[nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory

Thu Dec 6 16:46:37 UTC 2012

In Addition Fred and all, John McEntee also actually trained potential
operators to be effective business owners and equipment problem
trouble-shooter and self-diagnostic-and-repair operators, saving the
set-aside funds countless thousands of dollars.

And what do we have now?  Classes taught by sighted and blind individuals
that don't know the material needed to be taught.  Speaking of money waste
and savings;  Why are taxpayers paying for BEP trainees to be housed in a
hotel when classes are being conducted by phone?  Why cannot the trainees be
taught from home by telephone, and save the wasted money?  Of course, we are
told the answer to BEP's problem is to hire another promotional agent, and
move BEP operators from WORK-TO-WELFARE!  Aren't those great solution
strategies?

By the way, the EOC Ad Hoc Committee on BEP Issues formulated many great
ideas for solutions to training and other BEP problems.  Yet they were
dismissed because it was determined that the NFB had too much influence by
individual Ad Hoc Commmittee members, who were concerned and dedicated to
show up and actively participate at meetings.  And it is not that other
organizations and stakeholders weren't invited to attend and participate.
They were invited, and simply chose not to attend and participate.  Now here
it is the 9th month into an EOC term, and what has been discussed and
advanced by EOC subcommittees and The full committee, during the 9 months?
I suppose the doctrines of let's wait-and-see what will happen with the new
BS4BP, and the if it happened prior to October 1, 2012 it does not matter,
are the guiding doctrines for BEP challenges.  Meanwhile, BEP trainees are
taught by telephone and without meaningful vending equipment exposure and
hands-on experience, and an agenda of WORK-TO-WelFARE is being advanced.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Wurtzel
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 10:38 AM
To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory

Hi Terry,

You and Joe are doing a great job of describing the situation.  I would add
that John McEntee was probably 1 of the most operator-oriented staff ever
employed by BEP.  His efforts improved operator's abilities to keep their
equipment up and running, thus improving profits, meanwhile saving more than
$100,000 his first year on the job.  Now, that is effectiveness.  Given all
that, I was never able to get him classified in a civil service position
which compensated him fairly. Yet, people are being paid more than 100k who
have no blindness knowledge or experience.

You have hit the nail on the head.  The simple time-honored idea of hiring
qualified people to do a professional job is the very simple solution.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
harcz Comcast
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 9:42 AM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory

On top of all this now Rogers in the public record wants to raid Independent
Living funds for some new data base system.

Just another issue in a long line of misappropriation  of federal funds.
Here's the schem:

Too molify the Auditor General Rogers has talked about this new and
undefined data system.

Oh, but look at the MI SILC's recent public hearing on the IL state plan and
look at the revision to try to use IL funds for this same database and thus
to rob elderly blind of services.

Oh, yes and Rodgers and Zimmer have been annointed to be Ex-Officio members
of the SILC though Zimmer stated in the public record he didn't even know
what it was until July.

I'm sure Rodgers didn't either.

More on this later....

Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>
To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" 
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory

> Terry,
>
>   Your comments are exactly on target.  What you say is all so true even
> though BEP management makes excuses for everything they do or don't do.
> Sometimes we just shake our heads and shutter in disbelief.  How could any
> State administration allow such bias, incompident and dishonest people to
> continue to hold positions in state government.  We also must be reminded
> that your comments just highlight the tip of the iceberg.  Much, much more
> has been part of the destruction of the BEP and no one is sure if it can 
> be
> saved.  It is despicable that such a valuable source of employment for the
> blind is being destroyed, but we know of the cause and we know we must
> continue to stand for the operators and their chance at success.
>
> Dave Robinson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terry
> Eagle
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 8:48 AM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory
>
> Is this any surprise to anyone?  It can be summarized easily as the 
> symptom
> is fraud and cover-up, and the cause is total incompetence.  The student
> inventory-takers, promotional agents, and BEP and BS4BP management are
> incompetent, as they obviously and clearly know little or nothing about
> business, and food service and vending best practices.
>
> As pointed out John McEntee was driven out, along with Fred Wurtzel.  And
> let us not forget the firing of David Robinson, who actually attempted to 
> do
> that which the state auditors report is lacking:  support to operators.
> What is the real truth about Dave Robinson's firing?  We see from public
> documents that it was for being behind six months in paperwork, yet it is
> now documented that at least one promotional agent is behind in paperwork
> processing for more than a year and still employed by BEP.  And another
> Promotional agent is still employed with BEP after costing the program $
> 7000 dollars after failing to do paperwork to remove a vending machine 
> from
> a closed and demolished rest area.  This also was noted by the state
> auditor.
>
> And what was up when James Hull's relative was hired to do the BEP
> inventory, as reported in MCB Board minutes, and the inventory results 
> were
> not to the liking of BEP management, as also reported to the Board.  Did 
> not
> the former BEP manager come under attack for hiring a relative to oversee
> the BEP wharehouse?  Do you see a double standard in ethics, a hallmark of
> the Patrick Cannon administration?
>
> I guess it is all about management-by-selective-paperwork, and the 
> selective
> results desired by management of LARA down to the promotional agents.
> Consider the most recent costly paperwork knee-jerk reaction to the
> auditor's finding about accountability for poor money management by BEP
> management.  Now LARA management is happy to cost operators thousands
> annually in sales and profits, also costing the set-aside fund countless
> dollars annually, because of new paperwork requirements just to get
> equipment repaired.  Here is a novel idea for the Snyder administration to
> save money and save jobs for blind persons:  How about taking care of the
> cause of the problem, rather than just continuing to treat the symptoms:
> Move the incompetent management out of BEP, and hire competent
> business-oriented and knowledgable management.  How is that for 
> REINVENTING
> HOW MICHIGAN DOES BUSINESS, Mr. Governor?  Perhaps that idea can also
> address and eliminate the administration's legislative agenda to move 
> blind
> vendors from WORK-TO-WELFARE.  Just maybe.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe Sontag
> Subject: What's Really Up With the Equipment Inventory?
>
> Two reports received here within the past 72 hours have got me wondering 
> if
> the new BEP equipment inventory has any chance of being satisfactory to
> anyone who really cares.  One report comes from a highway vending 
> operator,
> the other from a snack bar operator, but both have some striking
> similarities.
>
> Both operators say that they were never asked to open any vending
> machinesfor the inventory takers, a problem  because manufacturer's serial
> numbers are often accessible only from inside the units, as well as the 
> fact
> that additional items for the inventory may be housed in the cabinet of a
> vending machine, including but not limited to video and digital recording
> equipment used for site security purposes.
>
> The other common detail is that the inventory takers showed no interest in
> checking storage areas at the vending facilities, even though storage 
> rooms
> often contain refrigeration, soft drink service and other items that may
> belong on the final inventory.  The roadside operator was told that their
> presence was not required at the designated time for the inventory taker's
> visit.  I well remember being asked by my PA for equipment identification
> details and opening all store rooms and all Agency-owned equipment for 
> John
> McEntee, as he methodically documented the equipment at the Comstitution
> Hall facility while I ran it.  In fact John's inventory was notable for 
> its
> thoroughness in documenting what was present in the locations and for his
> documentation of  equipment that the BEP had purchased but that could *Not
> be located, including various vending machines and several security 
> systems
> for highway facilities.  John was driven out of the BEP shortly before he
> would have completed his work on this project.
>
> What kind of accuracy and completeness are we likely to get under current
> conditions from two student interns with no experience in the Program and
> who are being paid at bargain rates?  My guess is that we'll get what we
> paid for; and that's not likely to work very well for anybody, especially
> those who insist that BS for Blind Persons is doing everything right and
> should be held harmless.
>
> Joe Sontag
>
>
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