[Nfbf-l] Washington seminar application
Brian Norton
benorton at samobile.net
Tue Nov 28 18:38:36 UTC 2017
Washington Seminar Delegation Application
Paul Martinez
nfb.fl.scholarship at gmail.com APPLICATION
Fill in your information in the areas marked (type here).
name: (type here)
Brian Norton
Date: (type here)
11/22/17
Address: (type here)
169 White Fawn Drive
City, State, Zip: (type here)
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Phone (Cell): (type here)
The cell phone number above should be the one you will have with you in D.C.
386.871.3359
Email: (type here)
benorton at samobile.net
brian.edward.norton at outlook.com
U.S. Congress, Florida District 6
RON DESANTIS (Republican)
1524 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2706
Fax: (202) 226-6299
desantis.house.gov
--------------
State Office:
120 S Florida Avenue, Suite 324, DeLand, FL 32720
MARCO RUBIO (Republican) Next Election: 2022
284 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3041
Web Site: www.rubio.senate.gov
-------------
State Office:
201 South Orange Avenue, Suite 350, Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 254-2573
Toll Free in Florida: 1-866-630-7106
BILL NELSON (Democrat) Next Election: 2018
716 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5274 Fax: (202) 228-2183
Web Site: www.billnelson.senate.gov
-------------
State Office:
Landmark Two, 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410, Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 872-7161 Fax: (407) 872-7165
Toll Free in Florida: 1-888-671-4091
Make every effort to list your congressperson correctly. No listing,
or an incorrect listing, may negatively influence your application.
Please explain any relationships that you or members of your family may
have with other federal legislators, even if you do not live or vote in
their districts: (type here)
I moved to Daytona Beach to attend School , and will continue to be
student next year at Daytona State College, Paralegal studies program.
I have registered to vote in Volusia as Democrat, and now plan to
reside permanently in Volusia County and obtain employment here upon
completion of school. I previously resided in Crawfordville, Florida as
Democrat and previously was registered and voted in Tallahassee as
active member of Democratic Party.
I worked as volunteer for election of previous U.S. Congressional
Representative Gwen Graham. I also worked as volunteer for election of
President Obama.
Please check all of the following that apply by placing a letter “X” in
between the brackets.
I am a member of a chapter. If yes, which one? (Type here)
Yes, presently active member of Daytona Beach chapter : prior to 2017,
I was active member of Tallahassee Chapter.
[] I am a student.
From April 2017 until November 2017 I have been a student at the
Daytona Rehabilitation Center of the Blind, and will start in January
2018 at Daytona State College , paralegal Studies program
I would like to also attend the Student Seminar.
Yes, I would like to attend student seminar
[] I am a veteran.
No, I am not a veteran
[] I am a senior citizen.
Yes, I am 68 years old.
[] I am a blind merchant.
No, I am not a blind merchant
[] I am the parent of a blind child.
None of my children are blind
[] I have attended Washington Seminar on (type here) occasions.
I have never attended Washington seminar
[] I have never attended Washington Seminar before.
[] I have followed up or called with my federal legislatures’ district
offices to discuss the issues since the 2017 Washington Seminar.
n/a
ESSAY
NFB of Florida would like to know why you should be appointed as a
delegate to Washington Seminar 2018. Please discuss three reasons why
you should be selected: (type here)
1. This past year I attended both the state convention in Orlando and
the full NFB National Convention in Orlando. At the NFB National
convention I was nominated and elected to the National Board of
Directors, Deaf and Blind division, Aleice Eddy President. I also am a
member of the Florida Deaf and Blind chapter and actively participate
with President Darlene Label-Crow. In our numerous frequent
conversations, Darlene encouraged me to apply for the Washington
seminar delegation.
I wish to discuss with congressional representatives and staff
providing better services for the Florida Deaf and Blind community.
2. I have also was fortunate to sit at the same banquet table with
President Denise Valkamer and Miranda Kilby, as we listened to
President Rico Bono during his very informative and inspiring banquet
speech. Last year, I resolved to return to active involvement in
social and political issues. Previous to my retirement , I was a
practicing attorney primarily representing workers in race,sexx, and
disability discrimination cases. I have resolved
to again become an active helpful member of the blind community, and
the NFB has been a positive motivation source.
3. I plan to complete my technology training to become an independent
legal worker next year and work on issues negatively impacting the
blind and disabled community. This involvement as Florida NFB delegate
in the federal legislative process would be helpful to gain more
experience in my future work in NFB legislative issues.. .
The NFB of Florida would like to know how well you understand our
legislative initiatives. Please explain your knowledge about the TIME
Act: (type here)
the Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment (TIME) Act
bill would eliminate an antiquated provision of the Fair Labor
Standards Act that allows the Department of Labor to issue special
certificates to employers so they can pay subminimum wages to workers
with disabilities. When this program was created in 1938, it was an
exercise in charity. Today it is paternalistic and costly. Also, it
fails in its goal of improving economic freedom and employment for
Americans with disabilities.
The TIME Act will responsibly phase out and repeal Section 14(c) of the
Fair Labor Standards Act without raising the minimum wage. The
original intent of this provision was to incentivize businesses to
hire veterans with disabilities after World War I, but it has failed to
achieve this outcome. Rather than increasing the number of workers
with disabilities in integrated, community-based jobs at competitive
wages, the exemption has stimulated an explosion of nonprofit entities
that receive government money, preferential government contracts and
even charitable contributions. While they may have good intentions, in
reality their business models hold Americans with disabilities back.
Nonprofit entities with special wage certificates usually isolate
people with disabilities in what are known as “sheltered
workshops,†where they are hidden from the rest of society and
usually perform menial jobs that are not available in the competitive
economy. Proponents of the sheltered workshop model often argue that
these rograms offer workers with disabilities the opportunity to learn
valuable skills and move on to more competitive and better-paying
work. However, research reveals that 95 percent of all workers who
start out in sheltered workshops never leave. Additionally, people with
disabilities still experience extremely low levels of employment and
excessive dependency on government assistance, meaning the program is
failing in its purported goals.
Research shows that the sheltered workshop model costs more, despite
paying disabled workers less than the minimum wage, but produces less
than investments in customized or supported employment in integrated settings.
NFB of Florida would like to know if you have had any of the following
experiences, check all of the following that apply by placing a letter
“X” in between the brackets:
[] Have written a bill
I only wrote practice legislation as part of law school class while I
was a student at University of Florida Law School.
[] Sent a letter to the congressperson.
Please provide a copy or response from the office
After recieving the letter below,the members of my Tallahassee NFB
chapter persuaded me that phone calls to the various congressional
offices were a preferable Method of citizen lobbying:
From: "Senator Marco Rubio" <Do_Not_Reply at Rubio.senate.gov>
to: <benorton at sero.email>
Subject: Responding to your message
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2016 09:31:59 -0400
Dear Mr. Norton,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me regarding the election. I
appreciate hearing your thoughts and understand how important these
issues are to you and all the residents of our state and nation.
Please note, however, that you have reached my legislative office. Due
to rules under the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics,
U.S. Senate staff and resources are only permitted to handle
legislative policy issues and constituent casework. This office is not
permitted to comment on issues regarding my re-election campaign or the
presidential election, as we have no involvement in political activity.
As a United States Senator, I will keep your ideas and views on policy
in mind while working to promote the principles that benefit all
Floridians and Americans. It is an honor and privilege to serve the
people of Florida. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator
Have received a sponsor or co-sponsor on a bill at the state or federal level
no
[] Participated in a boycott or strike
Only Harvard student strike in 1969 when I was a student during that
anti-vietnam War time period. I also participated in Caesar Chavez
lettuce boycott .
[] Visited with your legislature’s office.
If so which one and which office?
(Type here)
On two occasions , I joined with Tallahassee NFB chapter to visit with
various state legislative offices at Capitol with Johnnie Slaton and
other chapter members.
[] Testified before the legislature at the state or federal level.
Please provide a copy of the testimony
no
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTs
By signing below, you understand and agree to the following:
1. Failure to comply with any requirements of the program, will
lead to ineligibility in 2019.
2. Delegates are expected to arrive by Monday, January 29, 2018 by 4 PM.
3. Delegates are required to make their own flight and shuttle
arrangements to and from the hotel.
4. Delegates must attend the mandatory two hour teleconference to
prepare for the seminar.
5. Delegates must attend the Monday evening training session in
Washington, D.C. unless assigned to another commitment at that time.
6. Following the seminar, delegates will send at least one
follow-up email to at least one of the staff members who attended the
meeting on behalf of the federal legislature in Washington, D.C.
7. Following the seminar, delegates will attend at least one
follow up meeting in the district of the federal legislature.
8. Commitment to attend the NFBF Legislative Committee monthly
teleconference meetings.
Signature of applicant:
Brian Edward Norton type your name here
Date: type the date here:
11/22/17
All active members of local chapters or divisions shall automatically
become active members of this organization, with the right to vote,
serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
Original message:
> Greetings Federation Family,
> The deadline for the Washington seminar application is fast
> approaching. If you or someone you know would like to attend this
> wonderful experience, and is willing to serve as one of our delegates,
> please submit your application by November 30th. No applications will
> be consider after the deadline.
> The application and guidelines are attached for your convenience. If
> you have any questions please feel free to contact me by your
> preferred method of choice.
> Together with love, hope, and determination we will transform dreams
> into reality!!!
> Be well,
> --
> Paul M. Martinez,
> First Vice President
> National Federation of the Blind of Florida Board of Directors
> President,
> Florida State Wide Chapter of the national Federation of the Blind of Florida
> E-mail: Paul09ms at gmail.com
> Phone number:
> 813-390-5720
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind.
> Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
> want.
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