FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2010

CONTACT:	Larry Posont, President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan 517-482-1800 or 313-727-3546 cellpresident.nfb.mi@gmail.com www.nfbmi.org

Blind Citizens to Rally at Blind Commission Meeting: Demand rehire of Christine Boone and David Robinson – Reform of Agency

Dearborn Heights, Michigan – On Friday March19, 2010, blind people will Gather at 9:00 am at the office of the Michigan Commission for the Blind for its Quarterly meeting, 201 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI, with a rally outside at 12 noon, to voice their outrage at the unwarranted, unfair and maliciously motivated firings of David Robinson and Christine Boone. In addition, the Federation members will be asking the Governor to open up the appointment process for Commission Board members to the public. They will demand transparency in the application, review and appointment process.

The Federation will have a 45 minute block, at 10:30 am, on the agenda of the Michigan Commission for the Blind Board meeting to express its concerns. In addition members will make public comments expressing their opinions on Commission matters. Presenters will raise issues about Boone’s and Robinson’s firings, alleged corruption in the hearings process for the Business Enterprise Program and the ineffectiveness of the Commission Board in directing and overseeing the activities of Patrick Cannon, the Director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind. The Federation believes that Cannon has inappropriate and undue influence in the appointment process for Commission for the Blind members.

“Cannon tells the Governor what he wants and she rubber stamps it. He is able to pick his boss and then fire them when he doesn’t like what they do,” commented Michael Powell, first Vice President of the Federation. “Governor Granholm has made ethics a priority in her administration. In our view, the appointment process is not transparent. We cannot find out who is in consideration and who supports or opposes them. Cannon has exploited this system to bully and intimidate Commissioners to fit his needs. Any state official making more than $100,000 ought to be accountable to someone for his actions.”

The Federation a ledges that Patrick Cannon, the Director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind and the only lower level member of the Governor’s Cabinet is using his influence to bully, intimidate and control the Commission Board, his supervision, Commission employees and clients of the agency, including blind entrepreneurs in the Business Enterprise Program. “The man is out of control and no one is willing to take charge of his outrageous behavior,” commented Larry Posont, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan...

Christine Boone, the former Director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center, was fired after she had worked to develop a successful and valuable marksmanship program at the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center in Kalamazoo. The marksmanship program was designed to build positive attitudes among blind Michigan citizens who have a deep-rooted hunting tradition.

Several Training Center students are expected to attend the Friday Board meeting and rally.

“When someone who has hunted and fished all their life loses their eyesight, they feel less of a person. To learn that shooting is still a viable recreational option is encouraging and makes a person think that if I can do this, I can probably do a lot of things I didn’t think I could,” commented Roxanna Mann, a current student at the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center and a former participant in the marksman program. Mann commented, “We love Christine Boone. She believes in us and is an inspiration.”

Cannon alleged that Boone had not sought proper approvals and that it was illegal to have pellet guns on state property, though Boone had checked with the Michigan State police and the Kalamazoo City Police prior to setting up the program. According to state law, a pellet gun is not a “firearm.”

The National Federation of the blind of michigan (NFBM) is a proud affiliate of the

National Federation of the Blind. Originally founded in 1941, the NFBM has been a

Leader in advocacy and has worked tirelessly to change what it means to be blind

In Michigan. Among our accomplishments: bringing NFB-NEWSLINE® to Michigan, establishing

The Michigan Commission for the Blind, white cane legislation, Braille literacy for

Blind children legislation, and much more.

Pr newswire 106857Michigan state policy micro

Fred Wurtzel

2010-03-19