[Nfbmt] David Andrews

[Dan Burke]

Hear, hear!


On 12/1/13, d m gina <dmgina at samobile.net> wrote:
> David AndrewsTo:david.andrews at nfbnet.orgSubject:[nfb-talk] Fwd:
> [Nfbv-announce] Retirement of Dr. Maurer
>
>> From: "Fredric Schroeder" <fschroeder at sks.com>;
>> To: "NFBV Announce" <nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org>;
>> Date: Sun, 1 Dec 2013 11:12:29 -0500
>> Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Retirement of Dr. Maurer
>
>> Friends:
>
>
>
>> Over the weekend, I participated in a meeting of the board of directors
>> of >the National Federation of the Blind. The meeting was held at our
>> national >headquarters in Baltimore.
>
>
>
>> As you know, Dr. Marc Maurer has been our national president since
>> 1986. He >has served as president longer than any of our previous
>> presidents and has >guided us through a period of unprecedented growth
>> and change. It was under >Dr. Maurer's leadership that we established
>> the Jernigan Institute and all >of the programs that have been so
>> successful in demonstrating the truth of >our assertion that given
>> proper opportunity and training, blind people can >live and work as
>> others.
>
>
>
>> In particular we have developed many programs designed to provide blind
>> >children and youth with the skills and confidence they need to compete
>> fully >in their education and to develop their life ambitions. We have
>> conducted >the Youth Slam, Science Academy, and more recently the BELL
>> programs. >
>
>
>> In the area of technology under Dr. Maurer's leadership we developed
>> the >KNFB Reader Mobile allowing blind people to have immediate access
>> to print >with nothing more than a cell phone and special software. And
>> then there was >the Blind Driver Challenge. There is no question that
>> lack of access to >reliable transportation remains a major barrier for
>> blind people. Yet, the >Blind Driver Challenge showed that we could
>> develop the technology to enable >a blind person to drive a car, not
>> simply sit passively in a car that drives >itself.
>
>
>
>> These are the expressions of Dr. Maurer's leadership. Yet at the heart
>> of >his leadership is his spirit and his belief in every blind person.
>> He has >inspired and encouraged us, faced the most difficult challenges
>> with >resolution and strength, and he has kept us together, and never
>> let us >waiver in our belief in our own right to live normal,
>> productive lives. >
>
>
>> On Saturday afternoon Dr. Maurer told the board that it is his
>> intention to >not seek reelection to the presidency next summer at our
>> national >convention. He feels the time is right to transition to the
>> next president, >the next individual who can lead us for a quarter
>> century or more. Dr. >Maurer is in good health and believes that it is
>> important that he step down >from the presidency while he is able to
>> assist with the transition. Dr. >Maurer told the board that he, Dr.
>> Maurer, plans to support Mr. Mark >Riccobono as the next president of
>> the National Federation of the Blind. >
>
>
>> Mr. Riccobono presently serves as the Executive Director of the
>> Jernigan >Institute. He is an accomplished individual with the strength
>> and wisdom to >assume the serious responsibility of leading our
>> movement. He has brought to >his work the imagination and competency we
>> demand from our president. >
>
>
>> We are truly fortunate that within the Federation we have individuals
>> who >are able and willing to give all they have to furthering our move
>> toward >true equality. The demands of the NFB presidency are
>> unimaginable. We >require our leader to give all of his time, all of
>> his imagination, and all >of his personal reserve of judgment to
>> leading our organization. This is >what Dr. Maurer has done for the
>> past 27 and a half years, and it is what >Mark Riccobono will do for
>> the time of his presidency.
>
>
>
>> The transition brings to an end one chapter in our history and what a
>> >glorious chapter it has been. We cannot face the loss of Dr. Maurer's
>> >leadership without a sense of sadness; but the transition to a new
>> president >is not just the absence of what we had before. The
>> transition heralds a new >chapter in our history and with it, new
>> opportunities-the chance to take all >that has come before and build
>> something bigger and more powerful than we >have ever known.
>
>
>
>> Please join me in thanking Dr. Maurer for his leadership, his
>> friendship and >his faithful devotion to our cause; and please join me
>> in wishing Mark >Riccobono the very best as he seeks to take the
>> foundation that is all that >has come before and build upon it the next
>> great chapter in our history. >
>
> --
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
>   FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
>
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-- 
Dan Burke
My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal