[Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter

rachel oceanrls at hotmail.com
Mon Nov 22 15:24:21 UTC 2010 

I have not resigned yet, but back in October I had a lot of these same 
issues and explained them to everyone at the president's meeting. Something 
really has to be done immediately, because I don't have the motivation to 
continue.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 6:59 PM
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter

> But David, you have to have willing people to replace them with! Rachel, 
> please don't resign yet! Your state board and NFBF family are behind you.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 5:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Manasota chapter
>
>
>>
>> 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
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>>>>>> link.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
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>
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