[Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!

[Dan Hicks]

Peter I am glad you appreciate what we are trying to do. I hope you will consider taking part in our Florida convention cruise. We're happy to have non-Floridians aboard as well.

To Carlos' question, I can only say that the board would not take it lightly if a chapter were to vote to boycott one of our conventions. It would be a violation of the chapter's charter and the pledge to support NFB and NFBF activities and programs. Fortunately, I have no reason to believe that any of our chapters has actually taken this action, so this is all much to do about a hypothetical nothing. 

That does not mean that everyone will be able to attend — we understand that there are always members who cannot attend a particular convention for one reason or another. That's the way it is. All we can do is try to make the event as enticing as possible and try to make it as feasible for as many people as possible to attend and take part. 

Don't forget that this cruise is in 2014 — we still have a 2013 convention to finish planning and unfold in all of its landbased glory!  

You are all invited to attend the 2013 convention in St Petersburg over Memorial Day Weekend as well. Stay tuned for the exciting details. 

Dan

No trees were harmed in the creation or distribution of this message.  
However, many millions of electrons were severely inconvenienced.


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 10:39 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!

Good morning Dan and everyone,

    If there's one thing that really irks me it's people's excuses for why they're unable to attend major federation events. What some view as a reason for not attending such as finances, schedule conflicts, or in this case the convention venue others have proven that such excuses are false and can be over-come with a little imagination, motivation, and seeking the help and advice from those who confronted such obstacles and found ways to over-come them. The same advice also goes for NFB chapters as well!You guys are doing something innovative where holding an NFB event is concerned. For God sakes get behind your state president and leadership, and make the 2014 Cruise Vention one of the most innovative and memorable state conventions the NFBFL has ever hosted!

Peter Donahue



----- Original Message -----
From: "Carlos J Montas" <carlos.montas at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 7:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!


So Mr President are you going to impose sanctions on the chapters who choose 
to  boycott the 2014 convention?  Are you going to punish for example the 
Daytona Beach chapter?  Last time I checked its one of the biggest chapters 
in the State.  Are you going to remove Peter Cerullo as President?   It 
looks like your "in a difficult position. Even if chapters do not boycott 
the convention,  members make up the chapter so like I stated previously if 
chapter members choose not to attend,  there is nothing that you or any one 
else can do about it.   I am  not being negative.  Have a good day Sir.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 14, 2013, at 10:03 PM, "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Carlos,
>
> Regardless of your stated intentions, I think you are definitely coming 
> off as negative.
>
> The NFBF State Board of Directors has never forced anybody to attend a 
> convention. We do our best to build and plan the best conventions possible 
> and hope that our members are inspired to come and that they care enough 
> about the organization to take part.
>
> We sought input before planning the cruise. The CruiseVention 2014 was 
> endorsed by the President's committee. The cost for those attending need 
> not constitute an expense which is significantly greater than has been 
> necessary to attend various landbased conventions. We understand the 
> financial situation faced by many of our members, which is why we are 
> putting so much emphasis on fundraising, so early in the game. I don't 
> know where you get the idea that the board is doing a poor job of planning 
> the convention. That is merely your uninformed opinion, not, as you call 
> it, a fact.
>
> I think what is causing the buzz on this list is the statement made by Joe 
> Minichiello — endorsed by all other board members, including myself — that 
> our chapters are not allowed to summarily boycott any NFBF convention. It 
> would be ridiculous and malicious for any chapter to consider such action.
>
> We have had many conventions where a chapter or two are not represented 
> for one reason or another. That is not the same kind of thing as if a 
> chapter were to vote or otherwise decide to avoid the convention out of 
> pique or anger. One of the purposes of our conventions is to come to 
> agreements and to iron out differences. So, if members of a chapter have 
> differences with the currently elected state board, it would be in their 
> best interest to attend the convention in question and either have their 
> grievances addressed or elect a new board.
>
> Dan
>
>
> No trees were harmed in the creation or distribution of this message.
> However, many millions of electrons were severely inconvenienced.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carlos Montas
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 2:41 AM
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
> Cc: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Cruise "clarification" please!
>
> Good morning to all, although I did not attend the Presidents meeting,  I 
> believe it comes down to weather chapter members wish to attend or not. 
> Chapter Presidents can push this as much as they can, and if chapter 
> members do not wish to attend then there is nothing that can be done about 
> it. The fact is that there is a 70 percent unemployment rate for people 
> who are blind, or visually impaired. To expect members who already are 
> living on a fixed income to commit to an event that is a year away is 
> asking a lot. I believe that if such an evenT is going to be successful 
> the leadership needs to do a better job of planning.  I am not trying to 
> be negative just stating the facts.  May you all have a wonderful week
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 13, 2013, at 11:23 PM, petercerullo at aol.com wrote:
>
>>
>> Mr. Chairman,
>>
>> Great Job! The only concern during the presidents meeting that sparked my 
>> curiosity happened while in discussion about the 2014 CruiseVention. It 
>> was stated several times by you Mr. Chairman that there might be some 
>> affiliate chapters demonstrating with a notion to boycott this 2014 
>> venture, is that true? For heaven’s sake, we are NFB the largest advocacy 
>> body of the organized blind. We stand strong in our efforts, independent, 
>> hard working, technology oriented and dedicated in the cause to change 
>> what it means to be blind. The challenge on whether this venture is 
>> difficult, feasible or affordable should not play a factor, the bottom 
>> line is do you want to cruise or not want to cruise. "That simple!"
>>
>> Peter Cerullo
>>
>>
>>
>>
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