[Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies and constitutional requirements

Thu May 1 17:10:46 UTC 2014

Sherri,
You are totally correct.
As past secretary, second vp and first vp  I know the charter and  
constitution.
It is in direct violation of our National Charter, State and Chapter  
constitutions to have a sighted President or VP.
Dwight
Dwight D.  Sayer
12516 Hammock Pointe Circle
Clermont, Fl.  34711
352-988-5583

In a message dated 4/30/2014 8:10:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
flmom2006 at gmail.com writes:

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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