[nfbmi-talk] comments from Rodgers

[Marcus Simmons]

In the audio recordings, did I hear him or someone else  say, "we will 
change the rules". Change the rules is possible, changing the law requires a 
vote of the legislators or the public, as I understand it.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 8:46 AM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] comments from Rodgers


>   It seems imperative that we begin conversation on this list regarding
> comments made by Ed Rodgers at the recent MCBVI conference.  His comments
> clearly leave you with the impression that he has learned very little 
> about
> services to the blind in this State, and assures all of us that he is just
> continuing to follow his big ego.
>
>   First, his comments regarding the interview process within the Business
> Enterprise Program are faulty on their face and reflects shallow thinking 
> on
> Mr. Rodgers part.  As a BEP operator you are granted entry into the 
> program
> by completing your training and being placed on the potential operators
> list.  This allows you to be promoted into your vending location.  Let me
> repeat, you are promoted into the location, not hired into the location.
> The bidding process to secure a location is a promotional system based on
> performance, not entry level hirering.  The agency, as it now stands
> according to the rule of law, does not have  the right to select an 
> operator
> for advancement in the case of a mandated location.  All state and federal
> locations are mandated.  It is only when a location is non-mandated, as a
> private company or county or municipal building, location can an interview
> process be used,and only at the request of the landlord.  Perhaps Rodgers
> has to sit down and really understand the program and get over his 
> attempts
> to control everything.
>
>
>
>   Secondly, I would like to comment on his defamatory comments regarding
> the NFB of Michigan and Newsline funding.  All he knows is numbers and not
> the facts.  The NFB and the NFB of Michigan as provided triple the amount
> that the BSBP has provided to keep the Newsline running in Michigan for 
> all
> blind people.  The BSBP is not the generous God that he implies.
>
>   The NFB of Michigan has always sought the full support of the State to
> fund Newsline for the Blind.  The partial payments made to Newsline over 
> the
> past several years were just what the agency under Pat Cannon, was willing
> to provide.  The year they did not fund the Newsline program was not 
> because
> NFB of Michigan did not request funding, it was just that Cannon did not
> approve any funding.   He needs to get his facts straight.
>
>   The request this year for $112,000 is nothing more then what is needed
> and falls in line with requests from the past.  Every penney provided to 
> the
> Newsline program from the agency has gone directly to the Newsline program
> at a national level so that the service could be available in Michigan. 
> To
> infer that the NFB of Michigan would take part of that funding, some
> $40,000, of that funding and use it for political purposes, is a lie and
> such a statement is defamatory to the organization and its attempt to keep
> Newsline up and running.  The $40,000 for marketing and administration was
> to be used for promoting the service through out the State to others and
> cover the hundreds of requests received each month for the service, which
> thus far, has been covered by the NFB of Michigan resources.  I am aware 
> of
> the questions he asked the NFB of Michigan,and all were answered in an
> approbriate manner and it was only because of the public protests and 
> public
> pressure, that he relented and provided some funding for six months.  He 
> did
> not do it willingly  or graciously, but was forced to do so. Once again he
> wanted all the control.
>
>
>
>   Finally, I hope others saw through the ridiculous comments of hirering
> the new training director and the value of the new BADP division of BSBP 
> and
> his newly hired director.  If he believes what he said about those
> hirerings, he again clearly reflects how little he knows of the needs in
> this State for good services to the blind.  Donna Posont's comments really
> gets to the root of the problem and what Rodgers should be fixing.  His
> comments about needing our help to get staff to do their work is bocus as
> many comments regarding the members of his staff who have lied, cheated,
> broken federal and state laws and done all they can to destroy blind 
> peoples
> lives, has not resulted in any firerings.  He still has the same lieing,
> cheating and incombatent staff he had when he came in as director.
>
>
>
>  I hope others will comment on Rodgers comments and point out other
> falsehoods which I did not address, as I know of many.  I do know that the
> NFB of Michigan will always stand for all the blind of Michigan, and will
> always be fighting for the rights of the blind and tell the truth. We have
> the truth on our side and we know the facts.  We do not mislead and we do
> not sell out. We do not intend to have any blind person in Michigan to 
> lose
> their rights and fall under the thumb of bureaucratic dictators.
>
>
>
> Dave Robinson
>
> save Robinson
>
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