[Ohio-talk] Fw: Please Forgive Me Because I Really Blew It

[Carol Akers]

Although not everyone was able to feel the pain that Deborah endured on Sunday, 
I hope everyone has since felt her discomfort in the situation and understands 
that as Dr Smith said, that we are all a family and thus should care about each 
others feelings.  


At times the torch is passed on and it is not an easy task to do when not 
everyone is prepared for change.   We all want and need to feel  that we are  
important in whatever capacity we  are able to serve the organization.  As 
family, we need to be sensitive to the feelings and the dignity of our brothers 
and sisters.

I hope this type of action does not cause any one of our family members to feel 
unwanted or  any less  a contributor and integral part of the NFB of Ohio.  

Thank you JW for bringing repentance  to the situation and clarifying the end 
results for us all.

 
Carol Akers
 
 




________________________________
From: Dr. JW Smith <jwsmithnfb at frontier.com>
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 4:56:05 PM
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Fw: Please Forgive Me Because I Really Blew It


Dr. J. Webster Smith
President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
P.O.BOX 458 Athens, Ohio, 45701-0458
Phone Number - 740-592-6326 
"Changing What it Means to be Blind"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dr. Smith 
To: 'Dr. JW Smith' 
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 10:38 AM
Subject: Please Forgive Me Because I Really Blew It


Dear NFB of Ohio Family,

                After speaking with Deborah Kendrick today on the phone, and 
asking-no, begging, for her forgiveness about what occurred on Sunday, I feel 
that it is necessary that I seek your forgiveness as well.  It is somewhat 
ironic that in my speech on Saturday at the convention, I talked about how we 
are a family and as such, we should treat each other that way.  Families don't 
treat family members the way Deborah Kendrick was treated on Sunday.  I could 
take the time here to try and justify and explain and rationalize why what 
occurred did happen, but the fact remains that because of my actions or 
inactions, one of our family members was deeply hurt, embarrassed, and 
humiliated.  I am so grateful that she forgave me today on the phone, and I ask 
for your forgiveness.  No one should have to endure that kind of public 
humiliation and pain, especially someone that has been an intricate part of our 
affiliate and has served admirably these past two years as our secretary.  As a 
family, when one of us hurts, we should all feel that, but more importantly, 
none of us should try to knowingly or intentionally hurt another family member.  
I wish that I could go back and erase what occurred Sunday in terms of causing 
Deborah such public pain and humiliation, but I can't.  However, I can learn 
from this experience, and commit to all of you that I will do everything in my 
power to ensure that it doesn't happen again.  We must all keep in mind that all 
of us are volunteers in this organization and we serve because we are concerned 
about making life better for those who are blind in the state of Ohio and 
beyond.  One of my jobs as your leader is to empower you to serve at your 
maximum potential, and to ensure opportunities for communication, and access to 
information.  At the heart of this objective is trust and good will.  I want 
those of you who serve in any capacity in this organization to know that I am 
accessible, open and honest, and concerned about your well being as a person.  
Therefore, when something like what happened on Sunday occurs, the message is 
not a healthy one in any respect.  I told Deborah that I will continue to grieve 
with her, and do what it takes to restore the faith, confidence, and trust that 
might have been shaken certainly in her, and perhaps in some of you.  Please 
feel free to contact me concerning this matter or anything, and know that "we 
are a family," and that I love you all and only want the best for the NFB of 
Ohio.  I know this is a cliché, but please charge what happened Sunday to my 
head, and not to my heart!  This affiliate gives the President a great deal of 
respect and latitude in every aspect, and I never want to take that for granted, 
or abuse that privilege and trust.  




JW
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