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

dmgina dmgina at qwest.net
Sat Nov 10 16:14:42 CST 2007 

Hi there,
I am Dar Aldrich,
Jim's better half of the better half smile.
I came from Denver Colorado, where the transportation is wonderful.
It has been said on the news here in town, Billings, that the city is going 
to grow as large as Seattle or Denver.
I look at it this way,
If they are going to expand as they say, then the transportation has to get 
better.
I have been here for three and a half years now, and just in our city alone, 
the transportation is worse instead of better.
Just to go from our home to the doctors office I can get a ride, and in the 
mornings I wait an hour for a buss back.
In the afternoons I have to wait two hours for the same buss to come back.
I can't be out in the elements that long.
Just standing and waiting.
this isn't good.
We shall see what happens.
We are now trying to get Jim set up for the Met Transit.
At this time, it is said, if Jim can take a buss, he doesn't need the Met 
Transit.
We have a buss that stops in front of our home just during the times folks 
get to work or class, then in the early mornings  or  afternoons  around 
three.
Stops at six.
Met Transit says here in Billings, that only wheel chair persons or someone 
with a second disability can ride the transit.
In Denver, Jim could get the winter months, and then take the busses in the 
summer.
I can get all four years.
Then sign up again.
I also can take the card and use it on the buss as well.
Jim could come with me in the summer or any time with out paying as my 
assistant.
It seems to me, that this should be across board.
Everyone shouldn't have to try to memorize how a state or city handles the 
transit.
Now you know who Dar is smile.


--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe & Flo" <flojoe at bresnan.net>
To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4


>I don't know who Dar is, but she hit the nail on the head when she 
>mentioned
> their problem with trtansportation. That seems to be the biggest problem 
> for
> the blind in Montana.
>    In our rural type of residencees we have to depend on friends or
> relatives for transportation; but in the cities they at least have access 
> to
> public transportation.
>    This has neen our problem in Flathead County for the last eleven years
> that I have neen a member. There weems to be no answer.
>    Does anyone have a solution? None has come from our Agency on Agind.
> Flo Nelson
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "dmgina" <dmgina at qwest.net>
> To: <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>; "Montana Association for the Blind List"
> <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 1:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>
>
>> Jim,
>> I am all for the change,
>> This is the reason why I asked the question.
>> We have to miss a meeting this month because we can't get transportation.
>> We are talking about changing the day and trying it on a Saturday 
>> morning.
>> I am not one of the chosen this year to decide if we can make the new 
>> move
>> to Saturday from Tuesday.
>> Our president Jim Allen is the one who sent the message for the request.
>> I know he needs to ask other members as well.
>> We are working hard trying to get more involved with our meetings.
>>
>> --Dar
>> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>> Every Saint has a past
>> Every Sinner has a future
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
>> To: "'dmgina'" <dmgina at qwest.net>; "'Montana Association for the Blind
>> List'" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 1:12 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>>
>>
>>> Hi Dar,
>>>
>>> I think we have to wait until the next convention at the earliest, but
>>> it's
>>> possible that something could be mounted before then.  The Board gets to
>>> run
>>> the organization while we're not in convention.  The convention is the
>>> supreme authority of the MAB/NFB of Montana.  That said, I do not think
>>> our
>>> current Board would support the change.  But a convention might, and
>>> that's
>>> why I think we should wait until then to decide.  Right now, our best 
>>> bet
>>> is
>>> to take actions that bring more people into the organization.  We need
>>> informed voters to help us decide the future of the MAB/NFB of Montana.
>>> If
>>> you get the chance, bring in a few friends.  Talk them about the
>>> possibilities, and let's make the change happen through the involvement
>>> of
>>> Montanans who really want to change what it means to be blind.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim Marks
>>> blind.grizzly at GMail.com
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: dmgina [mailto:dmgina at qwest.net]
>>> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 12:51 PM
>>> To: blind.grizzly at gmail.com; Montana Association for the Blind List
>>> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> this is Dar,
>>> With just reading the message,
>>> My question is this,
>>> Do we have to wait until the next State convention meeting to get this
>>> passed to change from
>>> Montana Association for the Blind,
>>> to
>>> NFB Montana?
>>> Or can a form come in the mail to fill out to get this done before the
>>> State
>>>
>>> convention?
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> --Dar
>>> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>> Every Saint has a past
>>> Every Sinner has a future
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
>>> To: "'Montana Association for the Blind List'" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 12:35 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>>>
>>>
>>>> Just to be clear, I don't think anyone is suggesting we drop the name,
>>>> the
>>>> Montana Association for the Blind.  People are right to feel pride in
>>>> the
>>>> long tradition of our fine organization.  I sure do.  Also, I am not
>>>> talking
>>>> about taking any action yet, other than to build the organization with
>>>> members with progressive outlooks and fresh opinions.  We just cannot 
>>>> go
>>>> forward looking only in the rear view mirror.  All this said, though,
>>>> it's
>>>> important to point out that if we were to take some sort of name change
>>>> on,
>>>> then all we would have to do is to put a clause in the bylaws about 
>>>> also
>>>> being known as the NFB of Montana.  Such a change would not bring into
>>>> play
>>>> any huge and involved paperwork tar pits as Myrle suggests below.  We
>>>> easily
>>>> get to call ourselves what we want to be called, and it would be
>>>> terrific
>>>> if
>>>> the organization would be open-minded enough to be inclusive of 
>>>> whatever
>>>> members want to call ourselves.
>>>>
>>>> The thing about this name discussion is that some members oppose the 
>>>> NFB
>>>> name without regard to the feelings and opinions of others.  Instead of
>>>> dividing into factions and fighting one another, we ought to be looking
>>>> for
>>>> and implementing win-win situations.  We should be working towards a 
>>>> way
>>>> of
>>>> embracing everyone and stop with all the barriers and oppositional
>>>> thinking
>>>> and actions, real or imagined.  It just isn't as hard as we are making
>>>> it
>>>> out to be.  The numbers of people who share my point of view are
>>>> growing,
>>>> and they are going to continue to grow.  Sooner or later, the change
>>>> will
>>>> occur.  It has to occur because we cannot stay where we are and 
>>>> maintain
>>>> any
>>>> excitement.  Think about it.  Why would potential members want to join
>>>> us?
>>>> We've got to be far more attractive and progressive than we are or else
>>>> the
>>>> organization will flounder and die.
>>>>
>>>> Lastly, if you think I'm stirring the pot, you're right.  I am weary of
>>>> the
>>>> silly games that keep coming up, and it's time to speak my mind again.
>>>> I
>>>> hope others will join in the discussion so that we can share ideas and
>>>> grow
>>>> stronger.  To heck with keeping skeletons in the closet and shying away
>>>> from
>>>> confrontation and sticking our heads in the sand and mixing our
>>>> metaphors.
>>>> We are the Montana Association for the Blind, and we are also the NFB 
>>>> of
>>>> Montana.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jim Marks
>>>> blind.grizzly at GMail.com
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: mt-blind-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:mt-blind-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On
>>>> Behalf Of Al Tompkins
>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 8:46 PM
>>>> To: mt-blind at nfbnet.org; mt-blind at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 17, Issue 4
>>>>
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Mt-blind mailing list
>>>> Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>
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>
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