[Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
lappland at bellsouth.net
lappland at bellsouth.net
Sun Sep 23 18:00:07 UTC 2012
Kitty,
Thanks for the kind words and support. I can assure all my fellow blind
friends that as long as I am the Executive Director of the Florida Outreach
Center for the Blind, it will always provide quality training programs that
give blind individuals the skills and self-confidents they need to live
independently. Neither would I let the Center host any activity/event that
degrades blind people.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Lapp
Executive Director
Florida Outreach Center for the Blind, Inc.
2315 S. Congress Avenue
Palm Springs, FL 33406
(561) 642-0005
info_focb at bellsouth.net
Please remember to support the Center by making a tax deductable gift of a
dollar or more to our worthy programs. Thank You!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe and Kitty King" <joenkitty at earthlink.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
> Dear Carolyn:
>
> You made a very valid point. I admire the work you do and appreciate you
> informing us of details of your Dining in the Dark event. You have gone
> the extra mile and are a strong advocate for the blind community by
> uniting both the blind and sighted in this outstanding program.
>
> Keep up the good work!
>
> With Sincerity,
>
> Kitty King
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <lappland at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 2:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>
>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> I apologize for taking so long to add my thoughts to this thread but
>> wanted to assure everyone that the annual Dr. Thomas Hartig Dining in the
>> Dark event held by the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind is directly
>> aligned with NFB's philosophy and promotes a positive awareness and
>> understanding about blindness. Our 6th annual DID event on October 13th
>> has been organized by blind and sighted persons who have positive
>> attitudes about blindness and portray blind people as equal and vital
>> participants of society.
>>
>> Our event was named after Dr. Thomas Hartig who over the obstacles of
>> blindness and was an inspiration to others. He was instrumental in
>> bringing NFB/NEWSLINE, newspapers via the telephone, to blind people
>> across the country. During the dinner, an award in Dr. Hartig's name is
>> presented to a blind person who similarly overcome obstacles and is an
>> inspiration to others in the community. We were very honored to have Dr.
>> Hartig's wife, Jeanie, speak at the 2011 event.
>>
>> In addition, the Center always has a guest speaker who is a leader in the
>> blind community. This year's key note speaker will be David Bigoney, a
>> blind man who competed in the IronMan competition and will be competing
>> in the upcoming triathlon challenge. Our live entertainment will be
>> provided by a blind singer and song writer.
>>
>> Since 100% of the Center's staff and 50% of our board of directors are
>> required to be blind, there is no way that we would ever conduct an event
>> that would present blindness as inferior. The Dining in the Dark event
>> gives us an opportunity to educate the public about the capabilities of
>> blind people and the importance of good rehabilitation programs. It's an
>> enlightening experience for those who attend and they walk away with a
>> whole new prospective and better understanding about blindness.
>>
>> It would be interesting to find out how many of the individuals voting on
>> this resolution actually attended a Dining in the Dark event and how many
>> of them, because each one is different.
>>
>> Thanks for listening to my thoughts. God bless and take care.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Carolyn Lapp
>> Executive Director
>> Florida Outreach Center for the Blind, Inc.
>> 2315 S. Congress Avenue
>> Palm Springs, FL 33406
>> (561) 642-0005
>> info_focb at bellsouth.net
>>
>> Please remember to support the Center by making a tax deductable gift of
>> a dollar or more to our worthy programs. Thank You!
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
>> To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 11:21 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>
>>
>>> Hello All,
>>>
>>> I was a member of the Resolutions Committee that approved Resolution
>>> 2012-04, the Resolution pertaining to Dining in the Dark, which was
>>> later
>>> passed by the convention, in which some of us took part.
>>>
>>> It was controversial in the meeting, in the convention, and it remains
>>> so,
>>> now.
>>>
>>> When Peter Cerullo asked me how I felt about the Daytona Beach's
>>> chapter's
>>> taking part in the CVI's Dining in the Dark, I told him that I don't
>>> think
>>> that the CVI's event as I know it would violate NFB's national or NFBF
>>> state
>>> policies - before or after the passage of Resolution 2012-04. This
>>> resolution condemns Dining in the Dark "when it is conducted in a way
>>> that
>>> diminishes the innate normality and equal status of the blind in
>>> society." I
>>> don't think CVI would conduct the invent in such a negative manner.
>>>
>>> Some of the Dining in the Dark activities which have been conducted by
>>> various organizations - hopefully not our own chapters and affiliates -
>>> have
>>> not done the blind any good. The example that I gave Peter told of one
>>> DiD
>>> flyer which emphasized that all of the food was prepared by sighted
>>> persons
>>> working in well-lighted kitchens. This is not something we would want
>>> included in the promotional literature for any of our events.
>>>
>>> I believe that Dining in the Dark events, if properly planned, promoted,
>>> and
>>> carried out, can leave a positive impression of the capabilities of
>>> blind
>>> people in the minds of the sighted and the blind alike. I also believe
>>> that
>>> a majority of those voting for the resolution in Dallas would also agree
>>> with that idea. At least, that was how I interpreted what took place on
>>> that
>>> day.
>>>
>>> I would, however, be interested in knowing if anyone has an opposing
>>> view on
>>> this subject. Discussions like this are what this list is for.
>>>
>>> Thank you all.
>>>
>>> Dan Hicks, President
>>> NFB of Florida
>>>
>>>
>>> "It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."
>>>
>>> -Garrison Keillor
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of Lenora J. Marten
>>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 6:40 PM
>>> To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I think this is a subject that is going to generate some strong opinions
>>> and
>>> emotions all the way around, but just to give you all a little insight
>>> as to
>>> how NFB National came to writing and then passing this resolution.
>>>
>>> As Dr. Mauer read this resolution during general session, there were a
>>> lot
>>> of mixed opinions. It was very surprising to hear and really seemed like
>>> such a dramatic approach, to actually condemn the practice of Dining in
>>> the
>>> Dark. He did explain that the resolution came about as a result of
>>> several
>>> NFB members complaints concerning DID. A blind man in California
>>> attended
>>> one of these events as a diner and was told he couldn't enter the
>>> establishment with his cane, as it would give him an unfair advantage
>>> over
>>> the other 'sighted but blindfolded' diners. Also, in addition to the
>>> article
>>> in the Times that is mentioned in the resolution, he talked about
>>> another
>>> article written about DID titled "Dining in the Dark Helps You
>>> Appreciate
>>> Your Sight" in which a particularly disturbing statement "For those
>>> assembled, a half hour in the dark was a humbling, and bumbling,
>>> reminder of
>>> the magnitude of the gift of sight." And let me tell you, we were very
>>> surprised to find that this article came from our own state of Florida
>>> right
>>> from the Tampa Bay Times. The article was from a DID that happened in
>>> 2010
>>> hosted by Foundation Fighting Blindness. Below, you will find a link to
>>> the
>>> article and a copy/paste of the text.
>>>
>>> http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/dining-in-dark-helps-you-appreciate-
>>> your-sight/1078656
>>>
>>> ST. PETERSBURG
>>> You knew your plate had been set before you only by sense of smell. It
>>> smelled like beef, something braised and hearty. On your right a voice
>>> asked
>>> what you do for a living. You turned and lobbed an answer in that
>>> direction.
>>>
>>> Tuesday night was the Foundation Fighting Blindness's first Tampa Bay
>>> Dining in the Dark event at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club.
>>> More
>>> than 200 people, dressed fancy and sipping cocktails, took seats in the
>>> main
>>> ballroom and eventually donned something called a Mindfold face mask,
>>> impervious to light and lined with foam. The lights dimmed and as emcee
>>> Dick
>>> Crippen of the Tampa Bay Rays goaded the crowd, the group endeavored to
>>> enjoy "the first meal you will never see."
>>> Other senses were heightened, texture became paramount. But more
>>> important, it gave all of the assembled a greater window into the world
>>> of
>>> the sightless. Many had come because their lives had already been
>>> touched by
>>> degenerative retinal diseases. Briana Pompilus, 24, was there as a
>>> volunteer
>>> with her mother Veronica Floyd, 44, who was diagnosed with retinitis
>>> pigmentosa at age 22. Still driving now, eventually her vision will
>>> close up
>>> as if looking through two drinking straws.
>>> Mary Lou Johnson Evans was there for a similar reason. Her 14-year-old
>>> son, Josh, suffers from the same disease.
>>> One of the evening's speakers, April Lufriu, a former Mrs. Florida
>>> America
>>> pageant winner and president of the Tampa Bay area chapter of the
>>> foundation, spoke of her sister's retinal disease and, more haltingly,
>>> about
>>> her two children's recent diagnosis.
>>> Degenerative retinal diseases affect more than 10 million Americans. As
>>> keynote speaker James Minow described it, the foundation's aim is to put
>>> an
>>> end to retinal disease by replacing defective cells in the retina,
>>> replacing
>>> defective genes and by developing new treatments to protect degenerating
>>> retinas. The obstacle? As is so often the case, it's money.
>>> According to Kim Marlow, regional director of development for the
>>> foundation, the evening in St. Petersburg will raise $100,000 for the
>>> cause.
>>> The most successful Dining in the Dark event to date, in New York,
>>> raised
>>> $500,000 in a single evening.
>>> The evening's honorees, doctors James Gill and Stephen Klasko, were
>>> feverishly optimistic about conceivable cures for blindness. For those
>>> assembled, a half hour in the dark was a humbling, and bumbling,
>>> reminder of
>>> the magnitude of the gift of sight.
>>>
>>> Laura Reiley can be reached at lreiley at sptimes.com or (727) 892-2293.
>>>
>>>
>>> Lenora J. Marten
>>> NFB-Florida Secretary
>>> FOPBC President
>>> NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
>>> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
>>> 904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Patricia A. Lipovsky <plipovsky at cfl.rr.com>
>>> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Mon, Sep 17, 2012 6:16 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>>
>>>
>>> Well said Kathy. Looking forward to this event in October.
>>>
>>> Give MS Cloey a big hug for me.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>
>>> To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 2:40 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello Everyone,
>>>> Let me begin by saying that I am the co-chair of a dining in the
>>>> dark fundraiser for the Center for the Visually impaired located here
>>>> in
>>>> Daytona Beach Fl. I am totally blind and a founding member of this
>>>> wonderful
>>>> organization. We have never put on such an event so this will be our
>>>> first
>>>> such activity.
>>>> I did not even know about the resolution that was passed at the
>>>> national convention this summer. I can see where some of the supporters
>>>> are
>>>> coming from; however I do not agree with the fact that dining in the
>>>> dark
>>>> fundraisers are demeaning for the blind.
>>>> The first Dining in the Dark (DID) fundraiser I attended was
>>>> sponsored by Carolyn Lapp's rehabilitation agency, the Florida Outreach
>>>> Center, in West Palm Beach. It was most informative and fun too.
>>>> Having
>>>> been asked to be a guest speaker, I was able to address the supporters
>>>> by
>>>> sharing some of my accomplishments as a blind woman. I will not go in
>>>> to
>>>> detail about all of that here because most of you are acquainted with
>>>> me
>>>> since I served on the NFBF Board of Directors for many years and held
>>>> the
>>>> position of President of the Florida Affiliate for two terms as well as
>>>> founding President of the Greater Daytona Beach Chapter. DID
>>>> fundraisers
>>>> are
>>>> a marvelous opportunity just to give patrons a brief sense of what it
>>>> is
>>>> like when someone loses their vision. The really neat thing is that
>>>> blind
>>>> attendees are able to help out the sighted by serving them more iced
>>>> tea
>>>> or
>>>> coffee, pouring salad dressing if they have not a clue how to do this
>>>> and
>>>> the like. In addition, I will be a guest speaker at our own event
>>>> scheduled
>>>> for October 17 and there will be many other blind people in attendance.
>>>> There is great enthusiasm about our forthcoming DID event and I am
>>>> certain
>>>> that it will be a huge success. Not only will we raise needed funds for
>>>> the
>>>> Center for the Visually Impaired but we will also do lots of educating
>>>> about
>>>> blindness. Naturally I will share with the audience that those of us
>>>> who
>>>> are
>>>> blind have undergone specialized training plus simple life experiences
>>>> to
>>>> become as competent as we are. They will understand that we can cook,
>>>> travel
>>>> independently most anywhere we wish, hold varying positions of
>>>> employment,
>>>> and raise a family.
>>>> Thank you Patricia, Kathy and Toni for chiming in on this matter.
>>>> I'll be the first to let the list know how our Dining in the Dark
>>>> fundraiser
>>>> goes. Believe me, sighted attendees will leave the dinner having a new
>>>> respect for blind people!!
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Kathy Davis and new Seeing Eye Dog Chloe
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf
>>>> Of Mark Tardif
>>>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 10:42 AM
>>>> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>>>
>>>> Hello, Lenora. I was one of the ones not aware of this resolution. I
>>>> think, however, that it is a good one. Obviously, promoters of this
>>>> kind
>>>> of
>>>> activity have major stereotypes about blindness and the abilities of
>>>> blind
>>>> people. For example, the idea that blind people cannot cook for large
>>>> numbers of people, and the idea that somehow blind people must have a
>>>> hard
>>>> time with their table manners, because we cannot see when or if a piece
>>>> of
>>>> food ends up on the table. I could go on and on. I think maybe the
>>>> worst
>>>> of these misconceptions is that eating in darkness for the first time
>>>> ever,
>>>> is somehow like blindness for someone who has lived it for many years.
>>>> In
>>>> fact, those of us who have been blind for many years no better. But
>>>> the
>>>> worst thing by far, is these promoters, who probably have never talked
>>>> with
>>>> a real blind person, shamefully use this approach to get people to feel
>>>> sorry for blind people and therefore provide funds for their agencies.
>>>> That
>>>> is unethical and atrocious!!!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mark Tardif
>>>> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Lenora J. Marten
>>>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 5:58 AM
>>>> To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hey everyone,
>>>>
>>>> For those who are not aware, NFB passed a resolution at National
>>>> Convention
>>>> in Dallas that condemns the
>>>> practice of Dining in the Dark.
>>>> You will find a copy/paste of the resolution below.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Resolution 2012-04
>>>> Regarding Dining in the Dark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of
>>>> eyesight but the widespread public misconception that the blind are not
>>>> equal to the sighted in society; and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind categorically
>>>> rejects the myth that the blind are not equal to the sighted; and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, programs of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>> teach
>>>> and promote a positive understanding of blindness, that the blind are
>>>> normal
>>>>
>>>> and equal members of society, and that blindness does not mean
>>>> inferiority;
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, an activity known as "dining in the dark" is being
>>>> promoted and used to raise funds by having sighted people experience
>>>> blindness by eating in the dark; and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, an article published in Time magazine entitled
>>>> "Dining
>>>> in the Dark" assures would-be diners that the cook "works in a well-lit
>>>> kitchen"; and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, the Dining in the Dark
>>>> website--www.dininginthedark.org--states: "you will pick from a
>>>> specially
>>>> prepared menu (designed by a sighted local 'star' chef)" and "In
>>>> darkness
>>>> everyone becomes equal. Our opinions can't be molded by dress,
>>>> mannerisms,
>>>> or makeup as none of it can be seen. You learn that without sight your
>>>> other senses become more acute"; and
>>>>
>>>> WHEREAS, these statements lay bare the underlying philosophy
>>>> of
>>>> dining in the dark, that sight means superior ability, and that, when
>>>> sight
>>>> is removed in the dark, the blind and the sighted are equal: Now,
>>>> therefore,
>>>>
>>>> BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
>>>> Convention assembled this fourth day of July, 2012, in the city of
>>>> Dallas,
>>>> Texas, that this organization condemn and deplore the use of dining in
>>>> the
>>>> dark in a manner that diminishes the innate normality and equal status
>>>> of
>>>> the blind in society; and
>>>>
>>>> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization pursue an
>>>> active
>>>> policy of opposition to dining in the dark activities and events,
>>>> including
>>>> use of media and public protests, whenever and wherever such activities
>>>> and
>>>> events exploit blindness and blind people based on a demeaning
>>>> philosophy.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Lenora J. Marten
>>>> NFB-Florida Secretary
>>>> FOPBC President
>>>> NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
>>>> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
>>>> 904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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