[nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor news

Fri Nov 30 21:03:39 UTC 2012

this is silly aand you know it is tooo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor news


> Hi Joe,
>
> I am hopeful that we, blind people, will turn things around.  We have a 
> good
> historic record of making positive change, though we sometimes have
> setbacks, such as now.  My hope is in us, not the bureaucracy.  We must 
> lead
> the change and keep up the pressure and set the agenda.  With out hope,
> there is dispair.  We have seen people come and people go.  These people
> will be gone some day and blind people will still be here.  This is the
> season of peace, hope, love and joy.  These are my anchors.  Without them 
> I
> would stop everything.  There would be no reason for trying.  There is
> goodness in the worldand it will prevail over injustice every time.  It is
> difficult to remain hopeful.  Patience is not my strong suit.  I know the
> strength and commitment of the NFB.  I love the Dr. Jernigan quote that
> sighted people and those who so cavilierly run agencies so often ignore
> about us, to their peril:
>
> "We sometimes lose skermishes, we sometimes lose battles, but we never 
> lose
> the war because we will never quit until we win."
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
> harcz Comcast
> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:24 AM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor 
> news
>
> Dear Fred and All,
>
> I am wonderring how you can explain that you are "hopeful" given the
> documented waste, fraud and abuse that has been going on for years and now
> is just rubber stamped with Zimmer, rodgers, et al?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 9:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor 
> news
>
>
>> Hi Matt,
>>
>> I think the BEP has lost all sight of your points.  We were working
>> hard to create such a comprehensive training program and now it has
>> degenerated into a system where the trainer calls in via conference
>> phone to students in a hotel for direction.  The human aspect is gone.
>> After all it is a combination of numbers applied with good human
>> relations that make a successful business.  The real tragedy is that
>> only a handful of BEP operators cares enough to try to make
>> improvements. Where is the pride?
>> Where is the determination?  I am very sad, yet hopeful that the
>> kernel of strength we possess will be successful in saving what we
>> have and growing it into a robust and inspirational business model.
>>
>> Thank you for your insightful comments.
>>
>> Warmest Regards,
>>
>> Fred
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Matt Sievert
>> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:30 PM
>> To: Joe Sontag; NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann
>> arbor news
>>
>> Group, this is sad.
>>
>> Not only is there apparently a lack of accounting from the previous
>> administration. But the quote from Mr. Rothenhauser gives the
>> appearance that neither side was interested in keeping accurate records.
>>
>> If some of these folks have the desire to move out of the small
>> vending business and into a real restaurant, then some real training
>> is going to need to take place. Mr. Sontag, is there a program in
>> place to continue training above and beyond running a snack bar/vending
> area?
>>
>> I know as a food service worker that the availability of a quick
>> service outlet in an office building can turn into a great opportunity
>> to expand into other areas of hospitality/restaurant management.
>>
>> You offer a good product at a slight premium with good service and
>> clean environment. People will come back. Even if it is a chicken
>> salad wrap or a hot pretzel. Being known for the quality of the coffee
>> will get folks into your shop. From there you can peddle the breakfast
>> sandwiches, and let them know what is coming up for lunch.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 10:59 PM, Joe Sontag <suncat0 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> You'll never guess how some members of the Elected Operators'
>>> Committee and other operators are reacting to this article.  They are
>>> heaping abuse on Mr. Rothenhauser, even his  sister, saying he's a bad
>>> operator who should be removed from the program.  I know nothing about
>>> his abilities as an operator, but I know that his facility has been a
>>> troubled location for many years, well before Mark took over.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "joe harcz Comcast" <
>>> joeharcz at comcast.net>
>>> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 19:47
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann
>>> arbor news
>>>
>>>
>>>  Outragious. Simply outragious. My copy of this report was totally and
>>>> outragiously inaccessable.
>>>>
>>>> That is a fact Jackson!
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "trising" <trising at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 6:36 PM
>>>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor
>>>> news
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     Mark Rothenhauser, 55, operates the snack bar at the state Capitol.
>>>>> He's been participating in the state's Business Enterprise Program
>>>>> for people who are blind and visually impaired for six years.Melissa
>>>>> Anders | MLive LANSING, MI - The state did not properly manage a
>>>>> program that helps blind people run vending facilities in government
>>>>> buildings, according to an audit report that estimates the program
>>>>> improperly spent about a quarter million dollars.
>>>>>
>>>>> A report released Tuesday by Michigan's Auditor General found that
>>>>> the Michigan Commission for the Blind did not effectively monitor
>>>>> the finances, contracting and inventory for its Business Enterprise
>>>>> Program. The program offers licenses to blind and visually impaired
>>>>> people to operate vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, carts
>>>>> and other food services in state and federal buildings, highway rest
>> stops and visitor centers.
>>>>>
>>>>> The audit generally covered Oct. 2008 through July 2011, when the
>>>>> program was still managed by the Michigan Commission for the Blind.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) realized
>>>>> there were several issues with the vending program and requested the
>> audit.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gov. Rick Snyder responded to broader issues surrounding the
>>>>> Commission for the Blind with an executive order that replaced the
>>>>> commission with the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in October.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ed Rodgers took over as director of the bureau last month with the
>>>>> mandate to make improvements.
>>>>>
>>>>> "While there's issues and problems we need to correct, the public
>>>>> needs to be reassured that this administration is not wasting
>>>>> taxpayers' dollars and that we are running an effective and efficient
>> program," Rodgers said.
>>>>> "We're doing what we're supposed to be doing."
>>>>>
>>>>> The Business Enterprise Program had eight staff members and more
>>>>> than 80 licensees who operated about 400 sites throughout the state as
>> of July 2011.
>>>>>
>>>>> Operators give 10 percent of their profits to the commission to pay
>>>>> for expenses such as new equipment and retirement funds.
>>>>>
>>>>> "The public needs to be reassured that this administration is not
>>>>> wasting taxpayers' dollars." - Ed Rodgers The audit estimates that
>>>>> the commission improperly spent $254,000 in operator fees from Oct.
>>>>> 2008 through July 2011 on miscellaneous program expenses that were
>>>>> not in accordance with state code.
>>>>>
>>>>> The commission also did not effectively confirm operators' monthly
>>>>> sales reports, meaning the state couldn't make sure that it properly
>>>>> calculated and paid retirement contributions, pension payments and
>>>>> operator fees, the audit found. Even though the vendors are
>>>>> independent contractors, the program pays out such benefits.
>>>>>
>>>>> That finding didn't surprise Mark Rothenhauser, who operates the
>>>>> snack bar at the state Capitol. He sells pizza slices, popcorn, soda
>>>>> and other snacks from a small shop located on the ground level of the
>> building.
>>>>>
>>>>> "An operator can basically pull a number out of the air and report
>>>>> that as sales," he said. "There's not a mechanism in place to
>>>>> authenticate what the operator reports as sales is actually their
>>>>> sales. So if you go with that, you don't know if they're paying the
>> correct set-aside fee."
>>>>>
>>>>> Rodgers said he set aside $150,000 to create a new data program for
>>>>> the entire bureau that will keep better track of vending sales and net
>> income.
>>>>> It should be in place early next year.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other audit findings dealt with deficiencies in monitoring equipment
>>>>> inventory, contracts and operator assistance.
>>>>>
>>>>> The bureau is completing an inventory of its equipment, such as
>>>>> coolers and microwaves, and is setting up performance measures for
>>>>> staff members who assist operators.
>>>>>
>>>>> "The auditor general's office should be applauded for the thorough
>>>>> job they did in this," Rodgers said.
>>>>>
>>>>> Email Melissa Anders at manders at mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter:
>>>>> @MelissaDAnders.
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>>>>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org<http://nf
>>>>> bnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org>
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for
>>>>> nfbmi-talk:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/**
>>>>> joeharcz%40comcast.net<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_
>>>>> nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>>>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org<http://nfb
>>>> net.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org>
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nfbmi-talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/**
>>>> suncat0%40gmail.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbn
>>>> et.org/suncat0%40gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org<http://nfbn
>>> et.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfbmi-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/**
>>> matt.sievert%40gmail.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_
>>> nfbnet.org/matt.sievert%40gmail.com>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbmi-talk:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40att.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbmi-talk mailing list
>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbmi-talk:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.n
> et
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40att.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net