[Vendorsmi] Fw: Business Enterprise Program Being Given Away

[David Robinson]

Dear Joe, 

 

   I am not sure what to think.  I have never known you to have any bias
toward any group of blind persons and in fact, have worked very hard to keep
personal issues out of discussions about the BEP.  It is unfortunate that
Hazell has to infer something that is not there, but I am sure she is just
as frustrated with the agency's actions and deliverate indifference to the
EOC.  You would hope that the agency would want to consult with the EOC
before any change of direction is taken on the State Plate, but ap
apparently they believe it is not necessary.  In any manner or form about
this issue we find Rodgers making arbitrary decisions without any knowledge
of the subject.  If the agency staff did not know about the removal from the
bid line and the EOC or staff were not consulted on the issue, then we may
conclude that the orders to do so came from someone else.  I think we all
know who that was.  

   I would like to address Hazell's comments about the NFB and the Merchants
division.  Yes, it is true that we have an opinion and position on what
works the best for blind persons. Yes, we base this position on years and
years of experience and a philosophy that blind people should control their
own destiny, and that we have certain laws on a national and a state level
that protects our rights as blind persons. Yes, we let our position be known
and we know that others will disagree, but we stay with our position because
we know that it is true and just for blind persons.  As I said many times to
Hazell, the Merchants division of the NFB will work along side the EOC to
help if we agree with the actions being taken. We will be their greatest
partner.  If we do not agree with the EOC we will continue to speake our
mind and work toward success.  We will never and have never criticyzed or
belittled any EOC member publicly for their position or their right to
express it.  

   Let us all know we all are equal in God's eyes and I will vigorously
defend the NFB and its philosophy because I know it is the best one to
embrace for the betterment of all the blind.  

 

Dave Robinson

 

  _____  

From: Vendorsmi [mailto:vendorsmi-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joe
Sontag
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 7:46 PM
To: VENDORSMI List
Subject: [Vendorsmi] Fw: Business Enterprise Program Being Given Away

 

Boy, I really heard, even if I don't know what the complaint is about or
that the topic of my message should be as important to an EOC member as any
personal conflict with the messenger.

 

What do you think?

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Hazell Brooks <mailto:jiggyzee at att.net>  

To: Joe Sontag <mailto:suncat0 at gmail.com>  

Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 18:42

Subject: Re: Business Enterprise Program Being Given Away

 

Please believe me if we knew about this situation we, the EOC would of been
craving attention to the situation. But you Joe Sontag on the other hand
have meeting we aren't invited to attend and when you were on the board we
got even less done because well you know that bias attitude that you have
against certain people and or groups of people. But thanks for the heads up
Joe I wish the NFB and the merchants would stop this NAME CALLING and this
BETTER THAN attitude and actually, stop grinding the axe's,and working a
personal agenda.

 

Hazell Brooks


Sent from my iPad


On Oct 11, 2012, at 4:34 PM, "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com> wrote:

If you've checked the bidline announcement recently, you may have
noticed that the Anderson Building Cafeteria, AKA the State Plate is not
among the
listed facilities.  I have it from a credible source that Ed Rodgers, the
new Director
of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons has ordered the facility removed
from
the bidline and has turned it over to the Michigan House of Representatives,
saying
that PA260 of 1978 does not apply.  Were any of you on the Elected
Operators' Committee
informed that anything like this was coming?  Why is the Committee not
demanding answers and holding an emergency meeting for the purpose of
finding facts and taking a stand for the Program and its licensees?  Do you
not realize that the most profitable facilities on State property will be
the first to be taken if the EOC and those who voted for them just sit on
their hands and let  the State Plate be given away to the private sector?


If you have factual knowledge about any of this, please share it with all of
us who care
about the BEP, as the future of the Program depends on it.  You can reach me
by replying to this message.  If the State Plate is
lost, can all of the remaining State facilities be far behind?  I won't
reveal my
source; and no, I'm not joking about any of this.
Joe Sontag

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