[Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter

Sun Nov 21 22:07:54 UTC 2010

Dear Rachel,

I can understand your situation.  I have been there once or twice too.
It is true that you can not conduct a proper meeting without a Quorum of 
Board members, but you can hold a meeting without them.
If those Board members are not making meetings and have missed 3 meetings in 
a row, I think that you are justified in using your position as president to 
replace them by appointing someone else to that position.  I am sure the 
State Board would support you in this.  I have had to do it myself in the 
past.
These appointees would serve out the term of the person they replace until 
your next regular elections.  This is within your power as the president.
The worst thing you can do is stop hold or attempting to hold meetings.  The 
chapter is the ultimate authority and if you need support, those members 
meeting and present can vote funds and take action as long as all members 
have been warned, through a notice that action will be taken for 
non-attendance.    Under the constitution, a meeting and be called for and 
held as long as 3 members agree and a good faith attempt is made to notify 
the other members with at least 3 days notice.
Get the membership list for your chapter from Gloria and call some of the 
people yourself.  Find out why they are missing meetings and encourage them 
to come.  You can make up some labels and send a one page meeting notice 
under "Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped."  It just needs 
to be printed in 14 point type or larger and you need to have your address 
as the return address along with the words, "National Federation of the 
Blind instead of your name above your address.  No postage is required.
Maybe you need to form a newer smaller chapter where the members live closer 
together and can therefore meeting easier.  Maybe there are too many 
barriers to them meeting.
You are in a tough position and I know that you have a lot of forces pulling 
on you and your time.
I hope that you will find a way to pull it off.
I am here to help in any way I can, just don't give up the ship.
Remember that you must communicate with your members, If you are to fix what 
is wrong, you need to know what is broke, ask them and then get out the duct 
tape.

Your friend, David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "rachel" <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter

>I do appreciate all the suggestions very much. The problem is that a 
>chapter can not run a meeting unless half of the board has shown up. My 
>board has fallen a part. I am not going to be doing all of the work by 
>myself. I have way too much going on as it iis and I can't continue to work 
>with a chapter who does not want to do anything. Something really must 
>change very soon, or unfortunately I will be  stepping down. Thanks all 
>again.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:13 AM
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>
>> David, Great advise! I am sure she will appreciate this and start to 
>> utilize
>> your advise as well! KH
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 11:50 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>
>>
>> Dear Rachel,
>>
>> This is a problem that every chapter faces from time to time.
>> I would suggest that you ask for a copy of your membership list as it was
>> likely submitted to Gloria when your chapter paid it's dues this last 
>> year
>> This will give you a way around your membership person not responding.  .
>> You, and or another member you still have contact with, may need to share
>> the list and make some calls to people.
>> It always takes the most pushing to get the car out of the ditch, but 
>> once
>> it is out, it can get going on it's own again.
>> First get some kind of list and share it with others.  Then 
>> systemmatically
>> begin building the chapter up over time.  You can not do it all over 
>> night,
>> so be patient, it will come with persistence.
>> Run your meetings with whom ever shows up.
>> Establish a regular meeting time and place and stick to it.
>> You can advertise in your local news under sections called "Community
>> Calendar" or "Club News."
>> Submit pieces to the media 3 to 4 weeks in advance of meetings and get 
>> the
>> word out to people.
>> Many churches and community centers have newsletters and ask them to 
>> include
>> a note about your meetings as well.
>>
>> Developed a "media list" of newspapers, radio stations, and TV station in
>> your area and cultivate contacts with them.
>> I know you are a student and busier than a one armed paper hanger in a
>> hurricane, but I know you can do it.  Seek help where you can and they 
>> all
>> don't have to be Blind people.  Having a sighted volunteer or two to help 
>> is
>> okay.
>> Just make use of whatever and whoever you have at hand and you will get 
>> the
>> job done.
>>
>> My chapter limped along with just 7 members for several years until we
>> established our own chapter newsletter and began sending it out under the
>> "Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Law"
>> If you need more info on how to do this, I can supply it to you.  It cost
>> almost nothing to do this each month and is a great way to communicate 
>> and
>> build your chapter.  .
>> We found ways to get transportation for our members , over time, and then 
>> we
>> just took off and grew.
>> You know NFB philosophy and so just continue to spread it everywhere you 
>> go
>> and to whoever you meet.  BE the example, the role model and just believe 
>> in
>> yourself and in the philosophy.
>> If transportation is an issue, and I bet it is.  Ash some local community
>> service club, like the Lion's Club, to help your chapter members out by
>> driving them in to your meetings.
>> You could also ask if they could help you with a small grant to pay for
>> telephone bill coverage to help you communicate with your board and 
>> members
>> or to publish your monthly newsletter.
>> It can all be done as long as you do not give up looking for a way.
>> If I can be of help, I live in Boca Raton in Palm Beach County and have 
>> been
>> a chapter President and Board member since 1987 when I helped found the 
>> Palm
>> Beach County Chapter.
>> My contact info is as follows:
>> David Evans
>> 19601 Carolina Circle
>> Boca Raton, Fl. 33434
>> Home: (561) 482-5684
>> E-mail: drevans at bellsouth.net
>>
>>
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "rachel" <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 6:02 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>
>>
>>> Thanks so much. I have spoken to my vice president and he informed me he
>>> is going to something else tomorrow during the same time as our meeting. 
>>> I
>>> can't get a hold of my membership persoon, and the fund raiser quitt. I 
>>> am
>>> unable to even run a meeting tomorrow. It's really not good!
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Judith Hamilton" <jrhamilton51 at earthlink.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 5:33 PM
>>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>
>>>> Rachel,
>>>>
>>>> Above all, do not panic.  I have been there quite a few times this 
>>>> year.
>>>> It is not easy, but please hang in there.  Have you tried 3-way
>>>> conference
>>>> calling for your board meetings, prior to the actual meeting?  I know a
>>>> lot of folks, especially the elderly ones may not know how to do it or
>>>> may
>>>> be on such a fixed income that they cannot afford the charges for it 
>>>> and
>>>> will probably have a fit when they see a $2 charge on their phone bill.
>>>> Right now that is the charge for AT&T; soon to increase next year to $3
>>>> per
>>>> 3-way call next year.  I know on the Florida west coast there is a
>>>> different monopoly telephone company, but most older people may hang on
>>>> to
>>>> their landlines and you might be able to use this as an option.  Of
>>>> course,
>>>> there is free conference call, which are usually long distance numbers
>>>> and
>>>> that might set them off also depending on what plans they have.  I know
>>>> this probably is not much help, but I just wanted to let you know that 
>>>> I
>>>> understand what you are going through and that you are not alone.
>>>> Judy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> [Original Message]
>>>>> From: rachel <oceanrls at hotmail.com>
>>>>> To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Date: 11/19/2010 1:25:17 PM
>>>>> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello. I am having major problems with my chapter and I'm not sure 
>>>>> what
>>>> to do! I think I have lost my membership pperson now Raigan! I have
>>>> e-mailed him and called him and he will not respond to anything. He has
>>>> all
>>>> of the member information. At this point  I don't think I can run any
>>>> meetings. I am supposed to have ameeting tomorrow but without members 
>>>> of
>>>> the board showing up I can't run the meeting. What should I do at this
>>>> point!
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> Rachel Jacobs
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>>>>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Nfbf-l:
>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/jrhamilton51%40earth
>>>> link.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>>>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Nfbf-l:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/oceanrls%40hotmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Nfbf-l:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfbf-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/kvharmon54%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Nfbf-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/oceanrls%40hotmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbf-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net 