[Nfbsatx] September Presidential Release

Tue Sep 13 22:54:37 UTC 2011

what is rong with leaving the meetings the way they were. I would like to know, because I was under the impression that the playing of the Pr was not very boring, or long at all. I never found the Pr to be tedious, even when I was a new member. It is like reading my dayly news paper, except it is monthly. I like to listen to the release around others so we may all share in the joys and sorrows, and everything new that happens in the nfb. yes, I have the option to listen to it on my own however, I believe that fellowship is the first way anyone, new or old build in respect for our organization as a whole. It was an insult to me when i realized that the Pr was edited down. I wonder, why such a thing was done, when there was enough time to cover everything on the agenda. I know for certin, that when elections arive in january, I will be sure to nominate a president who will be dependable, and stick to their guns where the agenda is concerned. If a recording
 will not be given some respect, it is my belieff, that disrespect also comes to those who did the recording. if disrespect is what we strive to do, then we should just play our music players, and Ipods loud while the meeting is going on because of the simple fact that noone in their right mind will want to listen to that chatter about things noone will know about. what is the point of coming to the meeting then? Presentations of any sort, need to be given the upmost attention. Anyone who gives a presentation, works very hard: even before the thought of presenting comes in to play. Then, there is the act of the presenting itself. what is the point of presenting?Why present something noone will listen to.? I will tell you this answer now, if I may. A presentation occurs because we as the presenter, have no right to presume that we know how every person's mind works. It is not our responsability as the presenter, to care about what the minds of our
 listeners are doing, or if they even stay focused. We the presenter, need to consintrate on the task at hand, and that task is informing our audiences. When people attend our chapter meetings, they are coming to view our live presentations of what the Nfb truly is all about. If we cut things out, and assume things, how does that look to the organization to whom we are presenting? All I am saying here, is that by cutting things and presuming to know how everyone thinks, is not only disrespectful, and insulting, but it is a disrespect of anonymity. If I have it my way, thmy anonymity will not be disrespected. I will say now to Peater and Mary Donahue, thank you for bringing this to our attention. It is my hope, that this insulting act will not happen again. I'm sure if the president of the United States were to shorten his speaches to the american people, we would not take that kindly will we not?

On Tue Sep 13th, 2011 2:13 PM CDT Peter Donahue wrote:

>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
>>
>>
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>
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