[Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies andconstitutionalrequirements

Fri May 2 13:42:53 UTC 2014

Find the original post from Sherri and read it.
Thank you,
Holly

On Fri, May 2, 2014 at 9:34 AM, Darlene Laibl-Crowe <dlaiblcrowe at att.net>wrote:

> I didn't know this information that Holly mentioned.  We have someone who
> is
> continuing to drive as president of our affiliate?
>
> I joined NFBF February a year ago...so I don't know much about the outdated
> rules but I do know that bylaws should be monitored and adapted as needed.
> Just like the laws of the land.  If one law is not being enforced, then we
> have to do the same with others.  Being selective about the laws is not the
> way to go.  I do hope there is a committee set up to do something about
> these outdated laws.  Yes, it might take some work but don't you think it
> is
> time?
>
> Here is another way to look at it...we expect the United States of America
> congress to update their laws to help us, right?  We don't want our lives
> governed by outdated laws.  Lobbyists advocate for groups to make sure that
> doesn't happen.
>
> This reminds me of the verse in the Bible that says to look at the plank
> that is in your own eye.  Before we can make changes, shouldn't we start
> within?
>
> Darlene
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patricia A.
> Lipovsky
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 8:39 AM
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies
> andconstitutionalrequirements
>
> yes Holly, I do think that definitely does need to be dealt with, but my
> comments were geared more toward the duel membership situation.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Holly" <hbeanie at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 8:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies
> andconstitutionalrequirements
>
>
> >I think we have lost sight of the "REAL" issue. The issues is that  we
> have
> > a President in the NFBF who holds and utilizes a drivers license. This is
> > against the constitution in our chapter, at the state level and at the
> > National level.
> > Holly
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 7:12 PM, Patricia A. Lipovsky
> > <plipovsky at cfl.rr.com>wrote:
> >
> >> Well, here I go again, sticking my neck out.  I wasn't going to say
> >> anything, but I feel the need to put my two sense in, as I have friends
> >> in
> >> both organizations with whom I respect and value very much and have a
> >> great
> >> friendship.
> >>
> >> As most of you know, I am, well, dot was, a member of both
> organizations,
> >> but because of this technicality, just belong to one now..  Although I
> do
> >> understand this philosophy of belonging to only one, kind of like being
> a
> >> Republican or Democrat, I personally think that we are all working
> toward
> >> the same goal, no matter which organization you belong to, we all want
> >> the
> >> same thing, and that is acceptance, equality, and the right  to live our
> >> life as normal as possible, and be respected and treated like normal
> >> people, what ever normal is, smile.  Although the two organizations do
> >> not
> >> always see eye to eye, I don't think we should be in competition with
> >> each
> >> other, but should try to work together when ever possible.  As I see it,
> >> this division will not make this possible.  We need to come together to
> >> work together, not divide to conquer, which is what I'm afraid is what's
> >> happening.  The only difference is sometimes we may use different
> >> approaches to handle things... So what?  No big deal...
> >>
> >> We live in a democratic society, where we are free to make our own
> >> decisions.  Why is one person making decisions for this whole
> >> organization?
> >> That is not democratic, but a dictatorship.  Is that what NFB is really
> >> all
> >> about? Can someone please explain this to me?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tinetta Cooper" <tanetjec at gmail.com
> >
> >> To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 3:20 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies
> andconstitutional
> >> requirements
> >>
> >>
> >>  Hi Sherri,
> >>>
> >>> I believe that if we are abiding by the letter of the constitution, as
> >>> we
> >>> did with dual membership, we need to only elect blind presidents for
> >>> Florida
> >>> chapters. The Tallahassee Chapter also lost a few good members as part
> >>> of
> >>> the dual membership sweep, but at least one of these members still
> >>> attends
> >>> meetings without taking a part in active membership.
> >>> This is my personal opinion, and in no way means that it is absolutely
> >>> correct.
> >>>
> >>> Respectfully,
> >>>
> >>> Tinetta Cooper
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherri
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 8:09 PM
> >>> To: NFBF-Leaders at yahoogroups.com; nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> >>> Subject: [Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies and constitutional
> >>> requirements
> >>> Importance: High
> >>>
> >>> 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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> >>>
> >>>
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "God gives you 86,400 seconds in a day. Take one to say Thank You."
> > Walter A. Ward
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-- 
"God gives you 86,400 seconds in a day. Take one to say Thank You."
Walter A. Ward