[Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies and constitutional requirements

[Tom Bellone]

Sherri I share your concerns as it relates to how an individual can be a chapter President as it relates to the NFBF Constitution.
I will renew my request that the minutes of the NFBF Board meetings be posted for all to review  .
If what you say is correct I join your request that the Board investigate this matter and take appropriate action.
I will look forward to seeing the minutes posted and receiving a report from the Board as to the results of their investigation.
Regards
Tom Bellone

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2014, at 8:09 PM, "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> This is a lengthy message, so be prepared. I am deeply concerned about 
> something that just came to my attention. Not being on the NFBF board, I 
> have only learned about this through conversations with members.
> 
> First, let me say that I have been a member of the NFB since 1979. I love 
> this organization and feel we have done more than any other blindness group 
> to truly *change what it *means to be blind. I would like this to continue, 
> but we must keep our integrity intact.
> 
> Let me give you some background. Around a year ago, the *policy (which is a 
> *policy and not in any NFB *constitution) was discussed whereby if we are 
> members of NFBF, we cannot be members of FCB or any affiliates of that 
> organization. Because of this "*policy,  we lost some valuable members 
> including my good friend and valued Pinellas chapter member Grant Downey, 
> who explained in great detail in a letter why he joined both groups and that 
> he deeply loved the Federation. But because of all the backlash, he resigned 
> his membership. Thus, Pinellas lost a valued member and Newsline lost a 
> great worker. It made me very sad!
> 
> A few months ago, Peter Cerullo NFBF Board member and Greater Daytona 
> chapter president posted an e-mail questioning whether it is okay to have a 
> sighted person i.e. a person who can legally drive a car, as a chapter 
> president.
> 
> It has now come to my attention that we have a sighted chapter president in 
> the state of Florida. I do not point this out to belittle anyone or make 
> light of their capabilities. I am sure this person does a fine job and this 
> is no way meant personally but only as it pertains to NFB philosophy and our 
> constitution. It was brought up at the last board meeting and apparently 
> (and I wasn't there, so can't say for sure) glossed over during the 
> discussion.
> 
> A couple of months ago in our Central Florida chapter, we dissected the NFB 
> pledge. It says we are to *support the *policies and *programs of the 
> Federation and *abide by its *constitution. The NFBF constitution says the 
> following. This also applies to the NFB constitution and to all chapter 
> constitutions. I put a * beside the important words.
> Section One-Officers
> 
> There shall be elected biannually, at the state convention in odd numbered 
> years, a president, a second vice president, and a secretary.  There shall 
> be elected biannually, at the state convention in even numbered years, a 
> first vice president, and a treasurer.  The terms of these officers shall 
> begin at the close of the convention at which they are qualified and 
> elected.
> 
> The president is the chief executive officer of the organization.  The 
> duties of all officers shall be those ordinarily associated with their 
> respective offices.  The *president the *vice presidents must be *blind.
> 
> The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles states the following:
> The Florida DHS&MV's vision standard is 20/50. If worse in one or either 
> eye, you will be referred to a licensed vision specialist to see if it can 
> be improved.
> If one eye is blind, the other must have 20/40. The accepted minimum field 
> of vision is 130 degrees.
> 
> This means if someone has a vehicle operator's license, this is the vision 
> they must have. Of course, restrictions can be placed on licenses. My 2 
> daughters can drive, but were born with congenital cataracts, so I am 
> thoroughly familiar with this. They are quite blind without correction, but 
> this does not qualify them to be chapter president or vice-president 
> pursuant to the NFB constitution.
> 
> So this is my question. I would like to knoe which *policies and *programs 
> we in the NFB of Florida *support and which we *do *not support? If we allow 
> sighted people to be chapter or affiliate presidents, no mattter their other 
> qualifications, I believe we should change our name to the National 
> Federation for the Blind of Florida. In my opinion, if we expect people to 
> resign because they are members of more than 1 blindness organization, then 
> we should also *abide by the *law in our *constitution that says the 
> *president and *vice-president must be *blind.
> 
> I hope that the NFBF board will take my concerns and those of other NFBF 
> members seriously and deal with thismatter. Thank you for taking the time to 
> read this e-mail.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sherri Brun
> 
> Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
> Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one 
> is paying attention.
> Sherri Brun
> NFBF Newsline Chair
> flmom2006 at gmail.com
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