[nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting

Tue Jan 22 13:26:53 UTC 2013

That is also in Lansing.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim in Detroit" <james.prather at comcast.net>
To: "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing 
List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2013 10:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting


> I'm assuming that the Cadillac and Ottawa buildings are in Detroit and 
> Lansing respectively; where is the Victor building?
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Joe Sontag
> Sent: January 21, 2013 13:49
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting
>
> I attended the first Commission for Blind Persons meeting and can say that
> it was well-run and proceeded without much drama.  A number of the new
> Commissioners asked loads of good questions and for such things as regular
> financial reports, copies of the Rehab Act and were given assurances that
> these things would be provided, although the financials are still 
> allegedly
> only available on a quarterly basis.  The usual phone interface problems
> were very much in evidence as well.
>
> In response to my call for full funding of Newsline, Director Rodgers 
> stated
> that he had told NFBM leadership that he required a grant proposal and had
> not yet received one from us, but I'm not aware of any on-the-record
> discussion of this kind at any time during the past 3+ months.
>
> Ed Rodgers also stated that progress is being made on the ADA compliance
> front regarding accessible signage at MAHS and BSBP facilities, including
> the Victor, Ottawa and Cadillac Place buildings, but we know that we're 
> only
> getting started on solving a problem that should have been address decades
> ago.  In fairness, it seems to me that accessible information is more
> important to BSBP now than it ever was in the Cannon era, but I think it's
> too soon to say what's really happening.
>
> I found it interesting that Ed Rodgers feels a need to defend the Business
> Enterprise Program by tearing down the words and experiences of those who
> know it best, the former and present operators who have been a part of the
> Program for the previous 20 years or more and who communicate often with 
> our
> counterparts in other states.  We've been asked to believe that Michigan's
> program is in the top ten in the country and not in the lower four.  The
> only other state to be refered to was the Oregon BEP; and I must admit I 
> had
> to bite my lower lip on that one.
>
> Two reps. from MPAS were there too; and one of them made clear to me her
> frustration at the lack of straight answers to Rehab Act questions asked 
> of
> Leamon Jones during his presentation.  This Commission has potential, if 
> not
> real power.  Keeping the Commission properly informed will be mostly up to
> us.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mary Wurtzel" <marywurtzel at att.net>
> To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'"
> <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 11:49
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting
>
>
>> Hello Terry,
>>
>> Did anyone attend the meeting yesterday??  I have my reader on Thursday 
>> but
>> managed to forget about it, anyway.
>> Mary
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Terry
>> Eagle
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 5:03 AM
>> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting
>>
>> Hmmmmmm, Makes me wonder if this is more bureaucratic sersive (BS)
>> duplication, given the other esteemed advisory board.
>>
>> Let's see, I think we are at least atthree advisory-type board for 
>> services
>> to blind persons.  There is the advisory commission, the advisory 
>> council,
>> and the advisory elected operators' committee.  So we should feel real 
>> good
>> with the big three C.  Commission, Council, and Committee.  And I didn't
>> count the Rehabilitation Council.
>>
>> I likely missed some for the library, we senior blind, for which 
>> allegedly
>> there are no funds, the youth programs, and the deaf-blind.
>>
>> I am sure we could easily become the Big Ten Advisory agency for blind
>> services (bs).  How about an advisory council on blind accessible 
>> technology
>> (BAT)?  Advisory Braille Council, the ABC of promotion of braille.  Any
>> more?
>>
>> I hope and pray all these advisory committees accomplish more than more 
>> talk
>> and more meetings and free lunches.  Will they be productive, or just
>> another exercise in fulfilling consumer input mandates, just like the 
>> state
>> plan hearings.  You know the current administration likes to suppress
>> participation from the public; just turn to the news of our , did I just 
>> say
>> our (?) legislature!  And they boast about the historical number and 
>> nature
>> of pieces of legislation passed without debate.  What debate?  I hope the
>> Big C can be more effective then the agency-run committee on business
>> enterprise, with its rewards of points and perks.
>>
>> I am optimistic for at least some sunshine to disinfect and make the
>> environment a bit cleaner and transparent.  Oh, it feels so good to dream 
>> by
>> dawn's early nearly light!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark
>> Eagle
>> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 9:35 PM
>> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting
>>
>>
>>
>> Current Events For January 2013
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jan 24, 2013
>> BSBP Consumer Involvement Council Meeting, January 24, 2013, in Lansing
>> Telephone Conference Call-In Number: 877-873-8017 Telephone Conference
>> Passcode Number: 7085546.
>>
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>>
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>
>
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>
> Jim in Detroit
> James A. Prather
> Central Michigan University: 1980
> Michigan School for the Blind: 1974
> "Fire Up Chips"
> "Ungh, ungowa, Raiders still Got the Power!"
>
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