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

[Tom Bellone]

See my attached mail in response to Sherri Brunns recent post
Tom

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Tom Bellone <tom.bellone01 at yahoo.com>
> Date: April 30, 2014 at 9:12:59 PM EDT
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "<NFBF-Leaders at yahoogroups.com>" <NFBF-Leaders at yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies and constitutional requirements
> 
> 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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