[Nfbsatx] Presidential Releases

[Peter Donahue]

Good morning everyone,

    I've been a member for 35 years first in Massachusetts and in Texas. I'm 
a charter member of the Massachusetts Association of Blind Students 
(MASS-ABS.) I was a member of three chapters Brockton where I lived, 
Cambridge, and the Neshoba Valley Chapter which served the 
Leomonster-Fitchburgh Area. At every chapter meeting and during the MASS-ABS 
Meetings the presidential releases were always played and played in their 
entirety. When I moved to Texas in 1981 I became a member of the Austin 
Chapter and later the San Antonio Chapter when we moved here in 1981. Just 
as was true in Massachusetts the presidential release was played at all 
chapter meetings in its entirety.

    If Dr. Jernigan learned that chapters weren't playing presidential 
releases or their content was being altered the chapter/division in question 
could count on hearing from him. The conversation wouldn't be pleasant! 
Likewise Dr. Maurer has continued to urge all NFB chapters to play the 
complete presidential release during their meetings. He has made his 
disatisfaction with chapters who don't play them known on several past 
presidential releases and has worked to make them more appealing and 
informative for members old and new. Check out the archive of presidential 
releases at:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Presidential_Releases.asp?SnID=1645679548

    If organizations like the NAACP, the UIL, and others learned that 
presentations from their national leadership weren't shared at local group 
meetings or their content was altered to satisfy someone's hidden agenda 
their members would be just at outraged! Would they be considered being 
childish? If Dr. King prepared written or recorded messages for members of 
the civil rights movement to be shared among members and supporters and the 
contents of  his presentations were altered or not shared with others he too 
would be just as angry. The groups in question would most likely consider 
taking legal action against those who withheld or abused such presentations. 
Would they consider him being childish.

    So it is with the NFB. Our national office works hard to produce these 
presidential releases each month to keep members around the country informed 
as to the latest NFB news, to inform members of new products and services 
they may wish to utilize, announce up-coming events, and of course to give 
us a laugh or two when the release concludes. Had this not happened last 
month this thread never would have appeared on this list. Just as it is with 
material distribuyted by other groups and organizations we need to insure 
its proper discemination and to protect our intellectual property from abuse 
within and outside of the organization. All the best.

Peter Donahue