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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear Joe, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 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.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dave Robinson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Vendorsmi
[mailto:vendorsmi-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b><st1:PersonName w:st="on">Joe Sontag</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, October 12, 2012
7:46 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> VENDORSMI List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Vendorsmi] Fw: Business <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Enterprise</st1:place></st1:City> Program Being
Given Away</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What do you think?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='font-color:black'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href="mailto:jiggyzee@att.net" title="jiggyzee@att.net">Hazell Brooks</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>To:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com" title="suncat0@gmail.com">Joe Sontag</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Friday, October
12, 2012 18:42<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Re: Business <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Enterprise</st1:place></st1:City> Program Being
Given Away<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Please believe me if we knew about this situation we, the EOC would of
been craving attention to the situation. But you <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Joe
Sontag</st1:PersonName> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Hazell Brooks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Sent from my iPad<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
On Oct 11, 2012, at 4:34 PM, "<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Joe Sontag</st1:PersonName>"
<<a href="mailto:suncat0@gmail.com">suncat0@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt' type=cite>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If you've checked the bidline announcement recently,
you may have<br>
noticed that the Anderson Building Cafeteria, AKA the State Plate is not among
the<br>
listed facilities. I have it from a credible source that Ed Rodgers, the
new Director<br>
of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons has ordered the facility removed
from<br>
the bidline and has turned it over to the Michigan House of Representatives,
saying<br>
that PA260 of 1978 does not apply. Were any of you on the Elected
Operators' Committee<br>
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?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><br>
If you have factual knowledge about any of this, please share it with all of us
who care<br>
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<br>
lost, can all of the remaining State facilities be far behind? I won't
reveal my<br>
source; and no, I'm not joking about any of this.<br>
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Joe Sontag</st1:PersonName></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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</blockquote>
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