[NFBF-L] My resignation

Thu Jun 1 14:16:56 UTC 2023

For all the reasons that have been said, i am here to pile on and agree. The Treasure Coast chapter recently had a constitutional committee meeting to shore up and clarify a few small items for us. During the meeting, it was mentioned that maybe we should look to allow virtual participation to allow for maximum membership benefit. I wasn’t aware of National or, i guess specifically the National President’s personal feelings on the subject. Based on the understanding that a proposal mentioning any changes like that would meet almost certain immediate rejection, we cowed and slinked back into the shadows to fight another day. 

I don’t speak for all but i certainly speak for the majority of the Treasure Coast when i say we love and support the idea of virtual participation in voting. We don’t particularly love and support onstructionists to that end.

All the best!
-Joe
772.521.5563

> On Jun 1, 2023, at 9:33 AM, NancyEpps--- via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi, Federationists,
> 
> Another organization I belong to has recently banned digital board meetings, and I did not agree with that, either. We have a board member who is in the hospital, several are traveling at this time of year, etc., and I don’t feel they should be excluded from participating in important decisions if they want to attend by Zoom, Teams, etc. I teach microbiology, a rather difficult course, primarily online, and it works fine.
> 
> Brian, please speak with Russ and make a plan to talk with national about this vexing overreach. It would be helpful to at least understand their logic. Ryan’s comparison to local and national elections is valid. We demand a secret ballot in those cases.
> 
> Respectfully,
> 
> Nancy
> 
>> On Jun 1, 2023, at 9:22 AM, Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello Ryan and interested NFB members,
>> Our chapter membership is very active, and we enjoy meeting in person.
>> However, during our once a year elections, I agree that our local chapter should decide how we should vote on our officers and board. 
>> We should encourage election rules which promote greater participation of that decision-making group.
>> It should be up to our chapter membership not the National or State boards to conduct our local elections. There always exist exceptional or unique different individual situations where remote participation is the democratic solution as determined by a clear majority of our chapter. and our chapter should be the appropriate body to consider and decide the best determination in those circumstances to comply with ADA standards.
>> 
>> Our chapter membership is already limited in selection of our state and national officers by the rule that voting is limited to those few NFB members who personally attend the conventions. Those state and national officers are often a small self-perpetuating group, and many NFB members who are very active on the local level are unable to attend the state and national conventions.
>> 
>> Our NFBF local GDB chapter  should encourage growth of active  members with rules encouraging inclusive participation, and avoid restrictive rules which deny full participation, especially for members who can participate only remotely because of health or other excusable individual circumstances.
>> 
>> Also, our local NFBF Greater Daytona Beach chapter members are often close friends, and we should avoid conflicts sometimes caused by choosing between friends, and vote instead by secret ballot.
>> I appreciate the concerns of Mary Ellen, and am sorry that these restrictive chapter voting rules caused the resignation of our valued board member.
>> Brian Norton
>> Florida Bar #1033481
>> Regional Civil and Criminal Conflict Counsel 5th District Florida National Federation of the Blind of Florida NFBF Greater Daytona Beach President NFBF Deaf Blind Division President Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired Board Member First Christian Church  Daytona Elder&trustee
>> 386.871.3359(cell)
>> 386.238.4959RCC office)
>> bnorton at rc5state.com
>> brian.edward.norton at outlook.com
>> briannorton.flalaw at gmail.com
>> “Kindness is an attitude the Blind can see and the Deaf can hear” Mark Twain
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ryan Mann <rmann0581 at gmail.com> 
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 8:44 PM
>> To: Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com>
>> Cc: Peggyfleischer at bellsouth.net; Nancy Epps <nancyepps at cfl.rr.com>; ironman59 at gmail.com; briannortonflalaw at gmail.com; Russell at radiorusty.com; paul09ms at gmail.com; treasurer at nfbflorida.org; secretary at nfbflorida.org; curlygirl55 at icloud.com
>> Subject: Re: My resignation
>> 
>> I respect Maryellen for taking this stand.  I think local chapters should have more control over things such as elections. They tell local chapters that we cannot do elections virrtually.  The national organization does not know what health problems chapter members may have.  Maybe somebody doesn’t feel comfortable being in large groups of people because of certain health problems.  Should somebody like this be denied the right to fully participate in the organization?  
>> The organization made it a lot more difficult to vote using secret ballots.  In the past, the national organization went to court so we could vote using secret ballots in US elections.  If local chapters want to easily have secret ballots, why should the national organization discourage that?  
>> 
>> Ryan Mann
>> Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist rmann0581 at gmail.com
>> 386-383-5175
>> 
>> 
>>> On May 29, 2023, at 1:52 PM, Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com> wrote:
>>> Hello NFBF officers, board members, and chapter members, With regret, 
>>> I have included the resignation letter of our board member Mary Ellen, which I announced at our May chapter meetings.
>>> I also announced my appointment of Steve Williamson to replace her  position.
>>> I am very grateful for her service in our chapter, Brian Norton NFBF 
>>> Greater Daytona Beach President
>>> 386.871.3359
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Mary Ottman <curlygirl55 at icloud.com>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 11:42 PM
>>> To: Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com>
>>> Subject: My resignation
>>> 
>>> Dear President Norton:
>>> 
>>> I am resigning my position as a board member of the Daytona Beach chapter of the national Federation of the blind effective immediately. I am doing this because I am displeased with the heavy handed leader ship from our national organization.
>>> 
>>> I wish you and all of our members well.
>>> 
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Mary Ellen Ottman
>> 
> 
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