[Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!

[Dan Hicks]

Carlos, 

Regardless of your stated intentions, I think you are definitely coming off as negative. 

The NFBF State Board of Directors has never forced anybody to attend a convention. We do our best to build and plan the best conventions possible and hope that our members are inspired to come and that they care enough about the organization to take part. 

We sought input before planning the cruise. The CruiseVention 2014 was endorsed by the President's committee. The cost for those attending need not constitute an expense which is significantly greater than has been necessary to attend various landbased conventions. We understand the financial situation faced by many of our members, which is why we are putting so much emphasis on fundraising, so early in the game. I don't know where you get the idea that the board is doing a poor job of planning the convention. That is merely your uninformed opinion, not, as you call it, a fact. 

I think what is causing the buzz on this list is the statement made by Joe Minichiello — endorsed by all other board members, including myself — that our chapters are not allowed to summarily boycott any NFBF convention. It would be ridiculous and malicious for any chapter to consider such action. 

We have had many conventions where a chapter or two are not represented for one reason or another. That is not the same kind of thing as if a chapter were to vote or otherwise decide to avoid the convention out of pique or anger. One of the purposes of our conventions is to come to agreements and to iron out differences. So, if members of a chapter have differences with the currently elected state board, it would be in their best interest to attend the convention in question and either have their grievances addressed or elect a new board. 

Dan   


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-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carlos Montas
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 2:41 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Cc: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!

Good morning to all, although I did not attend the Presidents meeting,  I believe it comes down to weather chapter members wish to attend or not.  Chapter Presidents can push this as much as they can, and if chapter members do not wish to attend then there is nothing that can be done about it. The fact is that there is a 70 percent unemployment rate for people who are blind, or visually impaired. To expect members who already are living on a fixed income to commit to an event that is a year away is asking a lot. I believe that if such an evenT is going to be successful  the leadership needs to do a better job of planning.  I am not trying to be negative just stating the facts.  May you all have a wonderful week 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 13, 2013, at 11:23 PM, petercerullo at aol.com wrote:

> 
> Mr. Chairman,
> 
> Great Job! The only concern during the presidents meeting that sparked my curiosity happened while in discussion about the 2014 CruiseVention. It was stated several times by you Mr. Chairman that there might be some affiliate chapters demonstrating with a notion to boycott this 2014 venture, is that true? For heaven’s sake, we are NFB the largest advocacy body of the organized blind. We stand strong in our efforts, independent, hard working, technology oriented and dedicated in the cause to change what it means to be blind. The challenge on whether this venture is difficult, feasible or affordable should not play a factor, the bottom line is do you want to cruise or not want to cruise. "That simple!"
> 
> Peter Cerullo
> 
> 
> 
> 
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