[nfbmi-talk] letter to Joe Sibley about Newsline funding

[Elizabeth]

HI Larry,
 
Thanks for sharing. I think you did a great job with this letter. I for one would not be opposed to placing information about their organization on our information channel. I believe the more information a person can obtain about a given subject only allows them to make a more informed decision. Just my two cents on the issue.
 
Elizabeth
 
> From: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 18:37:26 -0400
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] letter to Joe Sibley about Newsline funding
> 
> Dear Fellow Federationists:
> 
> I sent a letter to Joe Sibley concerning Newsline Funding. I include it below. There is a reluctance on the part of 
> MCBVI to communicate with us due to our law suit with the Michigan Commission for the Blind.
> 
> 
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> 
> 20812 Ann Arbor Trail
> 
> Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
> 
> September 28, 2010
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Joe Sibley:
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you very much for writing me concerning your views on Newsline Funding. I will address several of your concerns at 
> this time.
> 
> You indicate that the NFB uses Newsline as a marketing tool. Such conduct would not be consistent with the purpose of 
> Newsline, which is to disseminate print journalism and information that is not readily available to blind persons through any other 
> means. In other words, Newsline is exclusively an information dissemination tool. The MCBVI is welcomed to have its own meeting 
> information posted on this service, as do some chapters of the NFB of Michigan. As a matter of fact, information about the National 
> ACB conference already appears on Newsline each summer. It is important to note that listeners who wish to be informed of the 
> times and locations of area local chapter meetings, for MCBVI, local Lions clubs, NFB of Michigan or any other organizations, must 
> select the appropriate category, so this kind of information is not compulsory.
> 
> 
> 
> You state that, "It is my understanding that there has never been a clear breakdown of the budget of NFB Newsline which would be 
> necessary to approve financial support at this level. I have also spoken with individuals more learned than I that the budget you 
> propose seems excessive for the actual cost of operating NFB Newsline."
> 
> It is true that the Commission has not been given an accounting of the distribution of funds in the exercise of the Newsline 
> contract. This is only and absolutely because the Michigan Commission for the Blind does not ask for an accounting from any of its 
> contractors. Furthermore, the Commission does not even have a mechanism for monitoring the contracts that it funds in any given 
> year. We certainly believe that it would be far more responsible for the Commission to monitor or review all of its contracts on an 
> annual basis, and as soon as a system is developed to do this, the NFB will immediately provide an accounting of the costs for 
> Newsline. You are also invited to inquire of the Commission, about the amount of money that was actually spent on Newsline in 2009 
> and 2008. If an accurate accounting exists you will see that this service was indeed funded at a level that is approximately 19 
> percent under the contract budget for both of these years.
> 
> In response to your concern about the cost of this service: Although the cost of the Newsline contract is listed as 
> $80,000 annually, the actual charges each year generally amount to something in the neighborhood of $65,000. Thus, the organization 
> charges only actual costs. It does not collect the entire contract fee.
> 
> You state, "I am concerned that the NFB of Michigan is asking the Michigan Commission for the Blind to support one of it's programs 
> at the same time the organization has a law suit pending against the commission."
> 
> Law suits should not shut down the business of governmental entities. Individuals can agree to disagree. However, a 
> refusal to talk and interact because of a lawsuit is not professional, and does not solve problems. It is customary for businesses 
> to continue interactions during pending litigation. A refusal to do so has the potential to close down the business of one or both 
> organizations. The Federation's law suit has nothing to do with Newsline, or commission service delivery of any kind. The suit was 
> filed against members of the Board, and is solely concerned with the manner in which Board meetings are conducted.
> 
> You state, "I am troubled by the action at the recent Consumer Involvement Council meeting where the council was 
> pressured to support this action. I am also concerned that the chair of the CIC allowed NFB members who are not on the council to 
> speak to this issue at times other than public comment, adding additional pressure to the other council members."
> 
> I have been urging the Commission Board and all committees to allow for open and honest discussion. This open discussion 
> occurred at the Consumer Involvement Council meeting, not just for members of the NFB, but for all interested individuals who wanted
> 
> to express their views to the council. Open, honest discussions often do not follow strictly regulated formats.
> 
> 
> 
> Sincerely
> 
> 
> 
> Larry Posont, President
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> 
> 517-482-1800
> 
> Email: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
> 
> Web page
> 
> www.nfbmi.org
> 
> 
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