[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and choosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements

Thu May 1 15:51:04 UTC 2014

Good for you, Peter! 

 I know several years ago, I wouldn't have wanted to wear a lseep shade because I could still see but now, in hindsight, I wished I had.  I was NOT prepared for the increased vision loss and I struggled.  You never know if you are going to lose more vision or all of it, so wearing a sleep shade gives some indication of what could happen.  It is kind of like 'sensitivty training' which is what the sighted world needs so they can empathize with what we go through!  

Wearing sleep shades is part of the learning experience...the journey.

Darlene

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 8:39 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and choosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements

Good morning everyone,

    If an agency or other program sets a policy that students with remaining vision in training must wear sleepshades there are two choices, get over it and abide by the agency's policy, or find another program more to your liking. Remember that decisions and disagreements come with consequences that could determine your level of independence. Sleepshade training predates the NFB's use of it so we were not the first to think it up. It has proven it's weight in gold so get all you can out of a training program and don't let your disagreements prevent you from living an independent and full life.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message -----
From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and choosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements

>I think this is part of the reson why I do not wish to renew my 
>membership in the NFB, because I disagree with some things. First, 
>while wearing sleep shades may be alright for some people, other people may not agree with it.
>It should be up to the mobility instructor and the client. Another 
>thing is, I'm getting the sense Florida isn't following the national 
>office when it says to do something, we do it, no questions asked. The 
>ACB is more unified than NFB is on some things. My friend Rhonda who 
>lives here in Okeechobee, wants me to join the St. Lucie chapter, but 
>she thinks I should run for office, but they've already have officers 
>in that chapter. While she sees something in me, I just do not see 
>myself a member of the national federation of the blind. I personally 
>believe that FCB would be a good fit for me personally. It is a personal choice, and nothing againist anyone.
>The national federation of the blind has lost messege, and I do not 
>want to be a part of an organziation that is not on messege. RJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Holly" <hbeanie at gmail.com>
> To: <NFBF-Leaders at yahoogroups.com>
> Cc: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 10:41 PM
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and choosing  
>NFBpolicies and constitutional requirements
>
>
>> Sherri,
>> I totally agree with you. I feel that some of the policies are out 
>> dated such as the dual membership. I know that the statewide chapter 
>> lost a fundraiser due to this policy.
>> We, the NFBF can't pick and choose which policies we follow. Your 
>> post was very well written and thought out. I hope the State aboard 
>> is just as concerned as you and I are on this matter. If this gets 
>> brushed under the rug...what else doesn't matter to our State Board?
>> I used to drive, some people believe that if I lived in Georgia I 
>> could drive again, each state has their requirements. I don't know if 
>> this is correct or not, but I do know that I truly miss it. More on 
>> days like today, when I walk home in the rain and have to go get the 
>> baby another
>> 3/10 of a mile from the house. But the fact is that I can't drive a 
>> car, I have an electric motorized pedal bike. Since it has pedals it 
>> is legal for me to ride. When Peter's email came out, I thought he 
>> was writing it about me. My bike does not have a tag, it is not 
>> registered and does not require a drivers license.
>> It will be interesting how this issue is resolved at a State Level.
>> Holly Idler
>>
>>
>> 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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