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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>You are exactly right, Madame President! For the past 25 years, there has been an undertone of rumbling that DFB/OFB is slowly being shifted back to DVR/OVR, merged with, etc., where the blind consumer and individual using a wheelchair can walk into a VR Counselor at the same time and the blind be ***PUT*** to the side while the person using the chair is served … During Governor Fletcher’s administration, the restructuring of State Government almost ***PUT*** services to the blind in the current ‘Michigan Way’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>When I think about Governor Fletcher, for some reason I just don’t feel worth 2 cents …<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>John g.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Cathy<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Kentucky Internet Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbk] FW: National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Calls for Reversal of Executive Order on Commission for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue'>It's a sad day in Michigan. Don't ever think we are immune to such actions in our Kentucky Office for the Blind.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue'>Cathy</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>-----Original Message-----<br><b>From:</b> Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org]<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 29, 2012 4:11 PM<br><b>To:</b> Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Art Schreiber; Beth Rival; Bill Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cassandra McNabb; Cathy Jackson; Charlene Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel Burke; Donna Wood; Duane Iverson; Elsie Dickerson; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner; Fred Schroeder; Garrick Scott; Gary Ray; Gary Wunder; Grace Pires; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; Jeannie Massay; Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joy Harris; Joyce Scanlan; Ken Rollman; Kim Williams; Kimberly Flores; Larry Posont; Lynn Majewski; Mary Willows; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael Freeman; Mika Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang; Patty Estes; Rena Smith; Ron Brown; Gardner, Ron; Sam Gleese; Scott LaBarre; Shawn Callaway; Terry Sheeler<br><b>Subject:</b> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Calls for Reversal of Executive Order on Commission for the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fred Wurtzel, Spokesperson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind of <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(517) 485-0326<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(517) 256-5575 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>f.wurtzel@att.net<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1 align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind of <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place> Calls for Reversal <br>of Executive Order on Commission for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h2 align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><em><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Blind Citizens to Protest Order Tomorrow</span></em><em><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></em></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dearborn Heights, Michigan (February 29, 2012):</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, the voice of blind citizens in Michigan, calls upon Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives to rescind Executive Order 2012-2 and conduct an open and transparent review of services to blind citizens. In response to legitimate concerns about mismanagement, poor performance, and a high degree of consumer dissatisfaction over the past ten years that reached a crescendo this year, Governor Snyder issued Executive Order 2012-2 abolishing the Michigan Commission for the Blind and transferring its remnants to the Michigan Department of Human Services (the welfare department) and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan vigorously objects to Executive Order 2012-2 on several grounds:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>It appears to violate federal laws and regulations regarding rehabilitation and it jeopardizes nearly 15 million dollars in federal funds targeted to provide rehabilitation and training to approximately 2,500 blind <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place> citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>It threatens the jobs of more than forty blind persons who operate vending facilities on federal property and along <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place>’s interstate highways plus an additional sixty employees of these blind entrepreneurs.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>It abolishes the Michigan Commission for the Blind, a consumer-driven board that sets policy for the agency serving blind persons. Three of the five persons on the board are required to be blind. This arrangement assured that blind citizens have oversight of services to the blind of the state.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Neither the Governor, nor his staff, consulted with the board of the commission or any other blind person or organization representing blind persons. No staff of the agency was consulted about the necessity, viability, or legality of the executive order.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Blind people object to being served by the Department of Human Services (the welfare department). Blind people want work, not welfare.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Given the Governor’s emphasis on open, transparent, and data-driven decisions in state government, we are astonished by the poorly-thought-out executive order and the potential negative consequences it brings to blind people and the citizens of Michigan,” said Larry Posont, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Where will the forty blind vendors go for work?” Posont continued. “What will happen to their families? This will force more people into unemployment and on to welfare rather than creating jobs as the agency is designed to do.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“We do not have any problem with the legal structure, the staff, or the funding of the commission,” said Mike Powell, the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan’s first vice president. “It is the mismanagement of services and programs, the lack of results, and the lack of responsiveness to which we object, not the legal structure of the commission. We want a strong commission board that will make good public policy, set high goals for job placement, and raise respect for blind people here in <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place>. We call upon the Governor and the legislature to consult with the representatives of blind citizens in this state to craft a better approach than this ill-considered executive order.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Members and supporters of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan will gather at noon tomorrow in front of the <ns0:PlaceName>Romney</ns0:PlaceName> <ns0:PlaceType>Building</ns0:PlaceType> in <ns0:City>Lansing</ns0:City> to protest the executive order and inform the public about the negative impact that it will have on blind citizens of <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place>, their families, and their employees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About the National Federation of the Blind of <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan is the state’s oldest and largest organization of blind consumers. Founded in 1941, we have chapters in most large cities in <ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State> and provide advocacy, information about blindness, scholarships, and many other services that work toward our goal to change what it means to be blind in <ns0:place><ns0:State>Michigan</ns0:State></ns0:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:gray' align=center></div><p class=avgcert>No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4842 - Release Date: 02/29/12<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>