[stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon'sCommission fortheBlind

Thu May 14 04:38:42 UTC 2009

Exactly!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:26 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon'sCommission
fortheBlind

Yes, it ssounds good on the surface.  But, like other government agencies, 
it is usually beneath the rosy picture they paint for public consumption.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission 
fortheBlind

> Judith,
>
> If the Commission acted even remotely in accordance with what they say 
> they
> do, you would be absolutely right.  I'm afraid in reality, they do the
> opposite.  It's a real problem in this state, and a number of people,
> including the NFB, are trying to deal with it.  It does sound good on the
> surface, though, doesn't it?
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Judith Bron
> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 6:44 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission
> forthe Blind
>
> It sounds like a few things.  If the trip was paid for out of a bequest, 
> the
>
> State has no right commenting on it.  Cologne?  If the Commission is 
> helping
>
> people adjust to blindness they are ahead of other commissions.  State
> governments see no benefit in adjusting to anything unless it's their tax
> system.  For anyone to be helped in adjusting to their handicap, the
> commission is ahead of other government bodies who think that a  person 
> has
> to adjust to a handicap like a child adjusting to a new toy.  Judith
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
> To: <nfbp-talk at yahoogroups.com>; "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List"
> <stylist at nfbnet.org>; "Performing Arts Division list"
> <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:24 AM
> Subject: [stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission for the
> Blind
>
>
> Hi Friends,
> Just came across this article in the Argus Observer, Portland OR. The
> comment form requires CAPTCHA solving and Web Visum got it wrong four
> times. If you wish to comment, here is the e-mail address for the news
> editor, Jessica K.
> jessicak at argusobserver.com
> The article is copied below my name after the link to it.
> Donna Hill
>
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2009/05/10/news/doc4a0689c424288161521
> 307.txt
>
> Block quote
> State questions Commission for the Blind spending
>
> Sunday, May 10, 2009 1:23 AM PDT
> PORTLAND (AP) - A state audit has found $61,000 in spending by the
> Oregon Commission for the Blind went for items such as a leather jacket,
> men's cologne,
> football jerseys, a bike trip to San Juan Islands and other expenditures.
>
> Funding for the commission is meant to help Oregonians who are blind and
> visually impaired live and work independently.
>
> The report released Friday by the Oregon Secretary of State said the
> football jerseys decorated a client's coffee cart and the San Juan
> Islands trip was
> primarily for non-clients. A trip to Chicago was taken for nutrition
> education.
>
> Auditors also questioned whether an additional $1.4 million was spent
> prudently.
>
> ''The Commission has done some outstanding work over the years,''
> Secretary of State Kate Brown said in a statement. ''It's best work is
> when it serves
> the specific needs of the individual clients.''
> But some spending has not met those needs, she said, and her auditors
> have listed a slew of recommendations for the commission, including
> making sure funds
> are clearly tied to business needs.
>
> The audit began in March 2007 after the state received reports saying
> the commission had mismanaged operations and misused funds meant to help
> clients.
> Linda Mock, administrator for the Commission for the Blind, said staff
> has already begun to improve documentation of its spending.
>
> ''We found the audit helpful in helping us strengthen documentation
> around client services,'' said Linda Mock, administrator for the
> Commission for the
> Blind. But she also defended the commission's expenditures. In a written
> response to the audit, Mock said much of the money went toward
> recreational activities
> meant to help client's adjust to blindness.
>
> ''We have seen a direct correlation over the years with an individual
> being willing to believe in their own capabilities on the job or living
> independently
> with being able to successfully participate in recreational activities
> such as tandem bike trips,'' she said.
>
> The commission organized a September 2006 trip to the San Juan Islands
> with funds from a deceased staff member who donated money for
> specifically for the
> outing, she said, and half of the participants on the San Juan Island
> trip were legally blind.
>
> The audit said the commission spent $12,000 for the seven-day trip to
> the San Juan Islands, and expenses included salary for four employees,
> bicycle rentals,
> camping fees, food and supplies and transportation. Two clients were on
> the trip, the audit said, and their case files did not discuss how the
> trip helped
> them meet their goals. Also noted in the audit was $1,300 for home
> Internet services for six employees who had no documented reason for
> working from home,
> and $1.3 million paid over a span of seven years to 14 vendors without
> obtaining competitive pricing.
> Block quote end
>
> -- 
> Read my articles on American Chronicle:
> http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
>
> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>
> Apple I-Tunes
>
> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>
> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
> www.padnfb.org
>
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