[nfbmi-talk] Fw: what is nfb doing about this andother inaccessable web sites and web pages?

Sat Mar 5 19:54:17 UTC 2016

Hi Dave,

Yes, I understood that you were passing on information.  I'm sorry if you
thought I was talking to you.  I was talking to our membership about what it
is to be a Federationist.  I have known you for many years and, as I
mentioned about your dedication to assisting vendors, know that you totally
understand and practice the idea of each of us taking on the jobs that need
doing.  

It is frustrating watching state government, these days.  It is even worse
when anyone is a victim either by living in Flint, attending school in
Detroit or being a client of BS4BP.  Unfortunately it takes a lot of
continuous and mostly unrewarding effort to create change. Our joy needs to
come from one another since we will seldom get it from outside the
Federation.  Yes, I do mean joy.  We need to joyously work together through
good and tough times to improve things for all blind people.  Sometimes we
need to focus on the work and other times on the joy.  I feel it is time for
joy, right now.  

Yes, I agree about the resolutions.  At the moment, there seem to be more
resolutions than there are people to champion each of them. This is why I
was complimenting Mariann and Mark for working on a couple of issues.  I
would hope that others will step up and work on resolutions they are
passionate about.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
Robinson via nfbmi-talk
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 8:26 AM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Cc: David Robinson
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: what is nfb doing about this andother
inaccessable web sites and web pages?

Fred,

   First of all, I was just passing this on to others because I felt it was
an important topic.  Secondly, My commitment to the NFB and itspurpose is as
strong as it has ever been,and will continue to be strong.  I know what it
means to struggle for our civil rights. I do believe however, that even
though we take on issues that are important to us, it is also critical that
we know that our colleagues and our organization is supportive.  It appears
to me that the fight on issues has been clouded by personalities and I am
sorry for this, but have experienced its truth.  Finally, I can say that I
have goals for myself and others, but I know that the NFB of Michigan also
has goals which are based on our resolutions. Let us apply our time and
resources toward meeting those goals. All of those goals.

Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Wurtzel via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>; <officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 10:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: what is nfb doing about this andother
inaccessable web sites and web pages?

> Hello Dave,
>
> Too the subject question, " what is nfb doing about this and other 
> inaccessible web sites and web pages?"  I am as frustrated as anyone 
> over the State's inaccessible websites.  As you know, being a member 
> of this organization longer than me, when there are issues, it is not 
> up to someone else.  It is each of our responsibilities to take up 
> causes as we can.
> For
> example, you have worked very hard and advocated for years for blind 
> vendors.  You did not expect someone else to step up.  So, with this 
> issue, like you did with vendors, anyone who is passionate ought to 
> jump in, work with our membership and make a plan to resolve the 
> webpage issue or work at it until it is resolved.  This will entail 
> working with people who don't care, are incompetent or hostile.  
> Occasionally, the person who is working on the web page will find an 
> ally inside the system.  We cannot be deterred by the negatives.  We 
> must take joy in small victories and the acknowledgment of our 
> colleagues that we are trying.  We will need to remain positive and 
> firm about our goals.
>
> You and I knew Dr. Jernigan.  I observed and personally experienced 
> that when someone said the NFB ought to do something, he simply said 
> "go ahead."
> He expected us to take personal responsibility for things which need 
> attention.  If we all work on something we care about, we can make a 
> difference.  If we all wait for someone else to do something, it will 
> never get done.
>
> I admire Mark Eagle for jumping on the voting issue.  He has been 
> working on this for a long time.  When he needs help, he can ask and 
> he will find many people ready to step up and do something.  He is a 
> good example of not waiting for someone else to do something.
>
> Marianne has taken up the issue of accessible software for human 
> services professionals.  When I listen to her presentations, I don't 
> understand a lot of what she is saying.  I do understand that she 
> knows her subject, those who can help make change and what is needed.  
> She has not let the resistance to change deter her.  She keeps on 
> trying.  This is the spirit of the Federation.
>
> There are more than enough things to do to go around.  No individual 
> can do it all, that is why we have an organization.  I know I am 
> preaching to the choir, here.  It is not some anonymous group, it is 
> each of us who need to step up to solve these important issues.  So, 
> whoever has the time, interest and knowledge to work on working with 
> DIT for years, then they ought to roll up their sleeves and work on 
> it.  It will take hours, months and years of diligent, unrewarding 
> effort.  If someone does not have the knowledge, they ought to try, 
> anyway.  By the end of the first year, they will know more than all 
> the rest of us about the topic.  We all need to pick our priorities 
> and then work as hard as we can stand.  We will only get recognition 
> from our colleagues.  The sighted public will mostly be indifferent 
> and some will be hostile.  There will be a few friends who will work 
> along with us, but mostly it will be up to us.  Since 1940 we have 
> made a lot of progress with this approach.  We will continue to do so.
>
>
> Thanks for sharing this issue with us.
>
> Warmest Regards.
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> David Robinson via nfbmi-talk
> Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 1:03 PM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: David Robinson <drob1946 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: what is nfb doing about this and other 
> inaccessable web sites and web pages?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: joe harcz Comcast
> To: Larry Posont NFBMI Pres.
> Cc: Mark A. Riccobono NFB Pres. ; David Robinson NFB MI ; terry Eagle 
> ; Mark Eagle
> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 11:43 AM
> Subject: what is nfb doing about this and other inaccessable web sites 
> and web pages?
>
>
> Please see the attached. It goes to the scofflaw Statewide Independent
> Living Council and its inaccessible web site. And there are literally tens
> of thousands of web pages on Michigan's web sites that are not accessible.
>
> But, these things have been ignored by NFB for years.
>
> Joe Harcz
>
>
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