[nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
joe harcz Comcast
joeharcz at comcast.net
Sat Feb 25 23:33:19 UTC 2012
What program are you talking about that "receives a grant from MCB>?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pauline Smith" <zim1993 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
> Good evening. Thank you very much for this very tall and understandable
> explanation of a chain of command, the roles and responsibility at each
> level and so forth. I am going to keep this message and if permitted pass
> it along on Monday to my co-worker and manager when I get near on actual
> computer. We are programmed that receives the grant from MCB so it will be
> interesting how all of this affect us. We'll keep our ears open.
>
> Pauline Smith sent you this voice-to-text generated email using Voice on
> the Go.
> To listen, click on the voice message link or open the attachment.
> http://vemail2.whitelabelapp.net:8080/enterprise/Recordings/PqNVTyTC-20120225-1801.wav
>
>
>> Original Message:
>> ---------------------------------
>>
>> From: Mark Smith <mark.smithyman60 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: February 25, 2012 4:59:32 PM
>> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List' <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>>
>> Wonderful dialog Elizabeth thank you for the question,
>>
>> To start with every organization must have a clearly defined chain of
>> command. This would begin with the Governor and the executive branch who
>> ultimately set policy according to their political vent. Next person in
>> this over simplified chain is the agency director who is considered the
>> expert in the agencies scope of operation. This has obviously not been
>> the
>> case at MCB. Finally the managers and supervisors provide feedback on
>> best
>> practices along with administering the policies. Agencies are not run by
>> boards, when I sit a board I do not have time or the necessary expertise
>> to
>> make or set policy. That is why the director typically has a master's
>> degree in management, along with a cadre of people who back him or her
>> up,
>> ho yea this is also where the six figure salary comes into play as well.
>> The scope of the board may be to review the policies and practices of the
>> agency, if necessary to open a dialog with the director to gain
>> clarification and report to the governor if things are too far out of
>> balance. However they do not have the authority to set policy in areas
>> that
>> they have no education for, nor are they paid enough for that job.
>> This differs from business in one very big respect. A CEO in a
>> company can be removed by a board of directors if they are unhappy with
>> his
>> performance. The only person who can remove an agency executive director
>> is
>> the governor him or herself. There again day to day operation and
>> policies
>> are completely controlled by the CEO or executive director, not the board
>> of
>> directors.
>> Yes, the Governor appointed the director of DHS as the person who is
>> in charge of setting policies for the new blindness agency. He can
>> appoint
>> someone to be a site supervisor just like Christine pointed out last
>> night.
>> This person will perhaps be from MCB's management pool. This person
>> would
>> be fitting because they are much more familiar with current operations
>> of
>> MCB. The work that MCB does will and must continue, the doors are not
>> closing nor is the work stopping.
>> Sincerely,
>> Mark
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Elizabeth
>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 3:03 PM
>> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>>
>> Hello Mark,
>>
>> In a previous email, I heard you say that if we are not providing
>> positive
>> critically thought out solutions, then we are simply a part of the
>> problem.
>> I am wondering, does this statement only apply to the rest of us, or does
>> it
>>
>> apply to you too?
>>
>> You are more than welcomed to disagree with me, but I believe one of the
>> main problems within the Michigan Commission for the Blind is the
>> conflict
>> over who is suppose to be responsible for setting and making policy for
>> the
>>
>> agency. Unless I am mistaken, I do not see anywhere within the executive
>> order where the Governor names any specific entity to make and set policy
>> for the Michigan Commission for the Blind. If this is the case, then how
>> does this executive order solve the problem of who is suppose to be
>> responsible for setting and making policy for the Michigan Commission for
>> the Blind? If the conflict of who is suppose to be responsible for
>> setting
>> and making policy for the agency continues, then how are things ever
>> going
>> to improve? Since it appears as though you have a dissenting opinion,
>> perhaps you might be able to explain how this executive order actually
>> solves the problem rather than making it worse.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>> Elizabet
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Mark Smith" <mark.smithyman60 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 1:13 PM
>> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>>
>> > Hello Fred,
>> > I am not gloating nor am I being smug, I apologize if this is how my
>> > previous message came across. I am seeing the forest for the trees,
>> > calling
>> > the cards as they have fallen. Frankly as a advocate for persons with
>> > disabilities and a person with a visual impairment myself it pains me
>> > deeply
>> > to see the mantel of authority for a esteemed agency be passed to a
>> > department that is not solely vested to do the work for our community.
>> > The
>> > fact is that the group who is the most vocal in our state has not
>> > chosen
>> > to
>> > come to the table so to say like adults.
>> > When someone who is not deeply vested or has immersed themselves in
>> > Michigan blind politics views the situation, What they see is a
>> > group
>> > of
>> > squabbling children. When an outside elected official views the
>> > situation
>> > along with the dialog from the consumer groups, finally mixing the
>> > recent
>> > reports the facts do not mesh. As with any good parent you fire the
>> > baby
>> > sitter and hire a new one. This is what is happening now.
>> > The primary purpose of MCB is to empower persons who are blind or
>> > have a visual impairment so that they can become taxpaying citizens.
>> > Please
>> > do not forget this fact, do not cloak it in pretty words. The old
>> > analogy
>> > is to, give a person a fish they eat for a day. Teach a person to fish
>> > and
>> > they can eat for the rest of their life. How many times do some people
>> > need
>> > to be re-taught to fish? I had once heard a quote from Einstein he
>> > said
>> > that "to do the same experiment over and over, expecting a different
>> > result
>> > is insanity." So things needed to be changed, with the lack of a
>> > productive
>> > plan our governor provided one. I certainly do not feel that this was
>> > a
>> > proper course of action or positive development for our community.
>> > However
>> > I am capable of reading the table as it is set right now.
>> > I choose to see this as an opportunity to make a break from the old
>> > ways. The castle building that you describe is always going to be in
>> > our
>> > government, this will only change when the fundamental system is
>> > altered.
>> > You are not keeping in mind though that the government is being shrunk
>> > and
>> > only the strong nobles will remain standing after the hammer stops
>> > swinging.
>> > Consolidation and making the system as cost effective as possible is
>> > the
>> > mantra today. This move as I mentioned in my previous message is the
>> > most
>> > logical for the government now. The thought of your destruction of
>> > civil
>> > liberties was never part of the decision process. You are making it
>> > personal when it is not so. Come to the table in the frame of mind to
>> > make
>> > things work for the community, solidarity is the answer and the point
>> > of
>> > power right now.
>> > Mark
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> > On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
>> > Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 11:52 AM
>> > To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>> > Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>> >
>> > Hello Mark,
>> >
>> > I do not know who you are. You sure sound smug and a little gloating.
>> > I
>> > guess we ought to expect this from people who do not understand the
>> > nature
>> > of why there is an agency for the blind. It is not simply a conduit to
>> > spread federal money to self-interested bureaucrats for their
>> > agrandizement
>> > and empire building. This money is to empower people who have little
>> > or
>> > no
>> > power. It is exactly this lack of power that allows the faint
>> > acknowledgement of people's goals for first-class citizenship to be so
>> > casually disposed of. This is 1 more insult and insult to blind people
>> > in
>>
>> > a
>> > landscape of centuries of similar insults. We have dignity and we will
>> > not
>> > accept this as our fate. We have fought this fight before and we will
>> > fight
>> > it again. We may suffer other setbacks, but we will not ever give up
>> > on
>> > recognition of our right to first-class citizenship.
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> >
>> > Fred
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> > On Behalf Of Mark Smith
>> > Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 11:14 AM
>> > To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>> > Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>> >
>> > Hello Larry,
>> > Both groups advocated this move by proxy. If no one provides a
>> > positive critically thought out solution, you are part of the problem.
>> > I
>> > have more than 500 messages from this list from the past few months
>> > that
>> > absolutely unequivocally call for the destruction of MCB in its current
>> > incarnation. I do not see one positive critically thought out
>> > solution.
>> > I
>> > see only the rare call by Christine boone providing a bit of well
>> > thought
>> > out clarification or if necessary admonishment of a member in a gentle
>> > and
>> > kind way.
>> > Coming from the business world this move that the Governor is taking
>> > appears to be a solid one. He is taking what appears publically to be
>> > two
>> > agencies that are not functioning in an efficient manor, moving them to
>> > the
>> > most logical place where they will leverage the assets of one another
>> > along
>> > with enhancing their own already established organizations. In
>> > addition
>> > the
>> > removal of a program that has smelled of nepotism and insider trading
>> > is
>> > being placed where it makes the most logical sense, the department who
>> > handles the states ways and means.
>> > Only a short sighted person would or could say that the MCB board is
>> > NOT the most dysfunctional group that has ever existed. One only has
>> > to
>> > sit
>> > in a meeting for about two minutes to realize that it is run by
>> > amateurs
>> > and
>> > attended by a group of circus clowns. The lack of human dignity and
>> > respect
>> > alone calls for its destruction. The most eloquent and efficient way
>> > to
>> > do
>> > this is to dismantle the entire organization. Take what is working,
>> > give
>> > it
>> > to a different management team,, then eliminate the parts that are
>> > disfunctioning , establish a new legally appointed board to satisfy the
>> > law,
>> > and move on.
>> > So you got your wish, the change that you have been calling for is
>> > here. The bureaucrats in this state are currently hunkering under
>> > their
>> > desks right now just wondering where the next hammer blow is going to
>> > come
>> > from. The word on the street is that no one has seen this many laws
>> > fly
>> > through the legislature this fast in a very long time. Go lawyer up
>> > and
>> > bring up a case. Before it gets anywhere , you will see the law
>> > change.
>> > The most interesting evidence for the promotion of that change will be
>> > your
>> > own words and arguments that you have been lodging against MCB for oh
>> > about
>> > the last ten years or so.
>> > The only question left is; is this going to be good for the blind
>> > and persons with visual impairment community in our state? This is a
>> > very
>> > treacherous and mine field ridden question. On one hand if it is
>> > business
>> > as usual I think that it is going to be very bad for our community. I
>> > feel
>> > that the credibility is in the toilet bowl and the voice is horse,
>> > people
>> > are sick of hearing the bitching and griping without any real answers
>> > that
>> > call for bringing the community together. On the other hand it could
>> > be
>> > something that rises like a phoenix from the fires of destruction
>> > welding
>> > our community together in a positive way. Power is in solidarity not
>> > in
>> > division. Stop the juvenile antics and come to the table like
>> > professionals
>> > with critically thought out questions and possible reasonable
>> > solutions,
>> > ready to negotiate and give and take a little. Sound a lot like what
>> > our
>> > federal government should do as well. Lol Mark
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> > On Behalf Of Larry D. Keeler
>> > Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 8:01 AM
>> > To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> > Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Decentralization of the Commission
>> >
>> > It is my oppinion that none of us from iether organization of blind
>> > comsumers advocates this shocking move by our estemed Governor. I
>> > didn't
>> > nor will ever vote for him. That aside, to my knowledge, NFB never
>> > advocated the abolishment of the Commission. We constantly called for
>> > reform in order to serv its clients, blind folks the way it waas meant
>> > to.
>> > I am stunned that this is happening! I am not really sorry about its
>> > director being out of a job but otherwise, I think this is appalling!
>> > How
>> > can us blind folks fight for ourselves when our services will be
>> > devided
>> > across the board? If our Board of Commissioners is abolished, how can
>> > we
>> > continue having a real say in how our tazx dollars get spent on
>> > blindness?
>> > I also know many folks in the Commission who are decent folks and
>> > truely
>> > want to better our lot. Having dealt with DHS in a semiproffessional
>> > and
>> > personal capacity, I truely don't have a clue how they plan to have
>> > access
>> > to the services they are supposed to be providing. And what of BEP?
>> > For
>> > all its faults, it has provided many blind folks iether with a means to
>> > make
>> > a living or as a start to move up and really be able to contribute to
>> > the
>> > tax pool. Again, I want to make it clear that in my perception, us in
>> > NFB
>> > never!! called for decentralization!! I believe we will always fight
>> > against coruption and abuse of the system whereever it occurs! Dhis
>> > decentralization is disastrous for all of us!
>> > Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
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>> >
>> >
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>
>
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