[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking andchoosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements

Thu May 1 13:00:33 UTC 2014

It's is my personal opinion. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 1:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking 
andchoosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements


> RJ, I said what I said because I know in my heart that the NFB has done 
> and
> is doing more than any other organization to truly help the nation's 
> blind.
> The Florida NFB has done a lot too. We have one of the most active parent
> divisions, which is great! We have probably the best state convention
> around. You have to look at the entire picture. I am not here to bash any
> organization. This is not necessary.
>
> Sherri
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 11:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and
> choosingNFBpolicies and constitutional requirements
>
>
> I think this is part of the reson why I do not wish to renew my membership
> in the NFB, because I disagree with some things. First, while wearing 
> sleep
> shades may be alright for some people, other people may not agree with it.
> It should be up to the mobility instructor and the client. Another thing 
> is,
> I'm getting the sense Florida isn't following the national office when it
> says to do something, we do it, no questions asked. The ACB is more 
> unified
> than NFB is on some things. My friend Rhonda who lives here in Okeechobee,
> wants me to join the St. Lucie chapter, but she thinks I should run for
> office, but they've already have officers in that chapter. While she sees
> something in me, I just do not see myself a member of the national
> federation of the blind. I personally believe that FCB would be a good fit
> for me personally. It is a personal choice, and nothing againist anyone. 
> The
> national federation of the blind has lost messege, and I do not want to be 
> a
> part of an organziation that is not on messege. RJ
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Holly" <hbeanie at gmail.com>
> To: <NFBF-Leaders at yahoogroups.com>
> Cc: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 10:41 PM
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Re: [NFBF-Leaders] picking and choosing
> NFBpolicies and constitutional requirements
>
>
>> Sherri,
>> I totally agree with you. I feel that some of the policies are out dated
>> such as the dual membership. I know that the statewide chapter lost a
>> fundraiser due to this policy.
>> We, the NFBF can't pick and choose which policies we follow. Your post 
>> was
>> very well written and thought out. I hope the State aboard is just as
>> concerned as you and I are on this matter. If this gets brushed under the
>> rug...what else doesn't matter to our State Board?
>> I used to drive, some people believe that if I lived in Georgia I could
>> drive again, each state has their requirements. I don't know if this is
>> correct or not, but I do know that I truly miss it. More on days like
>> today, when I walk home in the rain and have to go get the baby another
>> 3/10 of a mile from the house. But the fact is that I can't drive a car, 
>> I
>> have an electric motorized pedal bike. Since it has pedals it is legal 
>> for
>> me to ride. When Peter's email came out, I thought he was writing it 
>> about
>> me. My bike does not have a tag, it is not registered and does not 
>> require
>> a drivers license.
>> It will be interesting how this issue is resolved at a State Level.
>> Holly Idler
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Apr 30, 2014, at 8:09 PM, "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> This is a lengthy message, so be prepared. I am deeply concerned about
>>> something that just came to my attention. Not being on the NFBF board, I
>>> have only learned about this through conversations with members.
>>>
>>> First, let me say that I have been a member of the NFB since 1979. I 
>>> love
>>> this organization and feel we have done more than any other blindness
>>> group to truly *change what it *means to be blind. I would like this to
>>> continue, but we must keep our integrity intact.
>>>
>>> Let me give you some background. Around a year ago, the *policy (which 
>>> is
>>> a *policy and not in any NFB *constitution) was discussed whereby if we
>>> are members of NFBF, we cannot be members of FCB or any affiliates of
>>> that organization. Because of this "*policy,  we lost some valuable
>>> members including my good friend and valued Pinellas chapter member 
>>> Grant
>>> Downey, who explained in great detail in a letter why he joined both
>>> groups and that he deeply loved the Federation. But because of all the
>>> backlash, he resigned his membership. Thus, Pinellas lost a valued 
>>> member
>>> and Newsline lost a great worker. It made me very sad!
>>>
>>> A few months ago, Peter Cerullo NFBF Board member and Greater Daytona
>>> chapter president posted an e-mail questioning whether it is okay to 
>>> have
>>> a sighted person i.e. a person who can legally drive a car, as a chapter
>>> president.
>>>
>>> It has now come to my attention that we have a sighted chapter president
>>> in the state of Florida. I do not point this out to belittle anyone or
>>> make light of their capabilities. I am sure this person does a fine job
>>> and this is no way meant personally but only as it pertains to NFB
>>> philosophy and our constitution. It was brought up at the last board
>>> meeting and apparently (and I wasn't there, so can't say for sure)
>>> glossed over during the discussion.
>>>
>>> A couple of months ago in our Central Florida chapter, we dissected the
>>> NFB pledge. It says we are to *support the *policies and *programs of 
>>> the
>>> Federation and *abide by its *constitution. The NFBF  constitution says
>>> the following. This also applies to the NFB constitution and to all
>>> chapter constitutions. I put a * beside the important words.
>>> Section One—Officers
>>>
>>> There shall be elected biannually, at the state convention in odd
>>> numbered years, a president, a second vice president, and a secretary.
>>> There shall be elected biannually, at the state convention in even
>>> numbered years, a first vice president, and a treasurer.  The terms of
>>> these officers shall begin at the close of the convention at which they
>>> are qualified and elected.
>>>
>>> The president is the chief executive officer of the organization.  The
>>> duties of all officers shall be those ordinarily associated with their
>>> respective offices.  The *president the *vice presidents must be *blind.
>>>
>>> The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles states the following:
>>> The Florida DHS&MV's vision standard is 20/50. If worse in one or either
>>> eye, you will be referred to a licensed vision specialist to see if it
>>> can be improved.
>>> If one eye is blind, the other must have 20/40. The accepted minimum
>>> field of vision is 130 degrees.
>>>
>>> This means if someone has a vehicle operator's license, this is the
>>> vision they must have. Of course, restrictions can be  placed on
>>> licenses. My 2 daughters can drive, but were born with congenital
>>> cataracts, so I am thoroughly familiar with this. They are quite blind
>>> without correction, but this does not qualify them to be chapter
>>> president or vice-president pursuant to the NFB constitution.
>>>
>>> So this is my question. I would like to knoe which *policies and
>>> *programs we in the NFB of Florida *support and which we *do *not
>>> support? If we allow sighted people to be chapter or affiliate
>>> presidents, no mattter their other qualifications, I believe we should
>>> change our name to the National Federation for the Blind of Florida. In
>>> my opinion, if we expect people to resign because they are members of
>>> more than 1 blindness organization, then we should also *abide by the
>>> *law in our *constitution that says the *president and *vice-president
>>> must be *blind.
>>>
>>> I hope that the NFBF board will take my concerns and those of other NFBF
>>> members seriously and deal with thismatter. Thank you for taking the 
>>> time
>>> to read this e-mail.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sherri Brun
>>>
>>> Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
>>> Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no
>>> one is paying attention.
>>> Sherri Brun
>>> NFBF Newsline Chair
>>> flmom2006 at gmail.com
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