[nfbmi-talk] Oklahoma

Sat Dec 7 20:35:01 UTC 2013

Congratulations Doug and Christine on Doug's appointment.

Once again, the environmental climate here in Michigan, and I don't mmean
the weather or global warming, has taken another fine couple from the State
of Michigan.  Another loss for the citizens of Michigan, especially we the
blind citizen, and of course, another loss to our state affiliate.  The
people of Oklahoma are the beneficiaries of a wealth of talent and
inspiration in Doug and Christine, and surely it will show in positive
action in short order for the blind and NFB affiliate there.  

I had just gotten over the loss of a great and vast talent bank of blind
persons living out the NFB philosophy, as evidenced by other states
siphoning off the vast talent and experience from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and
our chapter there.  Now we are once faced with another wave of talent and
experience saying farewell to us and leaving behind the lack of opportunity,
hostility toward the NFB, and a lack of a philosophy that has confidence and
support for blind persons, other than the support offered through welfare
and poverty income programs, promoted by this state, the governor, and a
token blind director and advisory commission, intent on keeping blind
persons poor, uneducated, and dependent on state and federal welfare
assistance, not to mention dependence on family and parents, no matter how
elderly, to read to their blind adult child or relative, the printed
material the BS4BP and other agencies put out, to inform and assist the
blind person in fulfilling the BS4BP and welfare agencies mission--to keep
blind persons unemployed, poor, uneducated, on welfare programs, and
dependant upon the sighted among them.  Oh yes, I acknowledge that that is
not the written or legal mission of BS4BP, other agencies, and the office of
the governor, but as my wise late mother taught and demonstrated as a
vibrant and independent blind woman, "actions speak louder than words any
day.". .  

To see that actions of the BS4Bp and governors administration do not match,
or even come near, the written and legal mission, one only need look at the
sighted person "merchandising" holiday ornaments in our state Capitol
Randolph-Sheppard business to raise funds for training programs so blind
persons can get a job, while millions of vocational rehabilitation dollars
are not spent each fiscal year; ,the sighted BS4BP staff hired and paid more
than their blind counterparts doing like jobs, a Randolph-Sheppard cafeteria
in a legislative office building, celebrating this week the 24th consecutive
month of closure and non-operation of that cafeteria  by a well qualified
blind person, NFB affiliated nonetheless, with a proven track record of
cafeteria and catering success, and training of and employment of persons
with blindness and persons with various other disabilities; not to mention
the ongoing operation and destruction of other Randolph-Sheppard operations
by sighted persons, while better trained and qualified blind persons sit
home available for employment.

In the meantime, the token blind agency director jets around the united
states, while growing his near retirement monthly payments, based on taking
the position for which he knows little about vocational rehabilitation of
the blind, and has demonstrated even less, as his agency has posted a
half-dozen Randolph-Sheppard ficilities that will, if lucky, make a blind
person slave profits of perhaps $5,000 to $10,000, a year, for a 55 hour
work week, as required by the slave labor license.   I thought slavery ended
in the 19th Century?  The law requires that Randolph-Sheppard businesses in
Michigan have at LEAST a profit potential of 120 percent of the federal
minimum wage, based on a 40 hour work week, or about $18,000 income per
year.  Based on the required 55 hour work week under a license to operate
the business, that income should be at LEAST $27,000 per year.  However,
based on the disparate pay between sighted and blind employees, could or
should we anticipate anything different for blind vendors?

In Michigan, it appears that to go from state Work-to-Welfare programs for
blind persons, to the ticket-to-Work is through the Kalamazoo waiting room
to out-of-state employment.  Anyone know the time of the next bus or train
to Kalamazoo from Lansing?  Perhaps I can get one of those  $1 Mega-bus fare
tickets, paid for by BS4BP?  And BS4BP would gladly pay any one-way fare
ticket for me to leave the state!  After all, the agency would not pay for
BEP training for me, or $1500 for travel and training in the use of a screen
reader program. I guess they figured that denial would assist me in not
being outspoken, by being unable to use the screen reader program.  I guess
I fooled them, and the joke is on the agency.

Again, Congratulations Doug and Christine.  I will miss you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry
Posont
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 8:54 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Oklahoma

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
20812 Ann Arbor Trail
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

December 6, 2013

Dear Michigan Federationists:

     I wanted all of you to join with me in congratulating Doug Boone
as the head of Visual Services in Oklahoma. It will be Michigan's loss
and Oklahoma's gain. I am including a letter about this that I wrote
to the Affiliate Presidents below my letter.

Sincerely,
Larry Posont
President
 National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
 (313) 271-3058
 Email: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
 Web page: www.nfbmi.org

 Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further Donate your car to the
National Federation of the Blind today!
 For more information, please visit:
www.carshelpingtheblind.org
 or call 1-855-659-9314
November 24, 2013

Dear Affiliate Presidents:

     Oklahoma has gained a fine Administrator of Visual Services in
Doug Boone. It is a loss for Michigan and an  asset for Oklahoma.
Congratulations Doug and Christine!! We will miss you here in
Michigan, but things will certainly be better in Oklahoma than they
are here.

Sincerely,
Larry Posont
President
 National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

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