[NFBF-L] My resignation

Fri Jun 2 20:11:05 UTC 2023

Greetings All: 

I have been carefully following this email thread and feel, as both Second Vice President and co-chair of our Constitution Review Committee, to comment. I hope this will make our organizational viewpoint on this matter more clear. We are an in-person organization. It is our fellowship with one another that makes us strong as individuals, chapters/divisions, affiliates and a national organization. During COVID, it was necessary to conduct our business virtually in order to continue our movement. Now it is time to return to business as usual. This is the policy of the National Federation of the Blind and we pledge to abide by not only its constitution, but to support the policies and programs of the Federation. This policy may change in the future, but this is what it is right now.  

The Florida Statewide Chapter and, in fact, all at large chapters in the National Federation of the Blind vote virtually due to the structure and nature of those chapters; it is specifically listed in their constitutions and they are the only chapters allowed to vote in a virtual manner. While a chapter may amend their constitution, there are protocols that govern those amendments. All amendments to constitutions must be passed not only by the affiliate board, but also by our national President. At the current time, virtual voting is not an appropriate amendment to a constitution, unless such chapter is an at large chapter. As a reminder of constitutional procedure, no chapter may have a constitution that is in violation or that exceeds the authority of the state and national constitutions. I urge all that are considering amending their chapter or division constitution to keep this in mind and remember that we all fall under the aegis of our state and national constitutions. 

Sincerely, 

Camille Tate 

2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida 

President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida 

Phone: 321 372 4899 

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tom Moore via NFBF-L
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 3:10 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tom Moore <tommym2006 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBF-L] My resignation

Ok,

So as things stand right now by default all voting must take place in person unless the chapter’s constitution has an allowance for this adaptation of the rule set?

If this is how things work then chapters can change this if they wish there just has to be an official modification procedure to make this happen.

This is a process that could be taken care of by most chapters in a 6 month period based on local needs then

Tom

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Paul Martinez via NFBF-L
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2023 11:09 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Paul Martinez <paul09ms at gmail.com <mailto:paul09ms at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: [NFBF-L] My resignation

Greetings, Tom,

I hope you are having a wonderful morning. I thank you for giving your input on this matter. However, there is a couple things that I would love to make sure everyone understands. Every chapter has their constitution, which they can always look at. The Florida State Wide Chapter constitution says that we will vote virtually every year in the month of February. 

Paul M. Martinez

President, national Federation of the blind Florida

813-390-5720

With love, hope and determination we transform dreams into reality

On Jun 1, 2023, at 5:05 PM, Tom Moore via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

If the policy of the federation is to have all voting take place in person then how does the state wide chapter operate at all?

Based on what I have been told the state wide chapter is for people who live in areas that do not have a local chapter formed yet.

If one chapter in the state is allowed to do any form of virtual voting / operating then this should be extended to other chapters as well for members who cannot attend physical meetings.

IF voting in person is a hard requirement for any voting to take place then at least one of three things will occur.

1.	Membership in the state wide chapter will increase based on people’s want to have a say and the only way they will feel they will be able to have their voice heard is to join the only chapter that will allow full virtual participation.
2.	Local chapters will disagree with this policy and take virtual voting entries and just not report them honestly to keep their local membership from decreasing or penalizing their members based on the fact that they are unable to show up in person.
3.	Nfb membership in the organization will decline based on outdated practices and associated policies over time.

We should also remember that this requirement was lifted when the Nfb wanted to have a national convention and people could not attend physically and they allowed virtual voting. If it was lifted for this case then there is a precedent  for this type of situation.

Each chapter should have some say as to what their operating procedures and practices should be as long as they do not stray too far from what national’s expectations are in general.

Tom

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Joe Chite via NFBF-L
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2023 10:17 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Joe Chite <cjchite at gmail.com <mailto:cjchite at gmail.com> >; curlygirl55 at icloud.com <mailto:curlygirl55 at icloud.com> ; Judy Adkins <coffeycup1967 at gmail.com <mailto:coffeycup1967 at gmail.com> >; peggyfleischer at bellsouth.net <mailto:peggyfleischer at bellsouth.net> ; NFB-GDB listst <nfbf-daytona at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-daytona at nfbnet.org> >; ironman59 at gmail.com <mailto:ironman59 at gmail.com> ; nancyepps at cfl.rr.com <mailto:nancyepps at cfl.rr.com> ; briannortonflalaw at gmail.com <mailto:briannortonflalaw at gmail.com> 
Subject: Re: [NFBF-L] My resignation

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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:bnorton at rc5state.com> 
brian.edward.norton at outlook.com <mailto:brian.edward.norton at outlook.com> 
briannorton.flalaw at gmail.com <mailto: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 <mailto:rmann0581 at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 8:44 PM
To: Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com <mailto:brian.edward.norton at outlook.com> >
Cc: Peggyfleischer at bellsouth.net <mailto:Peggyfleischer at bellsouth.net> ; Nancy Epps <nancyepps at cfl.rr.com <mailto:nancyepps at cfl.rr.com> >; ironman59 at gmail.com <mailto:ironman59 at gmail.com> ; briannortonflalaw at gmail.com <mailto:briannortonflalaw at gmail.com> ; Russell at radiorusty.com <mailto:Russell at radiorusty.com> ; paul09ms at gmail.com <mailto:paul09ms at gmail.com> ; treasurer at nfbflorida.org <mailto:treasurer at nfbflorida.org> ; secretary at nfbflorida.org <mailto:secretary at nfbflorida.org> ; curlygirl55 at icloud.com <mailto: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 <mailto:rmann0581 at gmail.com> 
386-383-5175

On May 29, 2023, at 1:52 PM, Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com <mailto: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 <mailto:curlygirl55 at icloud.com> >
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 11:42 PM
To: Brian Norton <brian.edward.norton at outlook.com <mailto: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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