[Oabs] Urgent: call for board meeting

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi all,

First to Elif, I'm sorry in advance as this email will not make much
sense at all to you.  If you are unable to attend as you are still in
Turkey that is perfectly all right, though I am including you on this
message as you are a member of the board and should know we are
meeting.

Board, we need to meet ASAP.  I was hoping to meet in July instead of
August because that was hard to get everyone together last year, but
some faults in our board were brought to my attention at convention
and they need to be addressed.  Without going into too much detail,
there were several different situations where an individual identified
a lack of follow-through or a failure to pay attention to important
dates or deadlines in another, then would do something similar that
someone else would complain to me about.  We're holding each other
more accountable than we are holding ourselves, and that is not how a
board should work.  We need to nip this issue in the butt quickly if
we don't want it to grow worse, and I'm sure none of us want that.

In this board meeting I don't want any finger pointing or harsh
discussion of specific individuals or circumstances, and I will be
sure to moderate such discussion.  I'm asking Deborah to also be there
to monitor the tone of the meeting and what is said so we can
adequately address the issue without making anyone feel terrible.
Please don't try to figure out who, if anyone, said something about
you either, as I can tell you almost everyone is on both ends of the
problem here and what exactly was said doesn't matter.  We need to
develop mutual understanding of the commitments we have to help our
division and affiliate, and recognize how the work we do as
individuals effects positively or negatively the work of others.  We
need to come to an agreement on how to handle accountability as a
whole in the future so no individual is ragging on another for not
doing this or that.  I don't want this division to go backwards due to
senseless drama when we've been doing so well up to this point.

Now, that isn't all we will be discussing.  We need to have some
constructive conversations about how to be more efficient and
effective in our fundraising efforts on a national scale.  We also
need to discuss the possibility of bringing a NABS rep to convention
in November.  Finally, we need to discuss plans for how we can be
involved at this year's convention.  I do know that the NAPUB play
will be back and Bob Pierce has told me those who NAPUB for sure wants
to play specific roles in will be contacted shortly.  Even if you do
not want to perform in the play you could perhaps marshall, or can
assist in the hospitality room, etc.  I'm sure Eric or our convention
arrangements chair can think of a few projects we might be helpful
with.

In order to meet as quickly as possible while abiding by the 10 day
advanced notice provision of our constitution, I propose July 26th at
7:30 PM.  That is a Sunday night which I don't believe presents a
challenge for anyone in the summer months.  If it does for anyone,
please propose the next possible date that you can attend a meeting
with a suggested time.

Thanks all,

-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton 2016.
Music Therapy, Psychology, Philosophy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
Secretary, NFB Performing Arts Division
Sigma Alpha Iota-Delta Sigma