[Nfb-kzoo] NFB protest tomorrow

[Tyler and Leanne Merren]

We have been told that there is a bus leaving from the MCBTC at 8 AM 
tomorrow, for anyone who is interested in attending the protest.  The 
protest is scheduled from 11-1.  I encourage everyone to attend if you 
possibly can.  If I was able to I would definitely be there.  Not just in 
support of Christine, but for the sake of all who are blind and doing their 
best to be successful in life.  This is outrageous!
Leanne
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Megan O'Rourke" <megan.otc at gmail.com>
To: "J.J. Meddaugh" <jj at bestmidi.com>; "jorourke" 
<jorourke at jonesburgstatebank.com>; "Kristen Ann Johnson" 
<kristen.a.johnson at wmich.edu>; "Timothy Paulding" <tjpaulding at gmail.com>; 
"Tyler and Leanne Merren" <tmerren at charter.net>; "Tyler merren" 
<twmerren at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 1:33 PM
Subject: NFB protest tomorrow


Megan O'Rourke
O'Rourke Training & consulting LLC
417-425-5661 (cell)
megan.otc at gmail.com
http://sites.google.com/site/orourkellc/

Hello All
You may all know about this already but just incase...here is the NFB
press release and press release from channel 3 last night. Christine
has not been officialy dismissed as the NFB release suggests but...
I can not distribute this too far since I work for MCBTC so please
help me out in passing the news along.
Thanks, please read below for the two press releases
Megan

NFBM TO PROTEST BOON/ROBINSON FIRINGS BY COMMISSION FOR BLIND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Posont, President
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
(517) 482-1800
David Robinson, Board of Directors
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
517-372-1456
Michigan Commission for the Blind Director
Attacks Michigan’s Organized Blind
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Accuses Director of Abuse of 
Power
Dearborn Heights, Michigan (January 28, 2010): Patrick Cannon,
director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB), has notified
Christine Boone, director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind
Training Center (MCBTC) in Kalamazoo, and a member of the National
Federation of the Blind, that her employment is terminated as of
today. This action follows closely on the heels of the firing of
another member of the National Federation of the Blind, David
Robinson, an employee of the Commission’s Business Enterprise program
in Lansing. Robinson was fired last month.

In Respons to these outrageous actions, the National Federation of the
Blind of Michigan will hold a rally and picket at 201 N. Washington
Square, the Victor Building, the headquarters of the Michigan
Commission for the Blind. The rally will take place from 11:00 to 1:00
pm Friday, January 29, 2010.
In addition to these firings, Cannon has worked through the Governor’s
ethics board to remove a blind commissioner from the Commission board
for speaking out on behalf of the rights of blind consumers to
participate in policy development. He has also presided over the mass
removal of blind entrepreneurs from the Commission’s Business
Enterprise program. His actions have resulted in a flurry of legal
complaints by blind individuals. In the past Cannon has orchestrated
the removal by non-reappointment of two other commissioners who
questioned programs at the Commission.
Larry Posont, president of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan, said: “The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan is
convinced that Mr. Cannon’s recent actions are an unwarranted abuse of
power and amount to intimidation and bullying of blind citizens of
Michigan who dare to speak for themselves and question his policies.
His firing of Christine Boone is particularly suspicious given that
his administration of MCB programs has been called into question by a
recent federal audit. Among all the Commission’s programs, only the
MCBTC was cited for good quality management. Christine Boone has been
doing an exemplary job of creating a quality training program for
blind individuals that sets high expectations for students, instills
in them a positive philosophy of blindness, and helps them to compete
for quality jobs in the labor market. Mr. Cannon is using trumped-up
charges about a single aspect of the training program in order to
discredit Ms. Boone. It is clear to us that Mr. Cannon, who served on
Governor Granholm’s transition team and loves to boast of his
connections to her, is using his political influence to cover up his
management problems and to intimidate those who speak up about poor
performance at the Commission.”
Mr. Cannon’s termination of Ms. Boone appears to stem from her
establishment of a marksmanship program to build the confidence of her
students. Michigan has a deeply rooted outdoor culture. Many people
who lose their eyesight feel they are no longer able to live a
fulfilling life. Boon developed a marksman program using pellet rifles
to teach newly-blinded people that they can, indeed, enjoy the
outdoors and live a satisfying and productive life. The activity took
place in a secluded area of the property near the MCBTC. Under
Michigan law, a pellet gun is not a firearm if under .177 caliber.
There was no danger to people or property created by the activity,
which was supervised by a qualified instructor.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBM) is a proud
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. Originally founded
in 1941, the NFBM has been a leader in advocacy and has worked
tirelessly to change what it means to be blind in Michigan. Among our
accomplishments: bringing NFB-NEWSLINE® to Michigan, establishing the
Michigan Commission for the Blind, white cane legislation, Braille
literacy for blind children legislation, and much more.

NFBM TO PROTEST BOON/ROBINSON FIRINGS BY COMMISSION FOR BLIND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Posont, President
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
(517) 482-1800
David Robinson, Board of Directors
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
517-372-1456
Michigan Commission for the Blind Director
Attacks Michigan’s Organized Blind
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Accuses Director of Abuse of 
Power
Dearborn Heights, Michigan (January 28, 2010): Patrick Cannon,
director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB), has notified
Christine Boone, director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind
Training Center (MCBTC) in Kalamazoo, and a member of the National
Federation of the Blind, that her employment is terminated as of
today. This action follows closely on the heels of the firing of
another member of the National Federation of the Blind, David
Robinson, an employee of the Commission’s Business Enterprise program
in Lansing. Robinson was fired last month.

In Respons to these outrageous actions, the National Federation of the
Blind of Michigan will hold a rally and picket at 201 N. Washington
Square, the Victor Building, the headquarters of the Michigan
Commission for the Blind. The rally will take place from 11:00 to 1:00
pm Friday, January 29, 2010.
In addition to these firings, Cannon has worked through the Governor’s
ethics board to remove a blind commissioner from the Commission board
for speaking out on behalf of the rights of blind consumers to
participate in policy development. He has also presided over the mass
removal of blind entrepreneurs from the Commission’s Business
Enterprise program. His actions have resulted in a flurry of legal
complaints by blind individuals. In the past Cannon has orchestrated
the removal by non-reappointment of two other commissioners who
questioned programs at the Commission.
Larry Posont, president of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan, said: “The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan is
convinced that Mr. Cannon’s recent actions are an unwarranted abuse of
power and amount to intimidation and bullying of blind citizens of
Michigan who dare to speak for themselves and question his policies.
His firing of Christine Boone is particularly suspicious given that
his administration of MCB programs has been called into question by a
recent federal audit. Among all the Commission’s programs, only the
MCBTC was cited for good quality management. Christine Boone has been
doing an exemplary job of creating a quality training program for
blind individuals that sets high expectations for students, instills
in them a positive philosophy of blindness, and helps them to compete
for quality jobs in the labor market. Mr. Cannon is using trumped-up
charges about a single aspect of the training program in order to
discredit Ms. Boone. It is clear to us that Mr. Cannon, who served on
Governor Granholm’s transition team and loves to boast of his
connections to her, is using his political influence to cover up his
management problems and to intimidate those who speak up about poor
performance at the Commission.”
Mr. Cannon’s termination of Ms. Boone appears to stem from her
establishment of a marksmanship program to build the confidence of her
students. Michigan has a deeply rooted outdoor culture. Many people
who lose their eyesight feel they are no longer able to live a
fulfilling life. Boon developed a marksman program using pellet rifles
to teach newly-blinded people that they can, indeed, enjoy the
outdoors and live a satisfying and productive life. The activity took
place in a secluded area of the property near the MCBTC. Under
Michigan law, a pellet gun is not a firearm if under .177 caliber.
There was no danger to people or property created by the activity,
which was supervised by a qualified instructor.

###

Blind training center director targeted over target practice
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
Marksmanship class could earn Christine Boone dismissal
January 27, 2010 6:01 PM

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The blind taking target practice?
At first it sounds preposterous, but it actually did happen in
Kalamazoo and now it has landed the Director of Kalamazoo's Blind
Training Center in hot water.

Christine Boone is the director of the Michigan Commission for the
Blind's Training Center in Kalamazoo, and she tells Newschannel 3 that
she is facing a disciplinary conference with her superiors because she
let some of the training center's students take a marksmanship class.
But Boone definitely has some people saying that she didn't do
anything wrong.

Boone wasn't available to do an on camera interview with Newschanne 3
today, but she did tell us some details about the case she is now
facing. She says that the marksmanship classes with pellet guns were
held in the fall of 2009, beginning in September and running until
November, when her superiors canceled the classes.

The students only used pellet guns and were supervised by a center
employee who Boone says had a carry permit, and was very familiar with
firearms. Boone also says that her superiors signed off on the
program, but now it appears the classes have earned her an
investigation at the state level, because firearms are generally not
allowed on state property, and the training center is just that.

Ron Lambe is the Board Chair of The Disability Network, as well as a
person who went blind later in life and is an advocate for the blind.
After hearing about this investigation, and the potential dismissal of
Boone, he did have a reaction.

"There should be absolute access for anyone who wants to participate
in anything as long as safety issues are dealt with." said Lambe, who
graduated from the training center 5 years ago, and also has
established an advocacy group in that time called 'The Blind Starfish'
www.blindstarfish.cfsites.org.

Lambe says that to not allow the blind to handle firearms in a
controlled setting is unfair, assuming that it's done in a safe
environment, "the message being you can do whatever you want to do in
this society regardless of your disability." He does admit though that
the training center does have a ban on firearms and that firearms are
banned from state land.

Lambe's position is echoed by one person who feels everyone should be
allowed access for guns, the Co-Owner of On Target Guns, Jeff Cramer.
Speaking to Newschannel 3 Cramer admitted that he wouldn't have a
problem with the blind getting the experience of shooting a gun, since
there is far more to it, then just using your eyes and setting your
sights on a target.

"They probably like to experience a lot of things it's a lot of
sensation to it beyond that they're fairly harmless in a controlled
environment,” said Cramer.

Neither Lambe nor Cramer are thrilled that Boone is facing
disciplinary action over the marksmanship class, especially since it
was done with pellet guns, at what is considered the safest
environment for the blind, the Kalamazoo Blindness training center.

Lambe in particular says if the commission did initially sign off on
it, the students should have been allowed to shoot, "if the approvals
were obtained and waivers relative to the law ....then again it would
fall into why shouldn't they."

Lambe supports the range of activities that are offered at the center,
and insists that Boone and her staff would never put any students in
harm's way.

"There is a terrific staff of dedicated people there that take every
possible concern precaution relative to student safety," said Lambe.

The center has done risky activities in the past, it took a group of
students skydiving in 2008 near Hastings, and Lambe admits many would
consider that far more dangerous than firing a pellet gun.

The incident and reaction prompted skepticism, and a bit of
incredulousness from Cramer who believes Boone certainly didn't do
anything horribly wrong.

"It sounds rather silly to me. And I'm sure that when clearer heads
put their minds together sure they'll rectify it, it sounds like
someone who just doesn't like firearms, and they're carrying it over
into something as simple as airguns," said Cramer.

While Lambe continued to emphasize that it's about access to all
activities as long as the law is obeyed, and approvals are met.

"People with all disabilities should have open access to participate
in all recreational and social activity as they wish with reasonable
accommodation... under the big umbrella of all activities and access
to all, this certainly falls," said Lambe.

Newschannel 3 Contacted the Michigan Commission for the Blind, which
falls under the purview of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor
and Economic Growth to get a statement, but were told that there would
be no comment on this case, saying it was a personnel review, and an
open investigation.

Mario Morrow the spokesperson for DELEG did say that Boone had been
placed on paid administrative leave, and that her hearing, originally
scheduled for Jan 28 had been postponed until February 4th. Boone did
tell Newschannel 3 that she applied for an extension, and has retained
an attorney, Anne Marie Mizel, from the law firm of Stokes, Roberts
and Wagner in Pittsburgh. Mizel's bio says that she has expertise in
civil rights, employment law and civil procedure.