>
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization pursue an active
> policy of opposition to dining in the dark activities and events,
> including
> use of media and public protests, whenever and wherever such activities
> and
> events exploit blindness and blind people based on a demeaning philosophy.
>
>
>
> Lenora J. Marten
> NFB-Florida Secretary
> FOPBC President
> NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
> 904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554
>
>
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