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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I also want to voice my concerns about the upcoming
meeting on May first. The letter says quote:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>"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.<FONT size=2 face=Arial>"</FONT>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I think that requesting a meeting with
Mr. Zimmer and the EOC is a great idea. However, the letter says
nothing about including agency staff. So, why are staff being
included? Under normal circumstances, staff should be invited to
participate.</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial>However, the circumstances are by no
means normal. </FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Given the fact that management is a
huge part of the problem as evidenced by the long history and ongoing list
of issues involving the current administration that is growing daily,
flagrant and repeated violations of promulgated rules, lack of transparency,
intimidation/retaliation against operators, lack of accountability for
unacceptable staff behavior, failure to admit wrong doing, disrespect for
operators and absence of trust by operators,I believe that Mr. Zimmer will not
get an accurate picture of what the real problems are and how serious they are
if staff is on the call.</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Also, I question whether EOC members
will be able to speak freely without fear of repercussions or staff members'
minimizing, twisting or discounting their comments. There are many
competent members on the EOC. They have a right to voice their concerns without
staff being present and, based on all of the reasons mentioned above, isn't it
time for them to begin exercising that right?</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P align=justify><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mary Ann Robinson</FONT></P>
<P align=justify>----- Original Message ----- </P></DIV>
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<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=joeharcz@comcast.net href="mailto:joeharcz@comcast.net">joe harcz
Comcast</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=suncat0@gmail.com
href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com">Joe Sontag</A> ; <A title=vendorsmi@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:vendorsmi@nfbnet.org">NFB of Michigan Vendors List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 24, 2012 1:56
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vendorsmi] Meeting with
Mike Zimmer</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Since when are Connie zanger and James Hull
representatives of the EOC?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>And just who told operators either individually
or collectively that they couldn't contact the Governor? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>That's a fundamental violation of the First
Amendment rights of all citizens including those who happen to be
blind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Not that some folks including some who are blind
give a rip!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Oh yes and we still have a MCB Board in place
including Mr. Posont, Mr. Scott, and Ms. Shuck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>What are they chopped liver here?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joe Harcz</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=suncat0@gmail.com href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com">Joe Sontag</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vendorsmi@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:vendorsmi@nfbnet.org">VENDORSMI List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 24, 2012 1:40
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vendorsmi] Meeting with Mike
Zimmer</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Just a few questions from yours
truly:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Other questions could be raised, but you get
the picture.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Here is what I received as I received it.
Read em and act.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>----- Original Message -----<BR>From:<BR>Rob
Essenberg<BR>To:<BR>Andrea Nelson<BR> ;<BR>Dale
Layer<BR> ;<BR>Garnet Prentice<BR> ;<BR>Greg
Keathley<BR> ;<BR>Hazell Brooks<BR> ;<BR>Kevin
Tomczak<BR> ;<BR>Nathan Prater<BR> ;<BR>Risa
Patrick-Langtry<BR> ;<BR>Shane Jackson<BR> ;<BR>James
Chaney<BR>Cc:<BR>Rob Essenberg<BR> ;<BR>James
Hull<BR> ;<BR>Constance Zanger<BR> ;<BR>Larry Posont<BR>Sent:
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 12:37 PM<BR>Subject: meeting with Mike Zimmer<BR>To
my fellow Elected Operators,<BR>I’m writing to inform you of our latest
contact with the Snyder Administration. Last<BR>week Thursday, after a phone
call from Hazell Brooks asking me if I thought it was<BR>time to approach
the governors administration regarding the executive order concerning<BR>the
Commission for the Blind., I told her I thought it probably was time and I
would<BR>check with James Chaney to see how he wanted to proceed. After
speaking with Mr.<BR>Chaney, we decided to write a letter to Mike Zimmer
asking for a meeting between<BR>himself and Representatives from the Elected
Operators Committee.<BR>Mr. Chaney directed me to draft the letter. After
several revisions, James Chaney,<BR>Hazell Brooks and Constance Zanger
approved the content of the letter, which is attached<BR>for your reference.
The letter was sent out on Friday afternoon, April 20, 2012 and<BR>within a
couple of hours we had a response back from Mr. Zimmer. The response
was<BR>as follows:<BR>Mr. Essenberg:<BR>Thank you very much for reaching out
on behalf of the Elected Operators Committee.<BR>I think it is an excellent
idea that we meet, by teleconference or in person, to<BR>discuss where we
are heading, possible approaches, and implementation issues.<BR>With this
email, I am asking my assistant, Rita Jenks, to set something up at a
time<BR>that is convenient for you and whoever you would like to
participate.<BR>Mike Zimmer<BR>Hello Mr. Zimmer<BR>Please find attached a
document with some concerns of the Elected Operators
Committee.<BR>Sincerely,<BR>Robert Essenberg<BR>Vice Chair, Elected
Operators Committee<BR>We have set a meeting date with Mr. Zimmer. It will
be Tuesday, May 1<BR>st<BR>. James Chaney, Hazell Brooks, Greg Keithley,
James Hull, Constance Zanger and myself<BR>will be attending the
meeting.<BR>Further updates on this meeting and the executive order should
be forth coming.<BR>Sincerely,<BR>Robert Essenberg<BR>Vice Chair. Elected
Operated Committee<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>April 20, 2012</DIV>
<DIV>
<P align=justify></P>
<P>Good Afternoon Mr. Zimmer,<BR><BR>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. </P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>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<B>.</B> 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.
</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>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,<FONT color=#ff0000> </FONT>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.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>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.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>Please feel free to contact me at <U><FONT
color=#0000ff>rob.essenberg@yahoo.com</U></FONT> or 231-638-2036, or James
Chaney at <U><FONT color=#0000ff>resolutioncomm@sbcglobal.net</U></FONT> or
313-213-7795.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify> </P>
<P align=justify>Sincerely,</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>Robert Essenberg</P>
<P align=justify>Vice Chair, Elected Operators Committee</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify> </P>
<P align=justify>RLE/gmj</P></DIV></FONT>
<P></P><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT
size=2 face=Arial></FONT>
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