[nfbmi-talk] yet another foia request

Wed Apr 28 12:24:48 UTC 2010

People who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. I'll tell you 
this is exactly why minutes and agendas and other archives of events are so 
important. Just one illustration is in this attached agenda from 2003 which 
discussed the college program. (Note the reference to "means testing". As I 
was actually there it was a lot more than that and it wasn't really a 
discussion, but rather a dictate for even as MCB Chair Pilarski pointed out 
at the last MCB meeting certain things get taken out of the proposed college 
policy over the years and then, mysteriously come right back.

Now, I'll say this about Ms. Taekins on the issue of timelines alone: "she 
is right on." The way that is written violates not the ADA, but rather 
Section 504 on several counts. One is it encourages the college to violate 
provisions for "academic adjustments" which should be individually 
determined. And she is right on in that it violates Title I of the Rehab Act 
as any goals (timelines for education are included in that) must be 
individually determined in the IPE. It is after all an "Individual" Plan for 
Employment, with an emphasis on that word INDIVIDUAL here. I know that MCB 
finds that inconvenient but that is the way these laws work. These are the 
very laws by the way that establish and fund MCB to begin with and thus MCB 
staff should be intiment with them and accountable to them. So should we as 
stakeholders as the same laws require as well.

Elizabeth, at the very last meeting you charged that MCB was non-responsive 
to your input on this issue which is something I do not doubt in the least.

No one, including me challenged your right to state the truth and even ask 
questions. In fact you were rightfully acknowledged and I applaud you for 
your efforts and your words at that meeting.

Give the rest of us on these issues the same rights please.

Joe Harcz

CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT COUNCIL

MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND TRAINING CENTER

1541 Oakland Dr.

Kalamazoo, MI  49008

DATE OF MEETING: Monday, August 4, 2003

TIME OF THE MEETING: 10AM to 3PM

AGENDA

I. ROLL CALL, 10:00 – 10:05.

II.  Approval of minutes from the March 31st meeting, 10:05 – 10:15.

III.  Review of decisions from conference call to be entered into minutes, 
10:15 – 10.20.

IV. Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center (MCBTC) – Melody 
Lindsey, 10:20 – 12:00.

V. LUNCH, 12:00 – 1:00.

VI. Pat Cannon and Descriptive Video Project, 1:00 – 1:30.

VII.The Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) web site update – cancelled. 
Will be rescheduled at meeting, 1:30 – 2:00.

VIII. Means Testing for college students, 2:00 – 2:30.

IX. Setting dates for the new fiscal year, 2003/04.

Suggested meeting dates: January 21, May 16, September 20...04.

CIC can have three meetings and teleconference meetings can also be 
scheduled, 2:30 – 2:45.

OLD BUSINESS

X.  Update on the Transition Forum -- Brunhilde Merk-Adam, 2:45 – 3:00.

NEW BUSINESS

XI. Draft Long-term Strategic Plan

XII. Accessible Voting Technology – Larry Wanger

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 11:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] yet another foia request

Hello Joe,

I am not able to fulfill your freedom of information request because I 
simply do not have the information you have requested. I am simply an 
average blind citizen living in the state of Michigan. However, if you send 
this information to the Freedom of Information Coordinators, I am sure they 
will be able to fulfill your request.

This is an email list for the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, 
and is intended to discuss matters related to our organization. It should 
not be simply a dumping ground for those who wish to air their grievances 
regarding the Michigan Commission for the Blind. I ask that you keep this in 
mind when posting to the list, as I do not wish to receive a copy of every 
freedom of information request you send to the Michigan Commission for the 
Blind.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

> From: joeharcz at comcast.net
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:52:00 -0400
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] yet another foia request
>
> Re: FOIA Request June 20, 2008 Recording MCB Quarterly Meeting
>
> April 27, 2010
>
>
>
> Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>
> 1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
>
> Mt. Morris, MI 48458
>
> E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net
>
>
>
> Melvin Farmer, DELEG, FOIA Coordinator
>
> E-mail: farmerc at michigan.gov
>
>
>
> Carla Haynes, MCB, FOIA
>
> E-mail: haynesc at michigan.gov
>
>
>
> Dear Mr. Farmer and Ms. Haynes:
>
>
>
> I am writing you today to request the audio recording of the June 20, 2008 
> meeting of the Michigan Commission for the Blind pursuant to the Michigan 
> Freedom of Information Act referenced in this quotation:
>
>
>
> “ Mike Ellis advised Commissioners that there had not been audio streaming 
> because there was equipment failure. The Commission will have audio that
>
> has been captured.”
>
>
>
>
>
> I am requesting this without any fee pursuant to past actions and 
> identification on either a flashcard or CD (the latter of which has been 
> sent to me in the past and is satisfactory).
>
>
>
> It may simply be mailed as in the past to my e-mail address listed above.
>
>
>
> I do wonder aloud here about one thing however: Why aren’t these 
> recordings simply archived on MCB’s web site which certainly would be in 
> the public interest? I am puzzled by this as also in this same meeting 
> minutes in the discussion of the MCB Action plan this was referenced 
> directly. I quote from the minutes here on the matter:
>
>
>
> “3.4 Enhance the MCB website including adding audio files of agency 
> brochures, videos and archived quarterly Commission meetings.
>
> Status: Future meetings will be archived when the space becomes available 
> through DMB. Three of MCB's brochures are currently available on line.”
>
>
>
> I certainly would consider it to be compliant with this request if MCB 
> simply would put these archived recordings in accessible manner on their 
> own web site as suggested over and over again including the above 
> reference which is almost two years old.
>
>
>
> It appears that we have some issues with timely delivery and availability 
> of public information. The state web sites could well be used to deliver 
> timely, material like this in the spirit of transparency, open governance 
> and accountability. Governor Grandholm has often discussed transparency 
> including efforts in that regard recently on her web site. I would 
> appreciate it if DELEG and MCB also was more forthcoming and acted more 
> affirmatively in these regards. It certainly would, among other things 
> ensure that I, and others would not be so burdened with making FOIA 
> requests. And, for that matter you and the staff at DELEG would likewise 
> not have to be so burdened with these issues as well.
>
>
>
> I offer the latter observations in the spirit of cooperation and positive 
> input from a citizen of this state who just happens to be blind.
>
>
>
> Very Truly Yours,
>
>
>
> Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
>
>
>
> Cc: Commissioners Michigan Commission for the Blind
>
> Cc: National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
>
> Cc: Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
>
> Cc: Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc.
>
> Cc: Michael Cox, Michigan Attorney General
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
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