[nfbwatlk] FW: Just hung up from talking with Lou Oma Durand

[Mike Freeman]

Hi, all!

I haven't said much until now because in a volatile legislative atmosphere such as this, it pays to be cautious as one never knows whether or not objectionable bills will be resurrected and tacked onto other legislation. We (NFBW) have taken advantage of this tactic more than once. Luckily, however, there are requirements in the Washington state legislature that all provisions of bills be germane to the major thrust of a bill so while such funny-business does happen, it's rarer than at the Federal level, especially during a short session.

All of which is to say that I believe it's appropriate to quietly celebrate. In all likelihood, we have protected the status of the Washington State School for the Blind and the Department of Services for the Blind as separate state agencies this year.

Having said this, however, we must be ever-vigilant. That is the price of good government. But, ladies and gentlemen, I think we've done it. Hurrah for collective action.

In the NFB, however, it seems our work is never done! Now we must see what we can do to restore at least some of WTBBL's funding. I shall have more to say about this in the coming days.

Congratulations, all!

Mike Freeman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Washington

----- Original Message -----
From: Alco Canfield <amcanfield at comcast.net>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Friday, Feb 5, 2010 22:10:08
Subject: [nfbwatlk] FW: Just hung up from talking with Lou Oma Durand

>
>
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl Jarvis <carjar82 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 12:12 PM
> To: Shirley Taylor <shanvel at aol.com>; john guydish <jguydish at hotmail.com>; Holly Kaczmarski <holly.b.kaczmarski at gmail.com>; Carl Jarvis <carjar82 at gmail.com>; Bruce Radtke <bwrdtk1973 at gmail.com>; Bill Hoage <billhoage at charter.net>; Barbara Crowley <barbchie at aol.com>; Alco Canfield <amcanfield at comcast..net>; Karen Johnson <kljsea at comcast.net>
> Subject: Just hung up from talking with Lou Oma Durand
> 
> 
> Hi All, 
> Lou Oma called me a few minutes ago and among other things, told me that her contact in the governor's office said the bill appears dead for this session.  
> She also said that she and her management team have been working hard to ensure that the $100 thousand will not be taken from the Older Blind Program.  At this point in time she believes that this is pretty firm.  
> Lou Oma was very pleased with our meeting with Susan Dryefus, DSHS secretary.  She feels that we've made great strides toward a better working relationship.  Although I was on the telephone, which is not conducive to getting a good first-hand impression, I found Susan to be sincere in her desire to work together for the good of our participants.  We agreed to respect our differing positions regarding the location of Services for the Blind, and not become embroiled in personal attacks.  
> All in all I feel we have made progress in future working relations.  
>  
> Carl 
> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbwatlk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com