[nfbmi-talk] comments from Rodgers

Tue Sep 17 12:13:21 UTC 2013

More points here:

Rodgers outright lied when he said that NFB did not ask for Newsline funding 
in 2010 and when he said we said, "We didn't need it."

Also if one goes to the end and Casey Dutmer's question about the advisory 
committee we see totally an attack upon the old commission because of its 
policy making authorities and its teeth, which was the reason it was 
destroyed. And we see precisely what Rodgers thinks of the advisory board 
which is nothing, nothing, and more nothing even if some good folks are on 
it. It has no power. It has even less power than the old CIC.

Finally, in regards to the franchise operation and in spite of protests to 
the media Rodgers clearly stated he went to Dublin, Ohio to meet with Tim 
Hortons about some sort of "arrangement". He sure has been secretaries about 
that though, or the details in writing.

Oh, yes and he still is spending time and resources on a school for the 
blind scheme which is not in his authority to do being a VR entity.

Joe
----- 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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