[vendtalk] Questions

Wed Sep 26 03:47:01 UTC 2012

In Michigan, satellites are also used, but on a more permanent basis.
Usually, satellites are used by combining one marginal facility (a facility
that makes little profit and is not cost-effective to pay labor to work it),
to another marginal or more profitable  facility to make any kind of a
decent income (over $18,000., 120% of minimum wage), otherwise neither
facility would be bid on standing alone these days.  The only incentive is
to have a combined facility with hope of making some decent profit, and the
satellite usually is a permanent combined facility.

Reduced governmental workforce, building security measures following 9/11,
and the lengthy recession have created more and more marginal profit
facilities.  The SLA and EOC are reluctant to combine facilities, saying it
takes jobs from other blind persons.  So, like other states, the Michigan
program would be much smaller, but give a greater livable income to the
blind, were the SLA dedicated to and supportive of blind persons making a
decent income.

I know the Michigan program has lost an entire generation of young blind
individuals because of poor income producing facilities, and poor training
and lack of competent ongoing support and training.  BEP eligible relatives
of BEP licensees see little innovative change to the program from the SLA
and Elected Operators' Committee, and are simply not interested in working
55 to 60 or more hours a week, for so little income return on time and
energy invested.

My question is what are other state programs doing, if anything, to secure
facility opportunities in the private sector, and what are the successes,
challenges, and  pitfalls  encountered and overcome?

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Kevan Worley
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 5:33 PM
To: Vendor Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

Very similar to Colorado rules.

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Vandervoort's
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 3:12 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

Texas does satelliting.  From my best knowledge, usually, the incentive is a
6-month grant period to the existing manager that accepts the added
responsibility.  Yes, that facility is soon advertized and often to be made
available to a successful bidder 6 months after it is satellited.  If it is
not assigned at that time, the SLA may continue the temporary arrangement
and re-advertize it.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Manasco, Brenda
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1:07 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

Are there a lot of states that have enabled managers to run satellite
facilities?  If so, does the SLA provide any added incentive for running the
extra locations?  Are the facilities put out on bid again after a specified
time period?

Your feedback is most appreciated. 

Smiles,

Brenda

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of mazher
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 4:01 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

Many of our facilities, especially the more marginal stands, got closed down
or consolidated with other facilities.  We still have around 35 or 36
locations, one was closed down just last week and another is slated for
opening in the next few weeks.  For fy 2013, we are scheduled to open
another two locations.  We are keeping all of these facilities operational
with vendors operating satellites in addition to their primary locations.
As you may have guessed, some of us feel strongly that more blind people
should be able to earn a livelihood in our program.  
Thanks for the interest.

Mazher

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Terry Eagle
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 12:06 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

With your indulgence, what has happened to the program facilities with so
many vendors leaving the program?

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of mazher
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 6:34 AM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

We're struggling for an adequate answer to that question of why we've lost
so many vendors.  Let me see if I can provide a partial answer.  

About a decade ago, the SLA decided to bring the program in house from a
nominee organization and set about cleaning house.  

Since then, we have had a very high attrition rate and many older, poorly
educated and ill-trained vendors have slowly been let go without much effort
or outreach on the training/retraining front.  I call this the absence of a
strategic vision.   

On the other side of the equation, on the recruitment side, we have very
high barriers to entry.  Rightly or wrongly, but so far without success, the
SLA has been looking for blind individuals with business degrees or business
experience.  

The alarming results speak for themselves.  Since 2005, we have lost 21
vendors and gained two new entrants.  That's a replacement ratio for the
last seven years of less than ten percent.  

No, definitely not a model to be emulated!

Mazher Hameed

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Colleen Mcfadden
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 3:28 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

I appreciate the responses from Terry and you.  This case is going to
evidentiary hearing and if the vendor loses, I don't think his location will
be given to another new trained vendor. Time will tell.
Why has Washington DC lost so many vendors?

 -----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of mazher
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 12:19 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Questions

Depriving someone of their right to a livelihood is serious business and
should only be undertaken as a very last resort.  Those livelihoods are what
the program is all about, notwithstanding the heavier burden of
responsibility for turning things around for all concerned.

Without knowing anything about the situation you have in mind, I would say
that without a due process hearing of the facts, complaints of poor service
from building management do not constitute grounds for expulsion.  Certainly
grounds for launching a review where the vendor has an opportunity to give
their side of the story.

Training, retraining, reassignment to another facility, SLA provision of
temporary stopgap staffing support to assist the vendor are the kind of
problem solving tools I would look at before I would agree to have a
vendor's livelihood taken away.

If the vendor in your program was summarily expelled without the benefit of
a due process hearing, I would urge a problem solving approach rather than
one that is punitive.

Here are the kind of questions I would ask.  Is the vendor way over his head
in terms of the responsibilities of the location?  Did the vendor previously
manage the facility in a satisfactory way before it started slipping?  Are
there other available facilities that the vendor might be able to handle
more easily?   Can the vendor turn things around with more competent staff?
Is the vendor temporarily unable to fully devote him/herself to the job
because of personal health issues or the care of a sick child, spouse or
elderly parent?

If the answer to any of these questions is in the affirmative, you may have
something solid to work with toward a solution.

As for protecting the brand and giving another blind guy a chance, I would
urge you to keep in mind that nationally at least we are losing more vendors
than facilities each year.  In our program in Washington DC, we have gone
from over 85 vendors around fifteen years ago to 35 five years ago to 16 in
2012.

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Colleen McFadden
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 7:10 PM
To: vendtalk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [vendtalk] Questions

Dear Fellow Vendors,

If a vendor has been pushed out of BEP because he will not service his
location and gets complaints from the building  manager should he be allowed
back in the program?  We have talked on this listserv about vendors
performing and protecting Randolph Sheppard.  If a vendor's behavior
consistently hurts the reputation of the program, shouldn't we give another
blind guy an opportunity to operate a business?
Please share your thoughts.

Colleen

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