[Ohio-Talk] Clarification and Thoughts

Sat Feb 18 19:34:03 UTC 2023

Annette, I totally agree with you and thank you for the courage to speak up.

I would like to ask that everyone involved in the current email sniping please stop. Yes, you are putting your emotions out there but you are ultimately harming the NFB Ohio affiliate. If I were just joining this affiliate I would have second thoughts about my continued involvement. I hope you are working with the national office to help resolve your differences but an email group is not the place for these conversations. 

Thank you very much and "Let's go build the Federation!"

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of President Capital chapter via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2023 7:56 AM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: President Capital chapter <president.capital.nfboh at gmail.com>
Subject: [Ohio-Talk] Clarification and Thoughts

Good Morning NFB of Ohio Family,

I am writing this email with a heavy heart because of all the events that have taken place during the last state convention and the conversations that have taken place. For the most part, I have chosen to remain publicly silent throughout this entire episode, only talking to some one on one to do exactly as Dr. Peters suggested in her email this week to not take personal sides, but to take the side of the Federation, and I will continue to do just that with what I have to say this morning. First of all, I was asked to clarify what happened surrounding the auction gift basket that has been mentioned in earlier posts, and then, if you will indulge me, I have more to say about what has happened and about what I hope we can do to heal.

As many reading this know, I was asked once again to be in charge of the auction held at the banquet during the past convention. This job, along with taking care of the door prizes are a mostly enjoyable job, and I look forward to doing it each year. Early in the weekend, I was approached by a member of a chapter telling me that they had some items for the auction and that this included an adult oriented gift basket. We were in a very crowded hallway between events when this conversation took place, and I didn’t have the chance to ask her to clarify, but she told me that they would be bringing me the items sometime before the auction. As it turned out, the items were not given to me until minutes before the banquet was to begin, so prior to that time I didn’t know exactly what was meant by an adult basket. At the time the basket was delivered and set upon the table with the other items, I did not talk to who brought it as far as I can remember, and am unsure of who actually delivered it. So, when I found the basket on the table, along with everything else that I was trying to organize, I noticed a bag that had no braille list of what was inside. I could not tell myself by touch what was included, so my sister-in-law who was with me and helping to set up looked in and described to me what was there, and yes, it was a very adult basket. At this time, I considered pulling the basket from the auction because I did have my doubts about whether this was an appropriate basket to auction. However, I also knew that a chapter worked hard to put this basket together and donated it with the best of intentions to raise money for the affiliate, so I was unsure of what to do. At that time, people were starting to come into the banquet hall, and things were getting hectic as they always do before the banquet. I happened to hear Richard and Suzanne coming into the room, and decided to ask them for their opinions on the basket. I approached them and stated to them that I needed to talk to them about something. Immediately at that time, Richard was called away on another matter. I don’t know what it was, but I do know that someone was calling his name fairly urgently. So, he did walk away, but not due to a lack of wanting to deal with the problem, but because of another matter. I can’t see how in any way he would have known what i needed to talk about, and I don’t believe he was in any way demonstrating any lack of leadership by walking away, but in fact trusted the people that he appointed to be in charge to deal with the problem. So I then described the basket to Suzanne, and after a moment of both of us being a little shocked and un sure, and after a quick discussion on the best way to handle, we both made the decision to allow the basket to be auctioned, but not to describe the basket in any detail other then to state that it was a very adult basket, and to see what happens. That is exactly what did indeed happen and the basket was purchased and the money collected, and the auction moved on bringing a fair amount of money to the affiliate. So, this is what happened regarding that, but I want to be perfectly clear. I was placed in charge of the auction, and the decision was ultimately mine as to what to do. I did question Suzanne, and we both agreed to what to ahppen, but I could have, and in hindsight should have made the decision not to auction the basket. I made a mistake in my role as auction chairperson, and for that I apologize, and I look forward to creating the guidelines for future auctions that Richard spoke of so that this does not happen again. Did Suzanne’s opinion play a role in the decision, yes, but I was the one in charge and any fault is mine, and mine alone. Like I said, I enjoy taking care of the auction and door prizes and am hopeful that even though I messed up with this event, that I will continue to be allowed to serve the affiliate in this fashion. I wouldb hate to be judged solely on my mistakes and not on the entire body of my work.

That leads me to the other reason for my lengthy email, judging people by their body of work, and not their mistakes. As everyone knows, so much of the unfortunate events that have occurred over the past few months have come about due to the election for Affiliate President that took place on Sunday morning of our state convention. During that election, many things were said and did that I believe most of us who were there could have ben handled differently. However, it is an unfortunate reality that politics, even at the lowest of levels can be dirty and bring out the worse in people. I honestly do not believe that anyone who had a role in this event handled it in the best way, and I feel that their was plenty of blame to go around for all concerned, including myself for not speaking up to stop the train wreck that was taking place before me. But I refuse to allow this morning’s catastrophe and the aftermath to define our affiliate and to allow the mistakes of those involved to erase all of the good that has been done by the participants. Those who played a part in that election as speakers and those who have been speaking since and who have ben named since then are all good people who have proven themselves in countless ways to be assets to our movement. Richard, Barbara, Suzanne, Eric, Carolyn, and Todd are all very valuable pieces to our whole. I could not possibly begin to innumerate all of their accomplishments both collectively and individually to what this affiliate has achieved over the past years and decades that they have served us, but suffice it to say that this affiliate has accomplished so many great things in large part to the work of these 6 people, and I absolutely refuse to allow the events of a few minutes at a convention and a few emails since to wipe out those accomplishments, and I ask the same of all of you as well, including of each other. During elections, passions and emotions run high, and things are often said and done that are not a normal depiction of what people are actually like in real life and under everyday circumstances, and I truly know that this is the case. I know that all of these leaders mentioned are better than what we saw that morning and since. So, like I began this email with, don’t allow sides to be taken, except for what is best for the Federation, and know that what is best for the Federation is for us to have as many proven leaders as we can get. Our movement can’t afford to lose any of them. I know that no matter how the election would have turned out, with Suzanne or Eric winning, or with Richard staying as he did, our affiliate could have  continued to achieve great things. I know for a fact that all involved would have lead us to be bigger and better with soaring successes, and yes, with some glowing mistakes, but in any way we would have been in good hands and I would have been and am, proud to serve with any one of them. How do I know this? Because their past service tells me so. 

I have mentioned a lot about mistakes, and I know that all of us can agree that many have ben made. But mistakes are how we learn. All great leaders throughout history have made mistakes because they are human. But what makes a true leader is the ability to learn, and to grow, and to make sure that mistakes are not repeated. I know that all of you have the ability to do that. All leaders have strengths and weaknesses, and all leaders make decisions that are questioned or criticized, but again they learn to accept this and as long as they are doing what is best for the group they are leading, and are doing their best, then that is what counts. That doesn’t mean that all leaders are the best or even able to accomplish what they set out to do, but if their constituents will let them know at the time of the next election. 

So here is what I ask of all of you, and it may not be possible and it may be naive of me to ask, but please let’s move forward. I have spoken to a few of you and I know that there are doubts about your ability to forgive and forget, but I am asking you to try. All of you involved have proven countless times that you can and have put the Federation first. You have spent time away from your families, from activities that you may have rather done, and have parted with precious funds to do the work of the Federation. So I am asking you to do it again. Put the work and the needs of the Federation and of the blind that we serve over hurt felings, put the Federation over personal insults, both actual and perceived, and put the Federation over all of the mistakes that have been done. This does not mean that your hurt feelings, your insulted pride, or those mistakes are not justified or were not done, but that we are willing and able to demonstrate the leadership that has been so recently questioned, and the love of the Federation that I know that all of you have, and lets work together to move forward. Please, the Federation needs all of you.

Thanks to all of you for hearing me out, and for your service to the blind. May God bless all of you and may He bless the National Federation of the Blind.

Annette Lutz 

Sent from my iPad
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