[Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4

[Al Tompkins]

Hi Bernice:
Thank you for your stand.  There are many of us that agree.  It is also
more than the simple name change that 
Jim is suggesting.  For one thing it would require filing for new 501(C)3
application - which is not just a name change.
The process is more difficult now than it was when originally obtained. 
"Montana" will attract more attention
than "National" when it comes to seeking support from our legislature. 

Myrle
> [Original Message]
> From: <mt-blind-request at nfbnet.org>
> To: <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Date: 11/8/2007 11:26:53 AM
> Subject: Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: NFB of Montana (Jim Marks)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 17:31:36 -0700
> From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] NFB of Montana
> To: "'Montana Association for the Blind List'" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID: <000101c8219e$b9e681e0$4080fc0a at gs.umt.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> No one in their right mind would ever show you disrespect, Bernice.  You
are
> correct about the legal name of the MAB.  But I have to wonder why anyone
> would get all legal about a name when doing so excludes progressive
thinking
> and action.  Besides that, I'm also right about the MAB being the NFB of
> Montana.  It is who we are, even if it's just a nickname at this point. 
For
> one thing, it's up to the members to call ourselves what we wish.  And you
> know as well as anyone that change is coming.  All we have to do is to
> change a few documents, and presto, we declare ourselves to be who we are.
> Heck, change is here already and has been for as long as I can remember.
> Take the vote on the parent's division at the convention.  A small
minority
> voted against the bylaw change that permitted the MAB to recognize the new
> parents division.  Given that being in opposition to a parents group is
much
> like being against less taxes and apple pie, one has to wonder what
> generated the opposition.  I think it was fear of the NFB.  I think the
few
> members who opposed the bylaw change did so because they think the parents
> division will change the MAB.  And they are right.  The MAB will change
> through the inclusion of new ideas and new members.  We are about to do
the
> same with a student division.  Thank goodness the members see the benefits
> of stretching our arms out to others and new ways of doing things.  The
MAB
> needs new ways and new people to stay strong.  The notion that the MAB has
> some sort of right to stick its head in the sand and ignore our national
> affiliation and the other state organizations of the NFB is just too much
to
> bear.  I'm weary of all the silliness within the MAB, and it's time to
start
> pointing out that the NFB is something to embrace.  We won't lose a thing,
> yet we will gain so much more with broader, more inclusive thinking.  I
know
> Montanans like to think we're the only ones in the room.  Montana has a
fine
> tradition of isolationist thinking.  But we also use our rugged
> individualism to make the world better around us.  Change is coming, and
our
> organization will be known for who we are and what we do, and that means
we
> are the MAB and the NFB of Montana.  Just watch.  It's going to happen.
> Also, to be very clear, I am not advocating that we stop celebrating
chapter
> and state involvement.  Really, all I'm talking about is welcoming
national,
> which is in everyone's self-interest if your blind and believe in the
> abilities of the blind.  I love and honor tradition, but I also love and
> honor the change.  Without the change, we are no longer alive.  And dang
it,
> the MAB/NFB of Montana is healthy and well.
>
>  
>
>
>
> Jim Marks
> blind.grizzly at GMail.com 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernice DeHaas [mailto:berncom at mcn.net] 
> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 3:12 PM
> To: Jim Marks; Montana Association for the Blind List
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] NFB of Montana
>
> Jim, on this matter I must disagree with you.  Our legal name is Montana
> Association for the Blind according to our Constitution, the Articles of
> Incorporation and the 501(c)3 non-profit authorization.  We are an
affiliate
> of the NFB and are thereby a part of it.  However, our charter with the
NFB
> reads "Montana Association of the Blind."  All of the affiliate charters
are
> framed and line a hallway in the NFB headquarters -- at least they were
> there four or five years ago when we were all there, and I saw it.  The
> blind of Montana have a proud tradition going back more than 60 years
> associated with the name Montana Association for the Blind and many of us
> are attached to it. That in no way indicates a dislike of the NFB.  They
are
> doing great work and we are pleased to be a part of it.  You may, of
course,
> call MAB any thing you want,  but until there is a legal name change it is
> just a nickname.  There is a quotation I have been reaching for -- and
this
> is a mis-quotation, but it was something to the effect that you may call a
> rabbit a duck, but it still won't quack.
>
>
>
>
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> End of Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
> ***************************************