[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: An Issue Affecting Us All

[Sheri Koch]

I’m sure that President Soulsby will further address this but I wanted to draw this to your attention now.  This might warrant emails and letters from members of our affiliate  but I’ll leave that up to the president and or legislative director to advise you accordingly. 

Namaste
Sheri

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Chad Keeney <newaspect211 at yahoo.com>
> Date: October 9, 2020 at 1:30:53 PM EDT
> To: Sheri Koch <slk8332015 at gmail.com>, Ed McDonald <ed at eioproductions.com>, Marcus Soulsby <msoulsby at suddenlink.net>
> Subject: Fw: An Issue Affecting Us All
> Reply-To: Chad Keeney <newaspect211 at yahoo.com>
> 
> Nicky Gacos asked me to see getting this posted to the listserv, not sure if I'm on it or not to be honest.
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: "Chad Keeney" <newaspect211 at yahoo.com>
> To: "Bill Ramsey" <billramsey1970 at outlook.com>, "Antwann Sorrells" <blindambitionvending at gmail.com>, "George Barnhart" <sunvalleyvending at outlook.com>, "Doug Walters" <walterscandv at yahoo.com>, "BOB EUBANK" <reubank at rocketmail.com>, "Jimmy Akers" <jimbosvending at aol.com>, "billiekeeney at hotmail.com" <billiekeeney at hotmail.com>
> Cc: "Nick Gacos" <nickycolorado at netscape.net>, "Marijane K. Waldron" <marijane.k.waldron at wv.gov>, "Ed Gaunch" <ed.gaunch at wv.gov>
> Sent: Fri, Oct 9, 2020 at 12:39 PM
> Subject: An Issue Affecting Us All
> Good afternoon everyone,
> 
> I had the privilege of being on a call this morning about an issue thay will affect not only the blind vendor but also the program itself. I wanted to bring your attention to it.
> 
> That issue being the commercialization of rest areas. If that would occur that would be a death knell to all of us, vendor and program alike.
> 
> We have hope because in attendance were the Honorable Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and Capito (R-WV). Senator Barrasso is the current Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and Senator Capito is most likely his successor. Rest areas are under this auspice, as Transportation is a subcommittee under EPW.
> 
> I had the opportunity to speak directly to Senator Capito about the paramount importance of the rest areas to our program and the catastrophic effect that we all would feel were they commercialized. Her predecessor has stated he would never commercialize the rest areas. I believe she feels the same way, given that she has voted on key issues that would affect all of us in our favor, as she has served on subcommittees under EPW.
> 
> It is because of seeing the history of her voting, her communication and dealings with groups like the National Federation of the Blind of WV, which she acknowledged during that call that we should on 3 November vote for her in the Senatorial election. I strongly encourage everyone to vote, but to also ensure she is re-elected to the U.S. Senate so that we have an ally and can furtherance a partnership with a person who already understands the challenges of the blind and the programs that assists and supports these endeavors. 
> 
> In this time of great crisis is also a time of great opportunity, to quote NABM President Nicky Gacos. I believe with her aid we will see a new era of prosperity for the blind vendor in WV and accelerate forward on the path on being entrepreneurs in the truest sense.
> 
> Stay safe, stay strong, vote on 3 November.
> 
> Chad Keeney
> Executive Chair 
> WV Committee of Blind Vendors 
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android