[Ohio-Talk] State Convention Resolutions Committee

[bullis.michael at gmail.com]

Hello Colleagues:

Our State convention is about a month away so it's time to think about
resolutions.  Resolutions may seem intimidating with all those whereas's and
therefore's, but you don't need to know all that.  What you need to know is
what you want your resolution to do.  Your resolution is taking a position
on behalf of the NFB of Ohio 

To guide you in your thinking I post below the guide to resolutions that
appeared in the May 2025 Braille Monitor.  If you are intimidated by all
this, just send me your thinking and you and I can work on a resolution.

If you have a resolution or an idea for one, send it to me at least a week
prior to our convention.

Here is what was said in the Monitor.

Guidelines for Resolution Writing

A resolution is one very long sentence divided into two parts. In the first
part, a case is made that certain events have taken place or certain
conditions

exist that require action. The events are described in short statements that
begin with the word WHEREAS. These statements should clearly set forth the

reason a resolution is being written, without being so detailed that they
make the reader wish the resolution had never happened. The second part of a

resolution explains what will or should be done based on the argument laid
out in the first section. Resolves are used to say what the NFB will try to

persuade others to do. These, too, should be brief and to the point: long
enough that they are not ambiguous and concise enough that they avoid
repeating

what has already been said.

The most efficient way to write a resolution is to make a simple outline or
list of premises which you will turn into the WHEREAS clauses and a similar

simple list of phrases for the RESOLVED clauses. In fact, you should begin
by determining what your RESOLVED clauses are, that is, how many there
should

be and what their basic thrust is. You will know how many by the number of
entities we need to address or the number of problems we need to fix. After

you decide specifically how you want the problem fixed, determine the
smallest number of concepts you need to explain to a person unfamiliar with
the problem

to convince them that there is a problem. The best resolutions can be picked
up by a person unfamiliar with the issue and hold that person's attention

(in other words, they are as short as possible) while still actually
explaining the problem and the solution or solutions. This method, deciding
the ending

first and then crafting the arguments to reach it, will result in the
simplest and clearest resolution. Then, when you actually write the formal
resolution,

you can focus on the writing and the style, having already done the planning
part.

Here are the punctuation and layout rules for writing resolutions:

list of 6 items

1. Each argument begins with the word WHEREAS, indented and all caps. BE IT
RESOLVED and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, which introduce the RESOLVED sections,

are also indented and written in all caps. Note that WHEREAS is followed by
a comma, but the two versions of BE IT RESOLVED are not.

2. Each WHEREAS before the final one ends with a semicolon and the word
"and." This is true of the word "RESOLVED" as well.

3. The final WHEREAS ends with a colon, the words "Now, therefore," and a
hard return. Please note that "Now" is capitalized.

4. The final RESOLVED ends with a period. This reflects the fact that the
entire resolution is a single sentence. Sometimes one is taxed to refrain
from

writing sentences within WHEREAS clauses, but inserting a complete sentence
is not playing the game fairly.

5. A blank line separates the elements of the resolution.

6. In the beginning of the first RESOLVED, surround the year and the state
with commas. The formula looks like this: "BE IT RESOLVED that the National

Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this eighth day of July,
2000, in the city of Atlanta, Georgia," Note also that the c in city is not
capitalized.

list end

Remember that the resolves are couched in the subjunctive mood, which is
rarely used in English. This means that the third person verbs look singular
instead

of plural, with the s removed: the organization urge, the NFB condemn and
deplore, etc. This is because the subjunctive mood is invoked by words like
suggest,

wish, demand, request. Compare the following two sentences: 

 She visits her cousin every week. 

 I suggest that she visit her cousin every week.

The second sentence is in the subjunctive mood because of the verb
"suggest," so the correct verb form is "visit" instead of "visits." It is
the same with

resolutions. 

The rather strained form of the resolution makes it sound unnatural and
formal. Do not attempt to add to this effect by indulging in jargon and
verbosity.

Even though resolutions are frequently long, brevity is a virtue. Each
argument should be made concisely but clearly. Jargon never helps this
process.

Substituting "utilize" for the short, vigorous word "use" and referring to
people as "persons" or "individuals" are good examples of counterproductive

inflation of the pomposity quotient. On the other hand, because resolutions
are formal statements of a policy position, you should avoid slang or
informal

words like "exams" instead of "examinations" or "quotes" for "quotations."
Verb forms like "hunker down" or "get going" are also a bit too casual for
use

in resolutions.

You will remember that the NFB is on record as opposing people-first
language, except as it happens for some reason to sound euphonious. We are
also on

record as opposing the use of the terms "visually impaired" or "visual
impairment" in favor of "low vision" (hyphenated when used as an adjective)
if any

distinction needs to be made between totally blind people and those with
some eyesight. In other words, "blind people" is perfectly acceptable, or,
if

there is a good reason to make the distinction, "blind and low-vision
people." 

Capitalization should be consistent. Do not capitalize words for emphasis.
Quotation marks should not be used for this purpose either. "Federal" is not

capitalized unless it is part of an actual title or is the first word of a
sentence. Since WHEREAS clauses begin with capital letters, federal is
almost

never capitalized in resolutions. "Congress," on the other hand, is, as are
"House of Representatives" and "Senate." Names of departments and
organizations

are capitalized, but terms like "departments of education" or "vocational
rehabilitation agencies" are generic and should not be.

Resolutions often pile up nouns as adjectives. When this happens, the terms
should be hyphenated: access-program producers.

Congressional bill numbers are written H.R. 0000 or S. 0000.

Resolutions are an important part of the work of the national convention.
The Braille Monitor is a good sounding board for new ideas and new policies.

Consider writing an article about your new idea or policy so that the
conversation can begin, and you will be ready to write your resolution for
2026.

However, the most immediate task is to start working on the resolutions for
2025. Resolutions guide our organization. Put your thinking cap on, and get

your fingers typing. Let's make sure we have a great set of resolutions for
the 2025 convention! The job of the membership is to make sure the committee

has resolutions to consider. I look forward to receiving yours!

 

 

Michael Bullis

Organization Support Services,

Direct phone: 443-286-9001

Address

5665 E. Clinton St.,

Albany Ohio 45710

 

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