[Nfbf-l] Important: Submitted for your Approval -- ProposedConstitutional Amendment.

[Kathy Davis]

Hi Dan,
	I totally oppose your proposed amendment to the NFBF Constitution.
You and I have always held differing opinions on the matter of secret
ballots. 
	The fact is that I do not want to stand up publically or even raise
my hand so members will know exactly how I vote. I may respect several
members running for office but I do not want them to be cognizant of how I
choose to vote.  Hurt feelings that can be long-lasting in nature would
likely result. 
	Even though the majority of the voting members are blind, many have
enough vision to see how folks cast their votes and of course, we have many
sighted members who will also be part of the election process. Don't think
for a minute that a given candidate will not learn from other members what
they observed pertaining to how others cast their votes   
	To take my position a bit further and a little more concrete, let me
add an example. It's a really terrible situation when two of my really good
friends are running for the same office such as Second Vice President. This
situation has occurred on numerous occasions throughout the years I have
been part of the NFBF. For example, let's say that Sherrill O'Brien is
running against Gloria Hicks. I may choose to vote for Gloria but I would
feel horrible for Sherrill to know that I voted against her because I value
both candidates' friendship. After all, we are an organization that has
worked for years and years for voters to have the right to vote in secret
and in private. 
	Sorry my friend, but I can never support your amendment! Moreover,
elections are far too important to get caught up in making our elections be
over and done with in the quickest manner possible. If only one voting
member is uncomfortable about voting publically, that member should have the
right to call for a secret ballot. I hope others will jump in and share
their views on this matter. 


Your friend and longtime colleague,

Kathy Davis
   

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Dan Hicks
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 1:47 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Important: Submitted for your Approval --
ProposedConstitutional Amendment.

Fellow NFBF Members, 

 

As Rod Serling used to say in the beginning minutes of "The Twilight Zone,"
'Submitted for your approval."

 

Some of you may recall that at our 2011 NFBF Convention, we approved an
amendment to the constitution which changed and simplified the way chapters
designate their representatives.

 

During this convention, I mentioned another amendment that I wish to see
passed, and will be voted on at this year's convention. 

 

 

ARTICLE IV:  ELECTIONS

 

Now reads:

 

ARTICLE IV:  ELECTIONS

 

Elections shall be conducted by a majority vote of the active members
present and voting at an annually held business meeting.  Election shall be
by voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, roll call vote, or secret
ballot.  Secret marked ballots shall be required upon the request of any
active member present and voting.  There shall be no proxy voting.  If no
nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the name of the person
receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list of nominees, and a
second ballot shall be taken.  This procedure shall continue until one of
the nominees has received a majority vote from the active members present
and voting. 

 

 

 Proposed Change:

 

ARTICLE IV:  ELECTIONS

 

Elections shall be conducted by a majority vote of the active members
present and voting at an annually held business meeting.  Election shall be
by voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, roll call vote, or secret
ballot.  Secret marked ballots shall be required upon the request of a
majority of the active member present and voting.  There shall be no proxy
voting.  If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the
name of the person receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list
of nominees, and a second ballot shall be taken.  This procedure shall
continue until one of the nominees has received a majority vote from the
active members present and voting. 

 

I am putting this out now so that we can talk about it and debate its merits
via NFBF-L before the start of convention. 

 

Let me just say that we spend something like 45 minutes each convention
passing out, collecting, and counting secret ballots at our conventions.
This year, the number of offices up for vote could make this time grow to an
hour or more. We usually have about 120 people voting the final day of
convention. That's 120 collective hours - the equivalent of five twenty-four
hour days - of valuable convention time that we waste on a procedure which a
majority of us may not want. 

 

Please note that my proposed amendment does not eliminate secret balloting;
it just changes our constitution to call for a secret ballot only if the
majority of the members present and voting wish to have it. 

 

Please take a look at this and give it your consideration. Feel free to
share your thoughts. 

 

Dan Hicks, President

NFB of Florida

 

 

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."


                                                     -Garrison Keillor

 

 

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