[Nfbf-l] EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

[Dan Hicks]

Hi Carlos 

 

The Board of Directors and I see no reason for our not being accountable to
the membership of the NFBF - as a matter of fact, accountability is and
should be a requirement, period. Nobody has been arguing otherwise. (I don't
know who started using the word 'transparent" to mean, I assume accountable,
but I think it is an inappropriate use of the word. But, I think I know what
is meant by it, and there is little use arguing pure semantics.) 

 

Accountability and communication are very important, and I am surprised that
you, in particular, seem to be saying that the board is failing on that
account. I think you are one who has had experience with how well and how
often the board and its members have communicated with yourself and others. 

 

Now, a lot of this has to do with the posting of the minutes. Yes, I as
webmaster, have been a bit behind in posting minutes to www.nfbflorid.org
<http://www.nfbflorid.org/> .   I can only say that all of us - including
myself - are volunteers, who spend many hours a week doing the work of the
NFBF. Often, devoting time to one area, facet, or goal of the Federation's
business means that time is not available for dealing with other areas,
facets, and goals. 

 

We have never withheld minutes from the organization at any level in order
to hide what is going on. I will admit that the minutes page of the website
has not been a huge priority of mine because it normally generates so few
hits. As a matter of fact, for a few days at least, minutes has been posted
through August - with more on the way in a few days - and I haven't heard
anyone remark about that, because I'll bet nobody has bothered to check.
However, if the board minutes are that important, we will work to keep them
updated. The board has also voted to distribute minutes to the chapter
presidents, as they are approved. 

 

Now, one thing you said interests me. You wrote: "Lets just imagine that

our national leaders do not publish the various financial reports and

other federation business, how would the membership at large feel?"

 

I am sure that you have never seen national board minutes - and neither have
I. You won't find them on the NFB website or distributed via any other
means. They simply aren't available. 

 

As far as financial reports go, Dr. Maurer reads the financial report every
year at our national convention. Two copies of the report are made available
to each affiliate - one in print and one in Braille. Other than that, no
effort is made to circulate this material. 

 

Now, before people jump on me for criticizing the national organization, let
me emphasize that there are good reasons why certain information is not
spread far and wide. The national organization has its enemies, just like
the state organization does. Much of the financial information is available
to those who wish to seek it out, but they have to do some work to get to
it. Also, in my experience at national conventions, the session featuring
the financial reports - however important to our organization - is among the
least attended sessions of the convention. 

 

Many - if not most - state affiliates do not post their minutes at all. I
don't think that shows the boards of these affiliates are noncommunicative
or unresponsive. 

 

If this affiliate wants minutes, it will have them. But, I would remind you
all that, if the only way the members of the NFBF board ever communicated
with the rest of our organization, this  that would be rather poor
communication. Fortunately we communicate with members by other means as
well. Historically, when we have sent requests for action or information to
the chapters, fewer than half of the chapter presidents respond in a timely
fashion. Communication must work both ways. 

 

I hope we can finally put this controversy to rest. I thank you all for
reading this lengthy post. Let's get on with all of the many, many tasks
that must be accomplished in order for us to do the work of the NFBF and the
NFB. 

 

Dan Hicks, NFBF President. 

 

 

"Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is" 

                                    -Isaac Asimov

 

 

 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On

> Behalf Of Carlos J montas

> Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 11:18 AM

> To: NFB of Florida Listserv

> Subject: [Nfbf-l] EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

> Importance: High

> 

> good morning to you My fellow federation friends. My name is Carlos J

> montas. As many of you know, I do not post many messages on this list, how

> ever there has been a discussion about communication and transparency that

> I feel must be addressed. I first of all would like to publicly support

> Mr. Gwisdala's position on this issue. I see nothing wrong with the

> membership asking for transparency from are leaders. As a member of the

> Nfbf I am also asking for accountability, and transparency. I am asking

> that the minutes and other documents such as reports be published so that

> the membership can be informed. It is especially important to be

> accountable during these difficult economic times. Lets just imagine that

> are national leaders do not publish the various financial reports and

> other federation business, how would the membership at large feel? What if

> National requests documents? it is because of the sloppy work in the Nfb

> of Texas that the President was recently removed from office not being

> accountable led to this decision.    Not publishing the minutes and other

> documents in my view is just asking for trouble. If the State board is

> acting responsibly, then the publishing of the minutes and other documents

> should not be an issue. It is the responsibility of all of the board

> members to follow the National Federation of the blind's National and

> State constitution. The state board is in place to serve the best interest

> of the membership at large. All of us as members of the Nfbf make up this

> affiliate not just the State Board of directors. If there are any personal

> issues between board members and individuals they must be resolved in

> order for this affiliate to move forward. Let me make it unequivocally

> clear that this message is not personal.       We all need to work

> together to make this affiliate the best it can be. The more transparent

> we all are, the better off we will be.

> Respectfully submitted Carlos J Montas

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