[Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session

Sun May 15 23:56:05 UTC 2011

I'm shure she did, but lets not forget the work you guys did. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session


> I'm sure Joyce had a lot to do with the good things that happened at DBS 
> this year. I'm sure she advocated hard to make sure the budget was saved.
>
> Sherri
> Have you visited my personal page at
> http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
> If so, Thank you for changing what it means to be blind.
> If not, please go there now!
> Thank you.
> flmom2006 at gmail.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 6:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session
>
>
>>I have a question concerning the director. It seems like Joyce is taking 
>>alot of the credit for what's happened this year, and she gives Credits 
>>FAASB, and never once does she mintion NFB or FCB. Just my thoughts. RJ
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 6:13 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session
>>
>>
>>> Really great news! Thanks Dwight!
>>> Have you visited my personal page at
>>> http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
>>> If so, Thank you for changing what it means to be blind.
>>> If not, please go there now!
>>> Thank you.
>>> flmom2006 at gmail.com
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: <MisterAdvocate at aol.com>
>>> To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfbf-leaders at yahoogroups.com>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 3:54 PM
>>> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Message from the Director: 2011 Legislative Session
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 2:18  PM
>>> To: #$DBS_ALL_USERS
>>> Subject: Message from the Director:  2011 Legislative Session
>>> Importance: High
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear DBS  Employees,
>>> The 2011  legislative session was very difficult for all state programs 
>>> and
>>> services for  our most vulnerable citizens.  Everything from budget cuts 
>>> to
>>> agency  reorganizations was up for discussion and debate.  Facing a $4
>>> billion  budget shortfall amid a still-struggling economy, the 
>>> Legislature was
>>> forced  to make many tough decisions.
>>> We are pleased to  say that the Division of Blind Services (DBS) came 
>>> out
>>> of the process mostly  intact after surviving two potential pitfalls. 
>>> The
>>> first involved the  House budget plan, which proposed to cut $852,000 in
>>> general revenue funding  for the 2011-2012 DBS Budget.  The proposed 
>>> cuts would
>>> impact the  following programs:
>>>    *   The  Blind Babies program, which maximizes the ability of 
>>> visually
>>> impaired  children from birth to five years old and contribute to their
>>> success in  school.
>>>    *   The  Independent Living Program for Seniors which teaches these
>>> elders how to  care for themselves in their own home and therefore keep 
>>> them
>>> from living  in nursing homes or other institutions.
>>> If the  proposed $852,000 was cut from the DBS budget and split 50/50
>>> between these general revenue funded programs, the impact  would be 164 
>>> babies
>>> or 17.7 percent of babies currently  served and 203 or 4.3 percent of 
>>> seniors
>>> currently served would no  longer receive services.  The good news came
>>> during the next to last week  of Session when the House agreed to the 
>>> Senate
>>> version of the DBS budget and  dropped the proposed cuts.
>>> The other proposed  change to impact DBS involved the reorganization of
>>> several state agencies to  create a new “jobs agency” that is a Governor
>>> priority.  Prior to  session, the Governor’s Office and the Senate had 
>>> indicated
>>> they would not  support changes to the current structure of DBS within 
>>> the
>>> Department of  Education (DOE).  On April 6, amendments were filed and
>>> adopted that  would in fact transfer DBS to this new agency.  Within an 
>>> hour, the
>>> Senate voted to reconsider the adoption of the amendments and withdrew 
>>> them
>>> resulting in DBS staying with DOE.   It is difficult to know how  this
>>> change would have affected the operations of the Division but we do know
>>> transitioning to a new agency would take time and attention away from 
>>> our focus
>>> on client services.
>>> All in all, there  will be no negative effect on the programs offered by
>>> the Division and through  our partner organizations. In both of these
>>> situations we can thank the  Governor, our legislative supporters and 
>>> the Florida
>>> Association for Agencies  Serving the Blind for their active support on 
>>> behalf
>>> of blind and visually  impaired Floridians.
>>> We will send additional  information regarding the 2011 Legislative 
>>> actions
>>> soon.
>>> Thank  you,
>>> Joyce Hildreth,  Director
>>> Division of Blind  Services
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
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>>
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