[Mt-blind] A RESPONSE TO JIM MARKS
Jerry Hutch
modrepro at mt.net
Sun Nov 11 22:18:48 CST 2007
To the list,
Please excuse me but I would like to add a comment or two to my earlier
message.
In the Constitution of the Montana Association for the Blind, Article 1:
Name; states the following, quote The name of this organization shall be
the Montana Association for the Blind, end of quote.
Article 2: Aims and Purposes states quote: The aims and purposes of this
organization shall be:
1. To work for the prevention of blindness.
2. To aid in the physical restoration of the blind.
3. To aid in providing vocational rehabilitation of the blind.
4. To work for the social and economic improvement of every blind person
in the state. Unquote
No where in the current six articles of the Constitution of the Montana
Association for the Blind is there any reference to the NFB of Montana
or to the National Federation of the Blind.
Yet there are those who sit at their computer, trying to figure out how
to change the name of our organization, the Montana Association for the
Blind, at the upcoming 2008 convention in Bozeman. Why?
Look at the fourth item under the Aims and Purposes in Article 2 of our
Constitution. Why are these individuals not working to the betterment
of the blind and visually impaired in Montana? There is more important
work to do other than to change a name. Let me give you some examples:
funding for Newsline, working to secure adequate public transportation
in our communities, adequate O&M training for the blind and visually
impaired throughout the state, not just at the Summer Orientation
Program once a year but throughout the entire year, in every part of the
state and for everyone who needs it, about enforcing pedestrian safety
laws, about making the public aware of what the White Cane Laws are,
about adequate funding for the Business Enterprise Program from DPHHS
and the Legislature, and enhanced services from Blind and Low vision
Services to all the blind and vision impaired in the state.
How can this be done? It starts by grass roots efforts in your
communities and in your chapters. And this means you, each and every
member of the Montana Association for the Blind working together to
achieve a common goal and that goal is the social and economic
improvement of every blind or visually impaired person in the state.
Let's start with an example. How about Newsline? Why is the Montana
Association for the Blind budgeting $23,000.00 to be paid to the
National Federation of the Blind this year to support Newsline? Why
have these individuals and users of Newsline not tried to get funding
for Newsline? How you ask? Have you called or written the Director of
DPHHS (do you even know who the Director is?) and told them what
Newsline means to you as a vision impaired individual? Have you ever
visited the offices of the DPHHS and talked to those persons preparing
the state budget and voiced your concern? Have you sent a letter to the
Governor asking about funding for Newsline? Have you contacted or
visited your local state legislator and given them a brochure about
Newsline? Have you demonstrated to them how it works? Have you told
them what the Montana Association for the Blind is paying for this
service? Have you urged them to sponsor a bill to fund Newsline? The
time is now before the Legislature meets? Now is the time to start this
process, not after the Legislature starts in January 2009. What are you
going to do to continue to get Newsline services?
How about changing a name? Now, is that really important?
This is just one example of what we need to be doing on a grass roots
level. We don't need to be fighting among ourselves over what we should
call ourselves. We already have a name and an identity. It is a crying
shame that individuals will not look around and see what needs to be
done and to jump in and do it!
At one time in the not to distant past, the Montana Association for the
Blind was an organization that could go to the Legislature to testify
about an issue and was looked at as an authority and a spokesman for the
blind community. If we continue on the track that we are headed on, we
will be looked at as a joke!
And that is truly the crying shame.
Am I preaching to the choir?
YOU'RE DAMNED RIGHT I AM!
Jerry Hutch
Jerry
Hutch wrote:
>To the list,
>When I first saw the message from Jim Marks and some of the later threads, I thought to myself, stay out of the discussion, it will do no good. Then I thought of an old phrase, “The turtle only makes progress when he sticks his head out”. So…..
>In the business world, a business is known by its name. That name should reflect who and what that business is. The name, Montana Association for the Blind has been in proud use for over sixty years. That name represents who we are and what we are. This is known as business identity. In an earlier message it was stated that quote “Blind people need the name recognition in our advocacy to improve our lives and the lives of blind persons who follow us.” unquote. That name has been the Montana Association for the Blind. It is not now and never has been the NFB of Montana.
>Our identity is also known by what we have accomplished. First and foremost is a program for the blind and the visually impaired called the Summer Orientation Program. This program has done more to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired than any other program supported or funded by the Montana Association for the Blind. This is truly the identity of the Association. Through the efforts of MAB members, reaching out to the blind and visually impaired in our communities, this is how we are known.
>An earlier message has stated that change is coming. Why? What is so very wrong about the current goals and aims of the MAB? Does anyone really think that changing the name of our organization to the NFB of Montana is going to make a difference? A difference to who? And for what purpose? To do this is a foolish thing and accomplishes nothing. The only difference will be that we will be a very small group (or division; again that word) in a larger group of individuals. Where then is our identity?
>We currently have a name that has been long used and that has a proud tradition. Why should we give it up?
>Our membership is low. Is that because past leadership has not done all that it can to promote the MAB in our local communities? Or is it that Montana is so large in area and so small in population that it is hard to get persons with a common cause together in one place. Look at the attendance at our state conventions. Look at our chapter meetings. If transportation is not available, members will not attend. This is an issue that we need to address, not should we change our name. What about pedestrian safety, for everyone not just the blind and visually impaired? What about access to the internet for the blind and visually impaired? What about…..(fill in the blank)? Do you support the MAB? Do you or your chapter get out and sell MAB calendars? If not, why?
>I was one of the attendees at the last convention who stood and identified myself during the vote to oppose the change of the by-laws to allow a division (that is a very good word) of parents of blind or visually impaired children to become a separate but equal entity in our organization. Why do we need a separate entity or division in the Association. The NFB has many divisions already, one of them being for the parents of blind children. Is not support for those parents available from the NFB? Is this not what the NFB states that it will do? It has been suggested that the Association starts a students division? Why? The NFB already has a students division. My fear then and now, is that these sighted parents will change the voting makeup of the Association and by shear number change what and who the Montana Association for the Blind is. Our by-laws state that the majority of voting members shall be blind or visually impaired. Do we need to change the by-laws? How
>
>
>!
>will we continue to be the association for the blind?
>On Sunday morning, September 16th, I stood before the assembled members of the Association who had met in convention, and took an oath “to uphold the Constitution and By-laws of the Montana Association for the Blind” as an officer elected by the membership of the MAB. I do not recall that oath saying anything about the NFB of Montana or the National Federation of the Blind.
>I will, with Bernice and Myrle and many others around the state, continue to support the Montana Association for the Blind by sitting on the board of directors and promoting to the best of my ability the Montana Association for the Blind in any way that I can.
>Jerry Hutch
>Capital City Chapter
>Helena
>As a post script: just before sending this message I was fortunate enough to read Jim Marks latest posting about the SOP being in conflict with the NFB national Convention. In my humble opinion, the date for the SOP will not change! This was discussed at the October Board of Directors meeting in Butte.
>Please read the minutes of the meeting! Both Carroll College and MSU before would not host the SOP other than during the summer break at each of the schools as it currently is done. By not supporting the MAB and its programs, you are missing an important part of the MAB experience. It sounds as if the NFB is more important to you than the MAB.
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Mt-blind mailing list
>Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
To the list,
Please excuse me but I would like to add a comment or two to my earlier message.
In the Constitution of the Montana Association for the Blind, Article 1: Name; states the following, quote The name of this organization shall be the Montana Association for the Blind, end of quote.
Article 2: Aims and Purposes states quote: The aims and purposes of this organization shall be:
1. To work for the prevention of blindness.
2. To aid in the physical restoration of the blind.
3. To aid in providing vocational rehabilitation of the blind.
4. To work for the social and economic improvement of every blind person in the state. Unquote
No where in the current six articles of the Constitution of the Montana Association for the Blind is there any reference to the NFB of Montana or to the National Federation of the Blind.
Yet there are those who sit at their computer, trying to figure out how to change the name of our organization, the Montana Association for the Blind, at the upcoming 2008 convention in Bozeman. Why?
Look at the fourth item under the Aims and Purposes in Article 2 of our Constitution. Why are these individuals not working to the betterment of the blind and visually impaired in Montana? There is more important work to do other than to change a name. Let me give you some examples: funding for Newsline, working to secure adequate public transportation in our communities, adequate O&M training for the blind and visually impaired throughout the state, not just at the Summer Orientation Program once a year but throughout the entire year, in every part of the state and for everyone who needs it, about enforcing pedestrian safety laws, about making the public aware of what the White Cane Laws are, about adequate funding for the Business Enterprise Program from DPHHS and the Legislature, and enhanced services from Blind and Low vision Services to all the blind and vision impaired in the state.
How can this be done? It starts by grass roots efforts in your communities and in your chapters. And this means you, each and every member of the Montana Association for the Blind working together to achieve a common goal and that goal is
the social and economic improvement of every blind or visually impaired person in the state.
Let's start with an example. How about Newsline? Why is the Montana Association for the Blind budgeting $23,000.00 to be paid to the National Federation of the Blind this year to support Newsline? Why have these individuals and users of Newsline not tried to get funding for Newsline? How you ask? Have you called or written the Director of DPHHS (do you even know who the Director is?) and told them what Newsline means to you as a vision impaired individual? Have you ever visited the offices of the DPHHS and talked to those persons preparing the state budget and voiced your concern? Have you sent a letter to the Governor asking about funding for Newsline? Have you contacted or visited your local state legislator and given them a brochure about Newsline? Have you demonstrated to them how it works? Have you told them what the Montana Association for the Blind is paying for this service? Have you urged them to sponsor a bill to fund Newsline? The time is now before the Legislature meets? Now is the time to start this process, not after the Legislature starts in January 2009. What are you going to do to continue to get Newsline services?
How about changing a name? Now, is that really important?
This is just one example of what we need to be doing on a grass roots level. We don't need to be fighting among ourselves over what we should call ourselves. We already have a name and an identity. It is a crying shame that individuals will not look around and see what needs to be done and to jump in and do it!
At one time in the not to distant past, the Montana Association for the Blind was an organization that could go to the Legislature to testify about an issue and was looked at as an authority and a spokesman for the blind community. If we continue on the track that we are headed on, we will be looked at as a joke!
And that is truly the crying shame.
Am I preaching to the choir?
YOU'RE DAMNED RIGHT I AM!
Jerry Hutch
Jerry
Hutch wrote:
To the list, When I first saw the message from Jim Marks and some of the later threads, I thought to myself, stay out of the discussion, it will do no good. Then I thought of an old phrase, “The turtle only makes progress when he sticks his head out”. So….. In the business world, a business is known by its name. That name should reflect who and what that business is. The name, Montana Association for the Blind has been in proud use for over sixty years. That name represents who we are and what we are. This is known as business identity. In an earlier message it was stated that quote “Blind people need the name recognition in our advocacy to improve our lives and the lives of blind persons who follow us.” unquote. That name has been the Montana Association for the Blind. It is not now and never has been the NFB of Montana. Our identity is also known by what we have accomplished. First and foremost is a program for the blind and the visually impaired called the Summer Orientation Program. This program has done more to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired than any other program supported or funded by the Montana Association for the Blind. This is truly the identity of the Association. Through the efforts of MAB members, reaching out to the blind and visually impaired in our communities, this is how we are known. An earlier message has stated that change is coming. Why? What is so very wrong about the current goals and aims of the MAB? Does anyone really think that changing the name of our organization to the NFB of Montana is going to make a difference? A difference to who? And for what purpose? To do this is a foolish thing and accomplishes nothing. The only difference will be that we will be a very small group (or division; again that word) in a larger group of individuals. Where then is our identity? We currently have a name that has been long used and that has a proud tradition. Why should we give it up? Our membership is low. Is that because past leadership has not done all that it can to promote the MAB in our local communities? Or is it that Montana is so large in area and so small in population that it is hard to get persons with a common cause together in one place. Look at the attendance at our state conventions. Look at our chapter meetings. If transportation is not available, members will not attend. This is an issue that we need to address, not should we change our name. What about pedestrian safety, for everyone not just the blind and visually impaired? What about access to the internet for the blind and visually impaired? What about…..(fill in the blank)? Do you support the MAB? Do you or your chapter get out and sell MAB calendars? If not, why? I was one of the attendees at the last convention who stood and identified myself during the vote to oppose the change of the by-laws to allow a division (that is a very good word) of parents of blind or visually impaired children to become a separate but equal entity in our organization. Why do we need a separate entity or division in the Association. The NFB has many divisions already, one of them being for the parents of blind children. Is not support for those parents available from the NFB? Is this not what the NFB states that it will do? It has been suggested that the Association starts a students division? Why? The NFB already has a students division. My fear then and now, is that these sighted parents will change the voting makeup of the Association and by shear number change what and who the Montana Association for the Blind is. Our by-laws state that the majority of voting members shall be blind or visually impaired. Do we need to change the by-laws? How ! will we continue to be the association for the blind? On Sunday morning, September 16th, I stood before the assembled members of the Association who had met in convention, and took an oath “to uphold the Constitution and By-laws of the Montana Association for the Blind” as an officer elected by the membership of the MAB. I do not recall that oath saying anything about the NFB of Montana or the National Federation of the Blind. I will, with Bernice and Myrle and many others around the state, continue to support the Montana Association for the Blind by sitting on the board of directors and promoting to the best of my ability the Montana Association for the Blind in any way that I can. Jerry Hutch Capital City Chapter Helena As a post script: just before sending this message I was fortunate enough to read Jim Marks latest posting about the SOP being in conflict with the NFB national Convention. In my humble opinion, the date for the SOP will not change! This was discussed at the October Board of Directors meeting in Butte. Please read the minutes of the meeting! Both Carroll College and MSU before would not host the SOP other than during the summer break at each of the schools as it currently is done. By not supporting the MAB and its programs, you are missing an important part of the MAB experience. It sounds as if the NFB is more important to you than the MAB.
_______________________________________________ Mt-blind mailing list mailto:Mt-blind at nfbnet.org Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
More information about the Mt-blind
mailing list