[nfbmi-talk] the faith meadows board correspondence

Fri Sep 23 23:11:59 UTC 2011

By the way I do agree with Faith on one thing the bulk of the staff at MCB 
TC are fine, committed and competent people.

Oh, yes and that now certainly includes Christine Boone.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] the faith meadows board correspondence

> I'd suggest Ms. Meadows take the time to read carefully the Rehab Act, the 
> Americans with Disabilities Act, and Michigan Public Act 260 of 1978 as 
> amended and reflect on how she and her colleagues could provide even 
> better service to their clients if only the requirements of these acts 
> were taken seriously by Commission administration.  If she had done this 
> in the past, it's unlikely that this letter would ever have been written, 
> especially if she were better acquainted with the NFB of Michigan as it is 
> today.  And to think that one of the leaders of MCBVI often complained to 
> me bitterly that Faith Meadows was a flag-waving member of the nfb, most 
> peculiar.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
> To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 17:15
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] the faith meadows board correspondence
>
>
>> June 21, 2011
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> To MCB Commission Board:
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel I need to reply to the statements that were made by Mr. Larry 
>> Posant. I began receiving services through the services for the Blind 
>> which is now Michigan Commission for the Blind in 1973.  The services 
>> provided me with training and an education as it has done for many of the 
>> people who are now serving on the Commission Board and attending the 
>> commission meetings.  I have worked for the Michigan Commission for the 
>> Blind for 11 years as a Rehabilitation counselor, during my time as an 
>> employee at the MCB I have seen consumers become independent in their 
>> skills and leave the Center to attend college, return to work, return to 
>> their homes and totally care for themselves.  We realize we are public 
>> servants and our job is to enable our clients to be independent and 
>> responsible people.  I did not realize that anything had changed in the 
>> past 18 months. I would like Mr. Posant to clarify his statement and I 
>> would like to know when he has visited the Center within the last 18 
>> months.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think the Commission Board should be made up of both consumer groups 
>> and consumers of the State of Michigan.  It appears that the Board 
>> consists of complainers that have retired and having nothing better to do 
>> but cause havoc and confusion.  If the Board can not change for the good, 
>> then just disburse the board altogether.  At this time it is not 
>> benefiting anyone, it is just causing hard feelings and division.
>>
>>  I have noticed some of the people attending the meetings have in the 
>> past received quality training and education provided to them by MCB 
>> funded with state and federal dollars.  These people although they have 
>> been provided with training and college education have decided not to 
>> work and give back to the state some dollars, but are continually taking 
>> tax dollars, living on SSI and SSDI.  It seems they do not have anything 
>> good to say, but are always negative and demanding.  To those persons, I 
>> say it is about time you decided to get out and become employed and pay 
>> back some tax dollars instead of complaining and finding ways to 
>> needlessly complain and spend more tax dollars.
>>
>>
>>
>> All blind people have a voice that should be heard not just from one 
>> group of people.  I think that Mr. Posant and all those that have 
>> criticized Mr. Pat Cannon, MCB and MCBTC staff should apologize to us and 
>> think about the feelings of others and not think they are the brains and 
>> voice for all blind persons.  Please stop the slander of the MCB director 
>> and staff.  Why has the Commission Board meetings become a battle ground 
>> instead of an advisory board?  I feel at this time there are too many 
>> negative people serving on the Commission Board and that needs to change.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I would like to know how it is that people who have not visited the 
>> Training Center can make a statement that there has been no training 
>> taking place at the Center. The staff are very capable people who have 
>> the experience and intelligence to work towards successfully training the 
>> consumer to be totally independent.  With the excellent leadership of 
>> Sherri Heibeck as Director and Bruce Schultz as the Assistant Director, 
>> the MCBTC staff was quite capable of continuing to provide an excellent 
>> service to our consumers.
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel that the slanderous statements that are being telecast is a slap 
>> in the face to Director Pat Cannon, MCB staff, MCBTC staff and also to 
>> the citizens of the State of Michigan who may feel that their tax dollars 
>> are being wasted on the blind population. At this time, the Commission 
>> Board is making unprofessional statements and they appear to be totally 
>> ignorant to the training that is taking place at MCBTC.  If there is 
>> concern about Training going on at MCBTC, please take the time to visit.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Faith Meadows
>>
>> 269-337-3855 (work)
>>
>> 269-353-3569 (home)
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>
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