[Nfbf-l] Dual Membership in NFB and ACB

[JD Townsend]

Dan: excellent job will put I was on the board then and remember this debate well take care JD

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 11, 2013, at 11:20 PM, "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Fellow Federation Members and friends
> 
> 
> 
> There has been some controversy lately about dual membership in the NFB, or
> our affiliate, the National Federation of the Blind of Florida or NFBF; and
> the American Council of the Blind, or ACB, or its Florida affiliate, the
> Florida Council of the Blind or FCB. 
> 
> 
> 
> You may recall that, thirteen years ago, the Board of Directors of the NFB
> of Florida circulated a policy that no person can be a leader in any
> capacity in the NFBF or in any NFBF chapter, division, or committee, if that
> person is a current member of the American Council of the Blind, including
> the Florida Council of the Blind. 
> 
> 
> 
> As you know, the NFBF is required by its constitution and charter and by the
> NFB Pledge, to abide by the constitution and policies of the National
> Federation of the Blind. The above policy, approved by the NFBF Board, does
> agree with national policies, but it really does not go as far as it should.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind does have a policy opposing any dual
> membership In the two organizations. In other words, if a person is a
> current member of the ACB or FCB, that person cannot be a member in good
> standing of the NFB or the NFBF.
> 
> 
> 
> Please remember that this is a national policy and we are required bo follow
> it. 
> 
> 
> 
> Here are some answers to some questions you or others may have, now or in
> the future:
> 
> 
> 
> Why do we have this policy?
> 
> 
> 
> Although members of the NFB and ACB sometimes work together on some projects
> and serve together on the committees and boards of directors of other
> organizations, and although the NFB and ACB share some of the same ideas and
> goals, the NFB and ACB are very different organizations. Some of our goals
> and policies have been directly opposed by the ACB, and I am sure we have
> opposed some of their goals and initiatives, from time to time. Dual
> membership has been compared to being a member of both the Democratic Party
> and the Republican Parties - both parties share some goals and ideals. But,
> they also have some very different objectives and aims. 
> 
> 
> 
> What do we do about current NFBF members who are also current ACB members?
> 
> 
> 
> We simply tell them that they need to choose which organization they wish to
> belong to. We don't do background checks, nor do we comb the FCB rolls for
> the names of our members, who might be secret spies for that organization.
> Sorry, but it is nothing quite so dramatic. We must assume we are all
> honorable people. It's all on the honor system. 
> 
> 
> 
> Can FCB members attend our meetings?
> 
> 
> 
> Absolutely. We encourage others to visit our chapter meetings. This includes
> members and officers of the FCB. However, we need to make sure that our
> policies are clear: They have to decide if they are going to remain members
> of the FCB or are going to become members of the NFBF. This decision need
> not be made immediately or in haste. We want them to be happy with the
> decision, so they will be committed members of whichever organization they
> choose to belong to. However, when they have decided to join the NFBF, they
> need to leave the FCB. 
> 
> 
> 
> Can I still have friends In the ACB and associate with ACB members?
> 
> 
> 
> Of course. Most of us do. Some of us have relatives who are in the FCB. Most
> of us have friends and relatives that are members of a different political
> party. That can make for some very interesting Thanksgiving Day
> conversations!
> 
> 
> 
> We are all free to discuss whatever blindness-related issues we wish to with
> whomever we wish. Treat everyone with kindness and respect and practice what
> you believe in. 
> 
> 
> 
> How can I encourage ACB members to join the NFB?
> 
> 
> 
> We do not seek to actively target those in the ACB/FCB. Invite all blind
> people and interested sighted people to your meetings. Have interesting
> programs and projects for them to learn about and be involved with. People
> who practice the federation philosophy tend to attract others of like mind.
> That may be the best recruiting tool that we have. 
> 
> 
> 
> I hope this little FAQ and this message have explained this adequately. 
> 
> 
> 
> Please remember that this is a national policy, which has been in effect for
> a very long time. The NFB of Florida has had a somewhat weaker policy, which
> was not really in keeping with the national policy, and this is something
> that we are required to change. I think the national policy is a good and
> reasonable policy - I hope the above statements will show you why - but,
> even if I didn't like it, we would still be obligated to follow it by our
> constitution, our charter, and by the very words of the NFB Pledge, which
> reads: "I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National
> Federation of the Blind to achieve Equality, Opportunity, and Security for
> the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
> abide by its constitution." 
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you all for making the NFBF the strong and caring organization that it
> is.
> 
> 
> 
> Dan Hicks, President
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Florida
> 
> 
> 
> "Not all those who wander are lost."
> 
>                           -J. R. R. Tolkien
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/townsend.lcsw%40gmail.com