[Nfbmo] constitution question

[Bryan Schulz]

hi,

I'm not looking to have someone expelled from the NFB.
I'm just not thrilled with no  list, reasons, or definition to be found anywhere and the topic seems open ended and further compounded with emotions of the deciding members allowed to be a factor.

Bryan Schulz

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gary Wunder 
  To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List' 
  Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 10:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] constitution question


  Hi Bryan. We spend so much more time and energy trying to recruit than we do
  to expel people that your question caught me a bit off guard. Anyone can
  allege than anyone else has engaged in conduct unbecoming to a
  Federationist. The standard for expulsion among caring people must be pretty
  high.  You and I can disagree about the relative value of the blind driver
  challenge, but that is no reason for me to try to throw you out and no
  reason for you to try to throw me out.  Some of our members will disagree
  about the merit of having a division for auto enthusiasts, but once the
  issue is decided and we form a division, the debate is over.  Usually the
  reason for expulsion is not that there is some area of disagreement
  initially voiced, but that there continues to be dissension that is so
  disruptive that it simply stifles further activity and the kind of warm and
  caring spirit that draws people rather than pushes them away.

  I remember our expelling one person because he hit on one of our more
  vulnerable members who was naïve and mentally challenged enough that she did
  not know how to combat his advances beyond saying no. Another member was
  expelled when she tried to promote special housing for the blind in
  violation of our policy of integrated housing. In this case the affiliate
  did not expel but honored the wishes of the chapter to let them handle the
  matter. There may have been more than two instances where expulsion was
  required, but in my time since 1972, this issue just hasn't been very
  problematic.  

  Expulsion is never allowed to happen without a clearly relevant reason.  If
  I like onions on my burger and you don't like the smell of onions, you can
  bring a request that I be expelled on the grounds that you believe it is
  unbecoming to a member of the federation that someone show up with onions in
  his teeth.  There might be a lot of people who would privately agree that I
  should brush, floss, and maybe even some who would take up a collection to
  buy me some Listerine, but I don't think the issue of expulsion would have a
  chance of passing.  If it did, of course, I would have every right to appeal
  that expulsion.  If it happened in our chapter, I would appeal it to the
  state board, to the state convention, and might, if the national Board chose
  to consider it, appeal it all the way to them, look them straight in the
  eye, and with my best onion breath make a long and impassioned presentation.
  If I couldn't persuade them with my rational argument, I might bring them to
  tears with my aural argument.

  While there are certainly people who are problematic in meetings and who may
  not always behave in a way that makes all of us comfortable, I think
  everyone takes seriously the need for the National Federation of the Blind
  to be here for anyone who can benefit from what we have to offer.  We can't
  let anyone be so destructive that they threaten to destroy us, but we can't
  be so intolerant that the federation ends up being only for people who are
  very much like us, whatever we interpret that to mean.

  Warmly,

  Gary

    -----Original Message-----
  From: nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
  Of Bryan Schulz
  Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 5:50 PM
  To: nfbmo at nfbnet.org
  Subject: [Nfbmo] constitution question

  hi,

  Out of curiosity, who is the parliamentarian of the affiliate and who
  defines what "actions detrimental to the organization" or "conduct
  unbecoming to a member of the Federation" mean?

  Bryan Schulz
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