[Vendorsmi] Meeting with Mike Zimmer

Tue Apr 24 17:40:16 UTC 2012

Just a few questions from yours truly:
Why is this meeting not more widely known, given the importance of the subject to all operators?  Why are many of the same people who dropped the ball at the 2011 meeting with Steve Arwood being allowed to represent us again at this most crucial meeting with Mr. Arwood's boss?  Who's going to be doing the talking for the BEP at this meeting and exactly what will they talk about?

Other questions could be raised, but you get the picture.

Here is what I received as I received it.  Read em and act.

----- Original Message -----
From:
Rob Essenberg
To:
Andrea Nelson
 ;
Dale Layer
 ;
Garnet Prentice
 ;
Greg Keathley
 ;
Hazell Brooks
 ;
Kevin Tomczak
 ;
Nathan Prater
 ;
Risa Patrick-Langtry
 ;
Shane Jackson
 ;
James Chaney
Cc:
Rob Essenberg
 ;
James Hull
 ;
Constance Zanger
 ;
Larry Posont
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 12:37 PM
Subject: meeting with Mike Zimmer
To my fellow Elected Operators,
I'm writing to inform you of our latest contact with the Snyder Administration. Last
week Thursday, after a phone call from Hazell Brooks asking me if I thought it was
time to approach the governors administration regarding the executive order concerning
the Commission for the Blind., I told her I thought it probably was time and I would
check with James Chaney to see how he wanted to proceed. After speaking with Mr.
Chaney, we decided to write a letter to Mike Zimmer asking for a meeting between
himself and Representatives from the Elected Operators Committee.
Mr. Chaney directed me to draft the letter. After several revisions, James Chaney,
Hazell Brooks and Constance Zanger approved the content of the letter, which is attached
for your reference. The letter was sent out on Friday afternoon, April 20, 2012 and
within a couple of hours we had a response back from Mr. Zimmer. The response was
as follows:
Mr. Essenberg:
Thank you very much for reaching out on behalf of the Elected Operators Committee.
I think it is an excellent idea that we meet, by teleconference or in person, to
discuss where we are heading, possible approaches, and implementation issues.
With this email, I am asking my assistant, Rita Jenks, to set something up at a time
that is convenient for you and whoever you would like to participate.
Mike Zimmer
Hello Mr. Zimmer
Please find attached a document with some concerns of the Elected Operators Committee.
Sincerely,
Robert Essenberg
Vice Chair, Elected Operators Committee
We have set a meeting date with Mr. Zimmer. It will be Tuesday, May 1
st
. James Chaney, Hazell Brooks, Greg Keithley, James Hull, Constance Zanger and myself
will be attending the meeting.
Further updates on this meeting and the executive order should be forth coming.
Sincerely,
Robert Essenberg
Vice Chair. Elected Operated Committee

April 20, 2012

Good Afternoon Mr. Zimmer,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Chair of the Elected Operators Committee James Chaney, and the other ten members of the committee, including myself. Our body has stayed relatively silent on the subject of the Governor's order, because we were told when the initial order came out not to contact the Governor's office regarding that topic. 

We believe that given the current circumstances, we as the leadership of the Elected Operators should be allowed to voice our opinion. This executive order the Governor has created to facilitate a more streamlined Commission and Business Enterprise Program is going to effect all 79 operators substantially. We think that our input as the elected representatives of these 79 folks who are running food service operations in state and federal buildings should be allowed, so that we may voice our concerns and our wishes before the executive order is executed. 

We understand the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, as well as President Larry Posont, has had meetings on this topic with the Governor's staff, as well as different legislators here in Lansing. Their viewpoints may not be representative of all of our 79 vendors. We recognize the excellent work the NFB does on behalf of blind consumers, although the EOC would like the opportunity to express their views as the elected representatives of the blind vendors of Michigan. The NFB plays an advisory role to the EOC and the BEP through it's presence on the Ad Hoc Committee. Our committee, like the operators as a whole, is also responsible for working with the agency in developing the training programs necessary to create good food service operations in the state and federal buildings, which we believe is a concern of the Governor's office.

We believe it is necessary that we are involved in the conversations to design the new model going forward between now and October 1st. We respectfully request a phone conference between your office and the Elected Operators Committee be established so our viewpoints and concerns can be raised before the Executive Order is enacted and/or the final design of the structure of the organization is completed.

Please feel free to contact me at rob.essenberg at yahoo.com or 231-638-2036, or James Chaney at resolutioncomm at sbcglobal.net or 313-213-7795.

Sincerely,

Robert Essenberg

Vice Chair, Elected Operators Committee

RLE/gmj
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