[Nfbsatx] September Presidential Release

Tue Sep 13 19:13:49 UTC 2011

Hello A.Z. and everyone,

    I dare you to tell Dr. Maurer that these concerns are childish and such! 
The how point in playing these releases is so folks come to know our 
national president and understand what we're doing to improve the lives of 
our nation's blind. Other businesses and organizations distribute similar 
communications that are distributed/played during their local, national, and 
World gatherings with both old timers and new recruits present. I too was 
once new and never complained when I came to chapter meetings and sat 
through the playing of the presidential release. I figured that this is a 
part of the program and I'm to take it or leave it. Hmmm. I didn't know that 
this had a name "Informed choice" back in 1976. None the less I got used to 
hearing the presidential releases and looked forward to hearing them 
whenever we met.

    Back then no one ever suggested that playing presidential releases in 
their entirety would turn prospective members away. Rather it was the 
opposite and needs to remain that way now and in to the future. There's 
nothing childish about a long-standing tradition those of us who have been 
in the organization for years intend to fight to protect.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jose Martinez" <jose.martinez07 at gmail.com>
To: "San Antonio Texas Chapter Mailing List" <nfbsatx at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbsatx] September Presidential Release

First of all, thank you Peter for sending us the direct link to the
presidential release. Now this way individuals have another great
opportunity to get a hold of this product. Now as to why the
presidential release is edited down a little bit for our chapter
meetings.

 You are correct that the presidential release has been a long time
tradition in the federation chapter meetings, but at no time has there
ever been a rule saying that they have to be played at all. So to
state that changing or modifying the recording may bring us problems,
is a bit outlandish and childish. Our national center puts out
materials for us to use at our own discretion in order to get the
message of the federation across to as many people as possible.

 We have been doing this for a while with the understanding that we
have new individuals coming out to learn about the chapter and the
organization and listening to a 20 minute presentation from someone
they do not know talking about things that are not familiar to them
yet may turn them away. So a little edited form of the release is
presented to introduce the federation’s doings on a national level and
other very important information. We also make sure that everybody
knows that these presidential releases are available to all to listen
to and download at their own time in the full form.

 The leadership and the majority of this chapter agrees on what steps
are being taken, if you have an issue with how things are ran at our
chapter, please make sure to bring the issue up in the proper forum
for discussion!

Thank you

A. Z.
President

On 9/12/11, Peter Donahue <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> Good afternoon everyone,
>
>     To insure you hear the September 2011 Presidential Release in its
> entirety you will find the link below:
>
> http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Audio/pr/PR398.mp3
>
>     Our national office works very hard to produce these every month. It's
> our responsibility to be sure they're played in their entirety during 
> local
> chapter and division meetings. There was content on last month's
> presidential release that would have been of benefit to the new people who
> attended their first chapter meeting. We have no right to prevent them 
> from
> learning about services like the Blio E-book reader. Jim Gashel 
> demonstrated
> it on the last presidential release. He also does a demonstration on this
> month's release in connection with the announcement about the availability
> of Mike Hingson's book "Thunder Dog" now available in the Blio Bookstore.
> I've known Mike Hingson for many years and want people to be aware of the
> availability of Thunder Dog from all sources including Blio. Our
> presidential releases are a great way for spreading the word.
>
>     Our literature including our presidential releases are intellectual
> property of the National Federation of the Blind. Altering its content in
> any way opens us up to the possibility of legal action something I and
> others don't want to see happen to our chapter. Dr. Maurer and I have
> discussed this matter in the past. He has discussed it with me personally
> and during a seminar I attended at our national center in 2008 that was 
> held
> for our Webmasters.
>
>     Having presidential releases played at local chapter meetings is a
> long-standing tradition in this movement. When I joined the organization 
> in
> 1976 presidential releases were always played during chapter meetings. 
> Like
> Dr. Maurer Dr. Jernigan kept us informed about what the organization was
> doing around the country and what we could do in our community to further
> the work of the federation. At no time were these releases ever altered 
> just
> because of time constraints. If we need more time for the meeting to be 
> able
> to play the presidential releases please arrange for it Mr. President. I
> recall that we had 30 minutes after the last meeting took place time that
> could have been used to play the last presidential release in its 
> entirety.
>
>     Anyway enjoy the unadulterated version of this month's Presidential
> Release. Let's hope that what you hear by following the link above is 
> what's
> played at Saturday's meeting. This kind of thing must stop! All the best.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> "Will you come and awake our lost land from its slumber
>       And her fetters we'll break, links that long are encumbered.
>       And the air will resound with hosannas to greet you
>       On the shore will be found gallant Irishmen to greet you."
> Will You Come to the Bower
> Traditional Irish Folk Song
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbsatx mailing list
> Nfbsatx at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbsatx:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org/jose.martinez07%40gmail.com
>

_______________________________________________
Nfbsatx mailing list
Nfbsatx at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Nfbsatx:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org/pdonahue2%40satx.rr.com 